Winning waistcoats
PRUDENCE WADE takes a look at fashion’s favourite androgynous piece
WHEN you think of relaxed and understated cool in fashion, waistcoats might not be the first thing that spring to mind.
After all, the last time you wore one was likely the mid-Noughties, inspired by the Boho style of Sienna Miller and Kate Moss. Like so many trends from the 2000s, waistcoats have since been banished from our wardrobes and minds.
However, last year saw a resurgence in the popularity of waistcoats for men – largely thanks to England manager Gareth Southgate’s tailored styling at the football World Cup – and now it would seem like the look is seeing a renaissance in womenswear too. Big fashion brands, from Dior to Burberry, have realised there’s a modern way to wear a waistcoat and it’s perfect for the dog days of summer as we start thinking about transitional dressing.
Here’s how to wear a tailored vest in 2020...
CHECK PRINTS
FROM Burberry to Louis Vuitton, labels have fallen in love with check-print waistcoats. There’s also been an uptick in matching your whole outfit both on the runways and on Instagram, with trousers, jackets and waistcoats all in similar patterns and colours. Call it the Clueless effect – the film might be 25 years old, but we’re learning style lessons from it.
On the more extreme side of things Burberry put model Joan Smalls in a full suit and waistcoat in a mix of houndstooth and the iconic Nova print.
MASCULINE TAILORING
WITH the lines between male and female dressing becoming increasingly blurred, waistcoats – traditionally part of a masculine three-piece suit – are the perfect way to bring some androgyny into your outfit. Paired with a matching suit and jacket, it’s a sharp and modern take on the trend.
NOTHING UNDERNEATH
AT the other end of the spectrum, an ultra-feminine way to wear waistcoats is with nothing underneath.
When worn like this with jeans, a simple black waistcoat channels Nineties-inspired minimalism. Layer with lots of delicate necklaces to really capture the vibe.
LOOSE AND CHIC
WAISTCOATS were particularly popular back in the Seventies, with fashion icons like Bianca Jagger and Jane Fonda championing waistcoats – not to mention Diane Keaton’s iconic outfit in the 1977 film Annie Hall.
To tap into the Seventies vibe without feeling dated, opt for loose silhouettes in light materials like crepe or linen. It’s all about a relaxed approach to the trend. If you can’t find actual waistcoats that work for this, ‘sleeveless blazers’ fit the bill just as well.