waistcoat vs vest

**Nathan** · 18th July 14, 06:36 AM

I do actually hear the term "jumper" used to refer to clothing but it's always a garment that women and especially little girls wear. It's a sleeveless, collarless dress intended to be worn over a blouse or shirt. Sometimes the bottom half is shorts and the top part is like overalls.

**Calgacus** · 18th July 14, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Ron Abbott

previously? A semmit is still a semmit to me and a vest is still a vest. Maybe the younger generation call them different names in the manner you've mentioned. Trousers is indeed what seems to have become the norm but I still occasionally hear people referring to them as slacks.

I do occasionally hear 'semmit' but I do think the word is slipping out of use, as indeed is the item itself!

**cck** · 18th July 14, 09:10 AM

To answer your first question, it is difficult to tell from the small photo but the jacket looks like an Argyll. A PC will have 2 small tails in the back and usually does not button in the front.

**Tobus** · 18th July 14, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Ron Abbott

previously? A semmit is still a semmit to me and a vest is still a vest. Maybe the younger generation call them different names in the manner you've mentioned. Trousers is indeed what seems to have become the norm but I still occasionally hear people referring to them as slacks.

In my neck of the woods, slacks are specific to dress pants (trousers), and the term does not include blue jeans, khaki trousers, carpenter pants, etc. Slacks are like suit pants. Is it used similarly there, or is it just a generic term for trousers?

**Ron Abbott** · 18th July 14, 04:51 PM

'Blazer and slacks' or 'jacket and slacks' are the terms that I recall being commonly used.

And as for 'blazer', it would normally refer to a navy blue 'suit style' jacket but with gold/brass/staybrite or perhaps silver/silver coloured regimental or faux regimental type buttons, whether single or double breasted.

So slacks would normally be smart grey or perhaps fawn/tan trousers.

Another term for trousers that is sometimes used, although not so much nowadays is 'flannels'.

**Mel1721L** · 19th July 14, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by Leatherneck Donald

Howdy,

In my photo, I'm wearing my PC. At least it was sold to me 15 years ago as a PC, can someone confirm or is it some form of black Argyl?

Anyway, it didn't have a vest with it, so I'm thinking about having my wife make me one as I drop some of this middle age lard.

Is a waistcoat just the front part of a vest with a strap around the the neck and a strap around the waist, sort of an apron, and a vest is like a jacket without sleeves, or are the terms interchangable?

My wife made me a couple of vests for my cowboy action fancy duds, so I know she could make a PC vest, or waistcoat, or whatever it really is.

Thanks!

Waistcoat is the English word for what Americans call a vest. A vest in English is what soft men wear under a shirt, some even in summer!

**WillowEstate** · 19th July 14, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Ron Abbott

previously? A semmit is still a semmit to me and a vest is still a vest. Maybe the younger generation call them different names in the manner you've mentioned. Trousers is indeed what seems to have become the norm but I still occasionally hear people referring to them as slacks.

Oh thank you, Ron, you've made my day! For all of my nearly 7 decades, a vest has been a singlet worn as underwear - it's wonderful to know that I'm still the younger generation!

**OC Richard** · 19th July 14, 05:58 PM

Around here, anyway, nobody would know what "waistcoat" meant.

Yes a "jumper" is a sort of girl's dress; according to Wiki it's called a "pinafore" in Britain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumper_(dress)

Nobody uses the word "trousers" though they would understand it. "Pants" is the general term. "Slacks" are dressy pants which would be worn with a suit, as opposed to "jeans" (or "levis"), "khakis", and "cargo pants".

**Downunder Kilt** · 19th July 14, 08:05 PM

And for the other definition of Jumper on wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumper

**freddie** · 25th July 14, 08:20 AM

I think the term 'Jumper' comes from horse racing. Back in the 1920's steeplechase Jockies in Britain started to wear woollen pullovers instead of the traditional silks (as they ride in the winter). So this style of clothing became known as a 'jumper'. And yes, your kilt jacket looks more like the Argyll style than a Prince Charlie (without vest!).