cummerbund

Major Putnam had managed to slip inside and plunge into a proper shirt and trousers, with a crimson cummerbund, and a light square jacket over all; thus normally set off, his red festive face seemed bursting with a commonplace cordiality.

The first was an enormous Sikh, with a black beard which swept nearly down to his cummerbund. Outside of a show I have never seen so tall a man.

A cummerbund is a broad, waist sash that is worn around the waist.

A cummerbund and a Peter Pan collar or officer collar shirt completes the look.

EMMA JOHNSON has picked out a few pieces for you Jeff Banks wine-coloured cummerbund PS17.50, jeffbankstores.co.uk Charvet silk pocket square PS55, Mr Porter, mrporter.com Thomas Pink Hercules Aventurine cufflinks PS70, thomaspink.com Moss Esq.

Gladiator slim velvet blazer in blue PS285, Reiss, reiss.com Jeff Banks wine-coloured cummerbund PS17.50, jeffbankstores.co.uk Charvet silk pocket square PS55, Mr Porter, mrporter.com Thomas Pink Hercules Aventurine cufflinks PS70, thomaspink.com Surbow dotted silk bow tie PS40, Ted Baker, tedbaker.com Dotted silk dress scarf PS30, John Lewis, john lewis.com *Prices correct at time of going to print John Lewis tailored white dress suit jacket PS175, johnlewis.com Moss Esq.

Gladiator slim velvet blazer in blue PS285, Reiss, reiss.com Jefff Banks wine-coloured cummerbund PS17.50, jeffbankstores.co.uk Charvet silk pocket square PS55, Mr Porter, mrporter.com Thomas Pink Hercules Aventurine cufflinks PS70, thomaspink.com silk bow tie PS40, Ted Baker, tedbaker.com Moss Esq.

While menswear saw strong sales of bow ties over the last 12 months, demand for the cummerbund fell 21% over the last five years.

Bow tie (and cummerbund, not shown), $195, all from Martin Freeman Clothing; 4.

The actress flaunted her tiny waist in a figure-hugging ivory sari with a cummerbund and ivory Rajasthani bangles.

The suit is a Tom Ford tuxedo, including bow tie, cummerbund and shirt, worn by the actor at the Governors Awards in Hollywood last year.