A waistcoat, which is a sleeveless upper-body garment, is usually worn over a dress shirt and necktie and sometimes below a coat as a part of most men’s formal wear. The waistcoat is also sported as the third piece in the traditional three-piece male suit. Just like any vest, it could be simple or ornate, or for leisure or luxury or formal wear. Historically, the waist coast dates back to being worn either in the place of or underneath a larger coat dependent upon the weather, wearer, and occasion.
Nowadays, this daytime formal wear and semi-formal wear commonly comprise a contrastingly coloured waistcoat, such as in dark brown or gray colours. However, for a white tie and black tie, the best choice of waistcoat colour would be white and black, respectively.
The waistcoat is characterised by a vertical opening in the front, which fastens with buttons or snaps. Different types and designs of waistcoats exist. Both single-breasted and double-breasted waistcoats are tailored to suit the formality of dress, but single-breasted ones are more common. In a three-piece suit, the cloth used matches the jacket and trousers. Waistcoats can also have lapels or revers depending on the style.
Did you know that before wristwatches became popular, gentlemen kept their pocket watches in the front waistcoat pocket, with the watch on a watch chain threaded through a buttonhole?
Wearing a belt with a waistcoat, and indeed any suit is modern and stylish. For a more comfortable pairing with trousers, add a waistcoat to cover a pair of braces/ suspenders underneath it. Whichever your styling, you can never go wrong with a waistcoat added to your dressing. The key is to put your best foot forward and make it super stylish.