Today I’d like to look at some casual waistcoats for men. A waistcoat is an easy option to maintain casual style for men with just a touch of elegance. Whether it has a smooth silk satin back with lining, or a self back (the same fabric as in front) can determine the coat is formal or casual. And of course simply by the look of it. It’s actually hard to find mens casual waistcoats – you find a rustic tweed front with check pattern, and don’t find a matching jacket & trousers. So you think it would go with jeans, but its entire back is a shiny satin and decide it’s “formal”.
Traditionally gentlemen should not take his jacket off, and formal waistcoats had a satin back so that they would slide smoothly against the suit jacket, also to reduce the bulk.
I find it amusing as I find some brand waistcoats that really have a subtle, chic & stylish front, but their back design is as flamboyant as Bollywood. So fabulously crazy that you could rise like a phoenix. You never get to see it much yourself, but I guess that’s the beauty of multi-coloured inner lining.
So vests with a self back – casual waistcoats – were traditionally worn by workmen who didn’t wear suits, who needed some warmth at the back. In other words, a vest with a self back should not be worn under a suit jacket, otherwise it would be too warm & bulky.
Of course all this is a traditional rule. We’ve all seen guys take off their jackets in the office and startle their colleagues by showing their Bollywood back, haven’t we?
In less formal office environment we see many guys wearing a V-neck knit jumper on top of a shirt, with or without a tie. In the Summer you can enjoy shirts in all sorts of different styles (colours, striped, spotty, paisley, chequered, etc.) But the choice of Winter smart-casual office clothing is quite limited; V-neck (or crewneck) knit jumpers on the market are predominantly plain. You can probably keep a few in different colours in your wardrobe but they’re all the same. A Knit vest can make you look like Chandler. Long sleeve cardigans – possibly have some for a variety?
Frankly the idea of wearing knit jumpers throughout the Winter is boring. It’s always handy to have some waistcoats. They look certainly smarter than knitwear. See if we can wear it with jeans or chinos. Best not to wear a belt when you wear a waistcoat by the way – a belt in between the vest and trousers would make your waist area bulky, also with the lining adjuster your back would look too crowded with a belt.
Mens Casual Waistcoats – Collared Waistcoats
Another feature of casual waistcoats is that they are often collared. So here is John Lewis & Co’s own made “Abraham Moon” series. John Lewis is known as a department store but since their first establishment in 1864 (just over 150 years ago!) it has always created its own brand products and it has a traditional menswear collection as well.
Clockwise from top-left; Oxblood, Navy, Airforce Blue, Charcoal but there are many other colours available such as Sage Green, Gold, Natural and Khaki.
100% wool front & back, with 5 buttons and 2 button-fastened pockets, slim notch lapels with a lining adjuster/buckle at the back.
The above is my favourite – £100 £70 reduce to clear, so will probably disappear shortly. 100% wool woven at the Alfred Brown mill in Yorkshire, featuring a five-button front, two welt pockets, slim notch lapels, and a reverse fitted with a buckle adjuster. I like the fact that the wool material comes to about an inch of either side at the back.
Shops are all in the middle of January clearance sale, means new items will come in shortly. I’ll update this page to show more mens casual waistcoats in the near future. Any comments will be appreciated!
*** February 2016 Update!
This is new Limbolo Herringbone Jersey Waistcoat from Ted Baker, 70% cotton, 30% Polyester and machine washable waistcoat has a Herringbone pattern and modern fit.
And this fantastic waistcoat can be worn under the blazer, that is Limboe Herringbone Jersey Blazer on the right.
Crafted in the same Herringbone weave, slim fit, two-button front as you can see. Front flap pockets, three-button cuffs and a welt chest pocket complete with a geo print pocket square.
Same 70% cotton, 30% Polyester mix but the blazer is dry-cleaning only.
Lastly I must show you one from my favourite store, Joe Browns.
I personally prefer the grey one to the olive, but the grey is out of stock right now. Both are collared and have a burgundy back.
Is the waistcoat undergoing a resurgence? I buy all my husbands clothes and although he works in a semi formal office, I can’t imagine him wearing a waistcoat. I don’t deny it might look good on a fit young body but I am not so sure about the more mature body with (possibly) a slight paunch.
Hi Lou, thanks for your comment. Do you know there’s a corset for men…lol but seriously my partner bought it for Christmas for himself (too embarrassed to ask me to give him as a present). He only tried it for a few hours and gave up, to suffocating. My colleague at work wears a waistcoat and he’s seriously big/obese, he looks great with it. Winston Churchill was wearing it all the time! I’m sure you could get your husband to try one!
Waistcoats have and old classy look to them. Wearing a waistcoat makes you look like a real business man. I’ve never actually bought one but I plan one in the future. It will make you stand out more in an important business meeting where things can get serious if you are not top notch haha.
Good Stuff!
Chris