Cummerbund

The modern use of the cummerbund to Europeans and North Americans is as a component of the traditional black tie Western dress code.

[6] The pleats face up because they were originally used to hold ticket stubs and similar items,[7][page needed] explaining the slang name 'crumb-catcher'.

It was adopted as civilian dress, beginning as a largely summer option with informal dinner jackets, such as Burmese fawn and white, later, it was restricted to the narrow range of colours which accompany black tie.

[7]Most units of the French Army of Africa wore cummerbunds of two different colours: blue for the European soldiers of the Zouaves and Chasseurs d'Afrique; and red for the native Spahis and Tirailleurs.

[9] Unlike the civilian cummerbund, a leather belt is worn above this cloth piece and one end hangs free displaying an ornamental fringe.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, cotton cummerbunds were commonly worn by athletes participating in gymnastic and/or combat sport training and competition.