The three-piece suit, consisting of a suit jacket, trousers and a vest or waistcoat, is traditional attire for formal or semi-formal occasions. The vest is part of the power suit of business attire. Prior to the 1940s, most suits were worn with vests. A well-made vest should feature a curved front, cut-away bottom and hang slightly longer in the back.
Classic Suit
The classic suit vest features six buttons and four welt pockets. These vests are constructed of the same material as the suit. Traditional fabrics include houndstooth, pinstripe and Prince of Wales check. The bottom button is left undone.
Five Button, Two-Welt Pocket
The five-button vest with two welt pockets provides a more contemporary silhouette. Welt pockets are typically positioned even with the fourth button. The fifth button is left undone. The back of the vest is traditionally constructed from the same material as the accompanying jacket's sleeve lining.
Five Button, Patch Pocket
A five-button, patch-pocket vest is similar to the five-button, welt-pocket style except that it features the patch pocket. This vest style is less formal than the welt-pocket style. The top of the patch pocket rests between the third and fourth buttons with the bottom edge aligned with the fifth button.
Tuxedo
For formal occasions requiring tuxedos, a vest may be worn in lieu of a cummerbund. Formal vests may be V or U shaped and are traditionally low cut to reveal the shirt. Vests may be fully backed or backless, single or double-breasted. Classic tuxedo vests are black or grey, 100 percent silk or wool. When an event calls for white tie, a white pique vest must be worn.
General Information
Vests, either matching or in complementary colors and patterns, can add personal style to a suit. When purchasing a vest, a fully backed style is preferable to a backless style, especially for day wear when the wearer may remove his jacket.
Tags: button left, button left undone, fifth button, Five Button, fully backed, left undone, patch pocket
