I’m going to talk about men’s vests in this article.
I’ll discuss why a vest should be a part of your wardrobe, how to style and wear one, and how to get the right fit for a man’s vest.
Many men ask if they can wear a vest. Is it something that is too trendy for me, or something that is timeless and should be in my closet?
Here are a few reasons to get at least one of them.
It’s Functional
The vest is a very practical garment.
If you work in an industry where you need to dress up a little and can’t just wear a dress shirt and pants, this is the outfit to wear. At the same time, you are not required to wear a sports jacket. If you’re going to be working in an environment where you’ll require more arm freedom, a vest is a fantastic functional component to have.
It actually allows you to move more freely than an apron or similar garment.
It’s Cooler
In hot weather, a vest is also quite useful. You don’t have the entire closed area around your sleeves, so air can get in. It’ll be more comfortable than the actual jacket.
So it’s practical, it’ll keep you cool, and it’ll provide you more freedom of movement.
It Slims Silhouette
Let’s look at how it works in a sense of slimming you up.
When you add the vest to a dress shirt and a pair of slacks, you suddenly get a more up and down streamlined style.
It will make your chest appear larger, and your stomach appear trimmer.
I’m hardly the most muscular man in the world, but I can tell you that wearing a vest helps me look thinner. It will also work for you.
It doesn’t necessarily build up the shoulders like a jacket does, but it does attract a bit more attention to them.
It works great if you have square shoulders or shoulders with an average slope. However, if you have really sloping shoulders and an angle, this may not be the best option for you.
However, most men will see a slight increase in shoulder build up as a result of this.
The dress shirt and pants can be dressed up with a vest. I wouldn’t recommend this to all men because it’s a little more fashion forward, but if you think you can pull it off, you’re a younger man, and you want to go for that style, go for it.
All of these are reasons why vests should be a part of your wardrobe.
How Should a Vest Fit
Let’s chat about the fit for a moment.
Length
The most common problem I encounter with vest fit is that guys wear them too short.
The explanation behind this is that vests were designed to be worn with trousers and are hence taller. Vests were designed to be worn at the natural waist with trousers.
However, because manufacturers do not want to waste fabric, anytime pants went down, vests did not go down as well.
Because it saves money, most vests are made a little too short.
However, if you’re standing straight, you shouldn’t be able to see your shirt peeking out the sides.
Unfortunately, the majority of vests will be too short. Occasionally, though, they will be too lengthy. The good news is that you can have a vest cut, but if you raise your arms and don’t show a little shirt, it’s probably a little too long.
But that’s a better issue to have than the fact that it’s too short.
Shoulders
The shoulders are another topic of attention.
You’ll want to ensure sure the vest sits comfortably on your shoulders. It’s probably too big for you if you have a lot of bunching or if it’s going too far out.
Torso
The fit around the torso is another feature of the vest to consider.
It is possible to bring it in. It’s very acceptable to get your vest altered.
There’s not much you can do if it’s too tight. In most cases, we won’t be able to lwt out any material.
Adjustments to the back and sides are common. Back adjustments are more prevalent than side adjustments.
However, if it’s completely let out and too tight on you, it’s unlikely to fit. That’s something I’d pass on.
How to Style a Vest
There are many different styles to choose from.
Vests with five or three buttons are typical.
I use those number of buttons pretty universally, because you’ll see six buttons that are built very similar to five buttons.
The trick is to determine how deep the V will go. It usually just reveals a small portion of the shirt, around three buttons if it’s buttoned all the way up. It’ll be either the five or six-button vests, with four buttons on occasion.
That’ll be the three or four buttons once they start to move lower. Two is a rare occurrence.
When you wear a jacket with this, you’ll just show a lot more, and it’ll have a much more buttoned up look. The other option is that you’ll be less visible.
A more formal style, in my opinion, is more buttoned up.
If you’re not wearing it with a jacket, though, that guideline does not necessarily apply. You’re merely dressed in a vest. It makes no difference if it has a formal appearance.
