waistcoat vs vest

**Leatherneck Donald** · 17th July 14, 04:45 PM

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** · 17th July 14, 05:02 PM

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** · 17th July 14, 05:09 PM

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** · 17th July 14, 05:12 PM

Good scoop, gents. Thanks.

**Jock Scot** · 18th July 14, 02:51 AM

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** · 18th July 14, 04:06 AM

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.

**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!