Vintage Vests and Waistcoats

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A men’s vest, also known as a waistcoat in the U.K., is a piece of sleeveless clothing designed to be worn on the upper body. Vintage vests range from casual sweater vests to the more formal buttoned garment that makes up the third part of a...
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A men’s vest, also known as a waistcoat in the U.K., is a piece of sleeveless clothing designed to be worn on the upper body. Vintage vests range from casual sweater vests to the more formal buttoned garment that makes up the third part of a traditional three-piece business suit. Other vests are designed for specific sporting activities, like a quilted jockey’s vest for horse riding, a many-pocketed canvas vest for fishing, or a shooting vest with reinforced shoulder patches. In 1666, King Charles II of England originally introduced the waistcoat to the English court as an essential part of correct dress, borrowing the fashion from a style known as a Persian vest. This long waistcoat made from English wool was worn along with a knee-length coat and shirt. Gradually, waistcoat styles shortened until they reached the modern length around 1790. In the 17th and 18th centuries, these vests were often elaborately decorated with colorful fabrics and embroidered detailing, some of which included political themes or literary references. During the early 19th century, many fashionable men wore corsets with a tight-fitting waistcoat over them to emphasize a narrow waist. In contrast, by the end of the century, the barrel-chested King Edward VII helped usher in a trend for larger male physiques, supposedly often leaving his bottom vest button undone. After the Industrial Revolution, men’s vests became more utilitarian, typically made in subdued fabrics with limited embellishment. For the first half of the 20th century, vests remained an essential part of male business attire, only departing as office fashions became more casual.

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