Double Breasted Vests
Let’s talk about double-breasted vests for a moment.
You’ll need to pay attention to this to ensure that the fit is correct.
Because double breasted vests are notoriously difficult to fit, you’ll want to get this tailored.
You can see 2 x 2, 2 x 3, 2 x 4, 2 x 5, and so on.
When you’re 2 × 2, you’re more likely to have a lower cut. It’ll normally be higher if you’re a 2 x 5 or a 2 x 4. This is where a larger overlapping piece of fabric can be found.
How to Wear a Vest
What is the distinction between a waistcoat and a vest?
You would be correct if you said nothing.
There is no distinction. Everything without sleeves is referred to as a vest in the United States, while a vest is referred to as a waistcoat in the United Kingdom. Exactly the same thing.
There are three categories of guys in this world. Those who wear vests, those who don’t, and those who would wear them if only they knew what to pair them with.
Let’s look at an easy approach to use a vest in your regular outfit.
If your vest arrives as part of a three-piece suit, clearly you’ll wear it with it, but that’s not what I’m talking about.
I’m referring to wearing a vest as a fashion statement. Wearing a vest is a statement, in my opinion, because the vest is the focal point of the outfit. Everything else you put on is really a supporting cast.
Vests are available in a range of fabrics. The fabric will mostly determine whether the vest is dressy or casual.
Vests come in a variety of styles, some of them are fairly casual. You can also get them in corduroy, which I think is quite sexy and would be a perfect addition to anyone’s wardrobe.
However, you can also buy them in different fabrics, such as denim, which is really casual. They’re also available in leather. However, you’ll also find them in more refined fabrics.
So vests come in a variety of fabrics, and you can get them all. Vests, and wearing a vest, provide an added layer of detail and dimension to an outfit.
It really does set a guy apart.
I’m always impressed when I see a guy wearing a vest, sporting a vest, and looking sleek.
Is it time for you to take on the role of that guy?
Yes, now is the moment for you to be that person, and here’s how you do it.
We’ll put together the vest ensemble, which is simple yet effective and will make you look fantastic.
You’re going to start with the vest. It might be super casual, or it may be a little more refined and elegant.
The rest of the outfit will be dictated by the level of casualness of that vest.
A simple or complementing button-up shirt will be the following component or accent you’ll add to that vest.
It might be plain white or anything else different, but it must match the vest.
After that, you’ll choose your preferred pair of jeans. But this is when a little style intelligence comes into play.
If you’re wearing an ultra-casual vest, you can get away with wearing a pair of slightly distressed trousers.
If the vest is a little more refined in terms of the fabric, you’ll probably want to combine it with a pair of jeans that are a little less distressed, or perhaps a solid dark wash.
Then there’s the footwear.
The shoes, after all, are what will put the finishing touches on your ensemble and make it sing.
It’s up to you to pick how you want that outfit to look. You want it to be more sophisticated, therefore I’d wear a great pair of dress shoes with your dressier vest and dressier trousers. The belt will be in the same color as the shoes.
If you want to make your look a little more smooth and laid-back, match it with a nice pair of boots, such as your favorite monk straps or distressed wingtips.
Put on a tie if you want to take your outfit up a notch in terms of style, adding another layer of depth and dimension. That’s correct, I mentioned a tie.
I’m telling you, the tie looks excellent with jeans, a shirt, and a vest.
It comes down to balance.
If the vest you’re wearing is more casual, then the pants and shoes you choose will help to balance it out.
If you want to go for a dressier vest, match it with a pair of dressy jeans and maybe a pair of dressy shoes.
Don’t overthink it; it’s straightforward.
However, I would strongly advise purchasing a vest. Try it, you’ll like it, and then you’ll want to acquire another.
If you’re looking for something new to try, I recommend a vest.
It’s not that difficult. You’ll look fantastic, and you’ll want to buy more. It occurred to me, and it will most likely happen to you.
