They are the third element of the three-piece suit but they’re seen less and less now that the two-piece is the norm. Yet the waistcoat is not the spare part it might have been a few years ago. It’s increasingly being worn as a statement piece or at least as something rather more casual than was originally intended. There’s also a formal purpose for the waistcoat – as a substitute for a jacket in the summer or for those who work alongside people who insist on year-round heating.

It was not so long ago that our daily exposure to waistcoats would be limited to weddings (hired, of course), snooker players and in historical dramas. They have always been, for some reason, the garment of choice for jugglers, card sharks, conjurors and members of Status Quo. The types of people who wore a waistcoat in the professional context, under suit, would probably be considered too formal and maybe even stuffy for everyday business. It was a bit like wearing a bow tie, a \”look at me\” thing.

But then something happened. Waistcoats suddenly became rather hip. When you look at the cut of a waistcoat, it is actually a thing of beauty and grace, just the right length to give even a fuller male figure a leaner look. Without the restrictive arms of a suit jacket, a waistcoat is also comfortable and airy. And there’s no shortage of materials and colours to choose from, from a slick black to a dazzling explosion of colour – and all the tweeds and pinstripes in between.

Once it became clear just how flattering and chic a waistcoat could look, it was never going to be long before the wives and girlfriends commandeered them and filled them with their own figures and, annoyingly for the menfolk, actually looked pretty good.

But despite this flirtation with the opposite sex, the waistcoat remains a masculine item of clothing that lets men express their stylishness at any point along the formality spectrum. And because it’s a style item that has a long and illustrious history, the place to look might not be your local gentleman’s outfitters but at a vintage clothing store, many of which are springing up in city centres and online.

In the modern context the waistcoat goes with jeans just as well as trousers, although if you really do want to avoid the Meatloaf look, it’s best worn with shorter hair, maybe even a hat, and some modern accoutrements like a man bag or a courier bag will divert the look from the biker festival circa 1978. If you’re going to add a little theatre, the pocket watch on a chain will do the tick (sorry), but again, it will be the other elements of the look that will stop you entering Uncle Albert or Dickensian territory. And tee-shirts are probably a no-no with the waistcoat, although some styles can be made to work; best stick with a long-sleeved shirt though.

So once you’re wrested your vest back off your other half, spend a little time in front of the mirror, accessorise a little, and you’ll end up with a swagger like you’ve just stepped off the set of The Sting. And it doesn’t get much cooler than that.

Author Bio: Vintage men\’s fashion is on the rise. Gents are looking for items such as vintage men’s waistcoats and other garments that have vintage fashion equivalents. James writes about styles and news in the vintage fashion market.

Category: Culture
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