1. Waistcoats first became fashionable in England after being worn by King Charles II in the 1660s.
2. On October 8, 1666, Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary: “The King hath yesterday in Council declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes, which he will never alter. It will be a vest, I know not well how.”
3. He went on: “It is to teach the nobility thrift, and will do good.”
4. The word waistcoat dates back to 1519.
5. King Charles I was recorded to have worn a waistcoat at his execution.
6. Waistcoats were introduced to England by Sir Robert Shirley (1581-1628), who had seen them worn at the Persian court of Shah Abbas.
7. According to the sartorial rules of British Dressage, “A fitted waistcoat may be worn when permission has been granted not to wear coats.”
8. Marks & Spencer waistcoat sales are reported to have more than doubled during the World Cup.
9. Edward VII popularised the habit of leaving a waistcoat’s bottom button undone.
10. Gareth Southgate, with perfect waistcoat etiquette, always leaves his bottom button undone