A waistcoat is an essential part of a three-piece suit. Consisting of a sleeveless upper-body garment, it's worn over a dress shirt and under a suit jacket. You can find waistcoats in different colors, materials, patterns and styles. Regardless, they are worn in conjunction with a dress shirt and jacket to achieve a three-piece suit. If you're thinking about wearing one, however, you should avoid the following mistakes.
#1) Same Color as Dress Shirt
Waistcoats shouldn't feature the exact same color as the dress shirts with which they are worn. You should still choose a waistcoat in a color that flows cohesively with your dress shirt. Nonetheless, you shouldn't choose a waistcoat in the exact same color as your dress shirt.
If your waistcoat and dress shirt feature the same color, they'll blend together without any real sense of visual separation. You can choose a waistcoat in the same color as your trousers, but you should avoid choosing a waistcoat in the same color as your dress shirt.
#2) Wearing Tie Over the Top
Avoid wearing your necktie over the top of your waistcoat. Waistcoats are almost always worn with some type of tie. Both two-piece and three-piece suits require a tie to complete their respective formal style. And the only difference between two-piece and three-piece suits is that the latter includes a waistcoat. Rather than wearing your necktie over the top of your waistcoat, though, you should wear it underneath your waistcoat.
When tucked underneath your waistcoat, your necktie will remain in place. You won't have to worry about falling out or getting in your way. Your waistcoat will essentially hold it in place -- all while projecting a clean and formal style in the process.
#3) Overlooking Thickness
Some waistcoats are thicker than others. When choosing a waistcoat, you should consider the thickness to determine whether it will fit comfortably. If it's too thick, you may not be able to comfortably wear your suit jacket over it. As previously mentioned, waistcoats are worn over a dress shirt and under a suit jacket.
The material from which a waistcoat is made will determine its thickness. Linen and cotton waistcoats are thinner than corduroy and wool waistcoats. You may want to choose a waistcoat in one of these thin materials if your suit jacket already fits somewhat tight. If your suit jacket is loose or baggy, on the other hand, you may want to choose a waistcoat in a thicker material.
#4) Wrinkles, Wrinkles, Wrinkles!
Never wear a wrinkled waistcoat. Waistcoats can develop wrinkles just like most other suit garments and accessories. Minor creases can turn into stubborn wrinkles that are difficult to remove. While wearing a wrinkled waistcoat may sound harmless, it's a serious faux pas. It will project a messy appearance that takes away from the otherwise clean and formal style of your three-piece suit.
You can protect your waistcoat from wrinkles by following these tips:
- Store your waistcoat on a heavy-duty clothes hanger, such as an all-wood hanger, when you aren't wearing it.
- Be sure to wear your suit jacket over your waistcoat.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding maintenance. You may be able to press or steam your waistcoat to eliminate wrinkles.
- Choose a waistcoat made of a wrinkle-resistant material.
- Make sure your waistcoat is the right size (see below).
#5) Wrong Size
You should avoid choosing a waistcoat in the wrong size. If it's too big, it will look baggy and unflattering. Oversized waistcoats have a bunch of excess material. And with this excess material, they are susceptible to wrinkles.
If your waistcoat is too small, conversely, it may constrict your upper body. The size matters when choosing a waistcoat. You don't want to end up with a waistcoat that's too big or too small. Rather, you should choose a waistcoat in the right size for your body.
#6) Ignoring Pockets
Waistcoats are available in many different styles. While some of these styles don't have pockets, others do have pockets. It's not uncommon for waistcoats to feature a pair of pockets on the front. Many waistcoats have a single pocket on the bottom left and bottom right sides of the front.
Pockets add a unique visual element to waistcoats. Rather than featuring a smooth front, your waistcoat will have a more intricate front if it has pockets. Furthermore, you can use the pockets to keep your hands warm on otherwise cold winter days. The bottom line is that you shouldn't ignore pockets when choosing, as well as wearing, a waistcoat.
#7) Not Fastening All Buttons
Don't leave some of the buttons unfastened. You can find waistcoats in different materials, but they all have buttons on the front. Most waistcoats have a single column of buttons on the front. Rather than leaving some of them unfastened, you should fasten all of the buttons when wearing your waistcoat.
Waistcoats are designed to contour to the body when worn. They offer a form-fitting design that "hugs" the body. But if only some of the buttons are fastened, they won't offer this same form-fitting design. Instead, waistcoats will fit loosely while projecting an awkward appearance. You can avoid problems such as this by fastening all of the buttons on your waistcoat.
#8) Clashing Pattern
Finally, avoid choosing a waistcoat in a pattern that clashes with the rest of your suit. Waistcoats are used in three-piece suits. If you're going to wear a three-piece suit, you'll need to choose an appropriate waistcoat for it. Three-piece suits consist of a suit jacket, trousers and a waistcoat -- along with other garments and accessories like a dress shirt and a necktie. But the pattern of your waistcoat should flow cohesively with the rest of your suit.
Some patterns clash with each other. Vertical stripes and horizontal stripes, for example, typically clash. You can choose a waistcoat with vertical stripes if your suit jacket and trousers feature vertical stripes as well. Alternatively, you can choose a waistcoat with horizontal stripes if your suit jacket and trousers feature horizontal stripes. However, you should avoid mixing horizontal and vertical stripes together in the same suit outfit.
