Is a vest meant to hold you in?

[reetpleat]

looking at various photos of gents of the forum in three piece suits, I got to noticing nad thinking about something.

Most of my three piece suits, in fact all of them, are vintage, and most came to me pretty close to a perfect fit.

On all of them the vest was much snugger than the jacket, and required, upon putting it on, for me to suck in a little and button it up. I like the feel of it and after a few minutes, you get used to it, correct your posture and hold yourself in so it does not feel tight. This seems to leave you looking good in a vest that does not pull, but also does not bag.

I would posit, that a traditional suit of the time, was designed to have the vest a bit snug and to correct the posture a bit, and that it is a more modern trend to have the vest just hanging around for decoration.

But I am only speaking from my experience, and know nothing about traditional suit fitting or custom tailoring.

thoughts?

 

[Tomasso]

Vests should fit close but not so tight that there's pulling at the buttons; they ain't meant to be girdles.

 

[reetpleat]

Vests should fit close but not so tight that there's pulling at the buttons; they ain't meant to be girdles.

I would agree. tight enough to psycologically hold you in, but not to actually do so physically.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Seeing older movies and photos shows and owning the vintage myself, you are right... the fit of the vest was a bit snug. It should be... you don't really want a roaming piece of fabric under your suit jacket. I see many companies today making them very loose and drapey and it defeats the purpose of the vest and how it helps show of your form.

 

[reetpleat]

Seeing older movies and photos shows and owning the vintage myself, you are right... the fit of the vest was a bit snug. It should be... you don't really want a roaming piece of fabric under your suit jacket. I see many companies today making them very loose and drapey and it defeats the purpose of the vest and how it helps show of your form.

Of course, a heavier fabric helps keep it from bagging etc. There is nothing quite as nice as the look you get when you take your jacket off and you are all neat and kempt in your just right vest, displaying your military posture, having just gotten discharged from the big one.

 

[adamjaskie]

It is a nice feeling. Like a constant, gentle hug.

It does hold you in a little, but yeah, if you tighten up the belt and suck in to put it on, it's going too be pulling at the buttons. If you've just got a little bit of loose floppy stuff it will keep that up off your waistband, though.

 

[Howard Hughes]

VEST/WAISTCOAT

Whatto Chaps,

The vest/waiscoat was designed to cover the wearers braces/suspenders, which were, and in some circles still are, classed as underwear.
This enabled the wearer to take off his jacket when he became a little hot under the collar, so to speak, and not display his how-do-you-dos.
Toodleoo
HH

 

[BellyTank]

The vest/waistcoat has been around a long time...


"the King hath yesterday in council declared his resolution of setting a fashion for clothes which he will never alter.
It will be a vest, I know not well how".

S. Pepys,
1666


B
T

 

[armod]

I'd imagine the waistcoat would make you look good at work if you're always sitting up straight and tall.

I imagined that the waistcoat make you look like you were working harder than if you were just wearing a shirt (assuming you take your jacket off at work). just the impression it makes, this with the posture could prove to be an advantage

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It is a nice feeling. Like a constant, gentle hug.

It's a mild corset ... for those who like to be tightly bound.


.

 

[WideBrimm]

"Is a vest/waistcoat meant to hold you in?"

Nope! Certainly not when wearing it unbuttoned, casually, without a suit/sport coat

Just think of all those waistcoat buttons popping after a big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!

 

[GBR]

No: It is NOT a corset.

 

[Tomasso]

No: It is NOT a corset.

Unless a beautiful woman wishes it to be. [huh]





I feel so cheap.......