waistcoat vs vest

[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!

[Downunder Kilt]

From the small image I would say that you are wearing a Argyll type jacket. As far as waistcoat/vest, it depends and where you hail from. They are one of the same item and can broadly be defined as a jacket without sleeves. The other type that you refer to is what can be seen at white tie events where one wears a marcella fronted false waistcoat. If you visit the Gentlemens Emporium website you will see a wide variety of waistcoats/vests. Cheers and all the best with your project.

[Nathan]

If she can make you a waistcoat/vest (same thing) that's great. A good rule of thumb is that for black tie, a deep gorged 3 button waistcoat is preferable. The standard Highland style has lapels.

For wearing your black Argyll with a long necktie, a normal 5 button waistcoat is preferable. You might save her effort by looking for a black vest in a similar fabric and just changing the buttons. You can order the buttons to match your Argyll online.

Often black wool vests are in thrift shops where I live but I'm not sure how it is in your neck of the woods.

N

[Leatherneck Donald]

Good scoop, gents. Thanks.

[Jock Scot]

I think there is also a Trans-Atlantic difference of terminology too. A vest is often( not always) thought of over here as the garment worn under a shirt. It's rather like the word "pants" have a very different meaning over here to what you over there would know.

[OC Richard]

This has come up before- it seems that the word "vest" has fairly recently changed, in Scotland, from being synonymous with "waistcoat" to referring to an undershirt.

I have a large number of vintage Highland Dress catalogues printed in Scotland from the 1920s up through the 1950s and "vest" is the common word especially in the older catalogues; some of the newer catalogues use both "vest" and "waistcoat" interchangeably. Perhaps "waistcoat" immigrated up from England and eventually ousted "vest" in Scotland.

[Calgacus]

Here's a quick glossary-

USA----------Scotland
Vest----------Waistcoat (previously vest)
Undershirt----Vest (Previously semmit)
Underwear---Pants
Pants---------Trousers
Wingtips------Brogues
Sweater------Jumper (also sweater, pullover)
Sneakers-----Trainers

[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.

[Nathan]

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.

You seem to use the same conventions as my dad.

[JohntheBiker]

Canadians often wander around in the middle ground. Pants, trousers and slacks are used interchangeably. You will hear both brogues or wingtips but most folks aren't familiar with men's shoe styles. Both vest and waistcoat are used to describe the "sleeveless coat". Underwear is often referred to by style - e.g. briefs or boxers and jumpers and trainers don't make it across the pond. In fact, sneakers are, as often as not, referred to as running shoes.

What you are used to and every changing.