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Deconstructing the classic men's suit: bring on the waistcoat
Remember the skinny tie? Adorned by all the young men in those now classic 80's movies, the skinny tie was an element that came from the classic men's formal suit. It could be dressed up or down and worn to accentuate looks or to simply ruin others and the skinny tie has become emblematic of that time. Other parts of the suit have also served as the forerunner in men's fashion in the past for example the casual look of sporting a suit jacket over a t-shirt paired with jeans. Not many women have been on a date where this ensemble hadn't faced them.
These trends we endured and even in retrospect have become somewhat endearing. There are also pieces of the suit that have not separated from the herd, like cufflinks or those old fashioned sock garters. Imagine a man strutting down the street in a pair of shorts with his socks hiked up with some garters? We can all be glad this has never come out of the suit to stand on its own.
The next piece of the suit to break out on its own is the waistcoat. These are not the waistcoats of yesteryear; don’t think Oliver Twist costumes with monocles in pockets! This new breed of waistcoats are updated laid back versions which are being seen on the streets, catwalks and red carpets. Singer Lemar recently performed live wearing a smart waistcoat over a white silk shirt. Stars Jude Law and Russell Brand, often considered leaders in men's style, have also been seen donning this new 'must have' accessory and like most trends that started on the catwalk, they now can be found readily available on the high street.
The best choices for style are plainer patterns like pin stripes or simple black or grey solids. They don’t need to be worn with the classic suit shirt either. Worn over a nice t-shirt, a waistcoat works well as a casual, or it could be used to jazz up a vest, if you have the chest for it and want to share. For a smarter look it can be paired with the classic button down but in these situations go for something a bit more flashy; this isn’t your granddad's waistcoat and nor do you want to look like you are going for the prom look!
With these tips in mind any fashion conscious male can confidently add this accessory to their wardrobe. It's probably a good idea to try them on as they will each have a different fit ranging from body huggingly fitted to really loose. Keep in mind the shirts or other chosen undergarments to best pair them with as this will have an impact on the final look. There are a lot of men's waistcoats out there to choose from but bear in mind that it takes a lot longer for men's trends to go out of fashion so all the men out there can be assured that there is a good chance that this will last for some time yet.