How long should vest be

And for anyone who didn't read our run-down on vest, suit, and shirt buttons earlier, keep in mind that the bottom button of a waistcoat should always be left undone — the top button may be left undone as well however it's optional.

The tradition is more than a hundred years old and stems from the same rules applying to jackets. There's no practical reason for it nowadays except perhaps to give off a more casual flair — it's just a way of showing that you respect tradition. You'll always wear either a vest commonly called a waistcoat here or a cummerbund at black tie formal events. These vests or waistcoats are usually backless, fastened with an adjustable strap unless custom made.

They also have lapels, which makes the waistcoat more formal, and is made from in the same grosgrain found on the black tie jacket. A matching black is the most common option for a tuxedo vest, but you can wear a different color so long as it is dark, plain, and dignified — deep greens and burgundies are solid choices.

If you wear a colored vest, it should be the only colored piece in the ensemble. Three-piece suits are a great option for a man looking to add a touch of formality. Your vest should usually match your suit, and should always be worn with a necktie. If you can get it right, though, you will look fantastic. Proper fit is essential for any garment, not just waistcoats. We have a minute guide to the proper fit of each element of a suit to help you get a sense of how everything should fit.

Check out our extensive guide to alterations that will let you know what can be done and approximately what it will cost. Now that you have read our guide to how a jacket should fit, consider reading some of our related content:. I have a few waist coats which do not have the back strap to take in the extra material. Are they intended to fit a certain way? I have inches of slack between my vest. Should I have it taken in? Indeed, the waistcoat is meant fit well without too much excess and a few inches sounds like a fair bit.

Might seem a daft question but I presume leg length varies. It might do! Two inches can be a lot but you never know. Can you tell me how it should fit under the arms please?

Maybe an idea of distance below arm pit? Is it right at the lower belt line, perhaps one or two cm over? I love wearing waistcoats, but I have having my tucked shirt showing from underneath them.

Any thoughts? Therefore, there should be enough waistcoat to cover it even when you stretch. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Double-breasted vests usually also have lapels, which can be shawl or, more rarely, pointed or notched lapes, for a more sophisticated and demanding style.

They must always be worn fully buttoned, with elegant clothes, over the shirt and under the jacket; they should never be worn without a jacket, unless you want to openly challenge the canon of classic elegance.

Excluding exceptions, the vest must always be worn over a shirt with a buttoned collar and under a single-breasted jacket or blazer. It should never be worn under a double-breasted jacket: the neck of the jacket, in fact, must be large enough to allow the waistcoat to be visible. It must be snug and adapt perfectly to your body , so as to make it comfortable to carry the jacket over it.

Its length must be sufficient to be able to cover and hide the waist on the front, while laterally and on the back it is usually shorter. For these reasons, opting for a made to measure vest is always the best solution: you will be sure to wear a vest of the right length, made to fall perfectly and adapt to your physicality.

When it comes to choosing the color and to match the vest to the suit, there are mainly two color alternatives available: opting for the three-piece suit or choosing a contrasting vest. It is the most classic and traditional choice and consists in wearing a vest made of the same fabric and consequently the same color of the suit. The waistcoat then will be an integral part of the suit, the third piece together with jacket and trousers.

Hence the expression three-piece suit. The three-piece suit is certainly the most versatile configuration ever: elegant, perfect for formal and solemn occasions, but at the same time simple and safe, also suitable for more informal contexts. The contrasting vest is the main alternative to the three-piece suit: you will choose a vest with a color or pattern in contrast with that of the suit.

In this case, the waistcoat will be more prominent than what happens with the three-piece suit, standing out on every other piece of clothing. If the combination is right, the contrasting vest can give life to particularly successful and elegant suits, but the risk of making a mistake is much more concrete.

The advice is therefore not to exaggerate in the chromatic contrast and choose a color that can be combined in harmony with jacket, pants and shirt. Better not to overdo it, especially if you have decided to wear a broken one : the clown effect is always around the corner and absolutely to be avoided.

The perfect match for a groom : the vest is in evidence and the protagonist. The ideal suit for business occasions, thanks to the rigor of the gray suit and the Prince of Wales vest which softens its rigidity with a professional feel. The perfect solution for sportier, brighter and more informal contexts, where rigor must give way to the sprezzatura.