Cummerbunds originally came from India, which have been adopted by the British military officials during the colonial era. These cummerbunds, waistcoats at that time, were later used by British civilians. The name cummerbund came from the Farsi word kamarband which refers to the normal clothing belt.

Cummerbunds have pleats which generally face up. These pleats were meant to hold ticket stubs and similar items, which made it known as the “crumb-catcher”. The contemporary cummerbund primarily aims to provide a transition between the shirt and the waistband. It is usually fastened, tied or held shut by a buckle or Velcro around the back.

Normally, cummerbunds are often worn with single-breasted dinner jackets or tuxedos. And it is a very important part in a semi-formal black tie dress code. Although, it is common to see cummerbunds with bow ties now, dress gurus find it blasphemous. Aside from that, cummerbunds are also paired with white ties in less formal occasions.