Differences Between Vest And Waistcoat

UK : Waistcoat US : Vest

Vest vs. Waistcoat
Vests and waistcoats are just two of the many types of garments men wear. Amongst so many others, these two come in the most common ones and are the most popular. Within these two categories, there are many sub categories that are available. In this article, we will describe a typical vest and a typical waistcoat and illustrate the difference between the two.

The word vest comes from the French word ‘veste’ which means jacket, sport coat, the Latin word vestis and the Italian word vesta which means a robe or a gown. In very simple and general terms, a vest is a garment that covers the upper part of the body and is sleeveless. It is also used to refer to a sleeveless under-jacket in some places. Moreover, in some places, the term vest may also be used as a reference to a variety of other garments that include padded sleeveless jackets, sports tank tops etc. The former is commonly used for hunting. Another type is the fishing vest which is unique in the sense that it has prominent front pockets for carrying fishing gear.

A waistcoat, like a vest, is also a garment that covers the upper body and is sleeveless. It is similar in this as well as the look it gives when worn. In fact, a waistcoat is referred to as a vest in American English. However the two are not the same in their true sense. The most important difference between the two is that a vest is an informal garment that can be worn without anything underneath it. On the other hand, a waistcoat is a formal garment that is usually worn over a shirt and a necktie. It makes part of an executive or business suit and is worn under the coat as part of men’s formal wear. It is also the third piece of the typical male business three-piece suit.

Another difference between a vest and a waistcoat is the presence of buttons. There are no buttons or snaps in a vest and that is why the way to wear a vest is to pull it down your neck. This is not the same for a waistcoat, which has buttons or snaps that can be fastened or unfastened. Therefore, it has a full opening in the front that is vertical. Moving on, two main types of waistcoats are available; single-breasted and double-breasted and both are very common regardless of the dress formality. Waistcoats may or may not have revers or lapels which is dependent on the style.

The difference between the two is also of dialect. In Europe, and Britain in particular, the difference between a vest and a waistcoat is better understood; they use the term waistcoat to refer to the actual waistcoat that is worn as the third piece of a suit. Americans, however, commonly use the term vest to refer to a waistcoat.

In recent times, vests have served many different purposes; there are different types of vests available for different purposes, some of which were mentioned earlier. Waistcoats normally do not have a number of purposes; it is just a formal garment that is worn under the coat as part of a business suit.

Summary
1. The word vest comes from the French word ‘veste’ which means jacket, sport coat, the Latin word vestis and the Italian word vesta which means a robe or a gown, a vest is a garment that covers the upper part of the body and is sleeveless; a waistcoat is also a garment that covers the upper body and is sleeveless

2. The most important difference between the two is that a vest is an informal garment that can be worn without anything underneath it; a waistcoat is a formal garment that is usually worn over a shirt and a necktie, makes part of an executive or business suit and is worn under the coat as part of men’s formal wear; it is also the third piece of the typical male business three-piece suit

3. The difference between the two is also of dialect

4. There are different types of vests for different purposes but waistcoats are more or less similar and serve the same purpose

Sharing is caring!