The extra piece
Be it formal or relaxed, the waistcoat looks set on becoming a key trend this year.
DESPITE its smart and formal connotations, the waistcoat stands to become the “it” piece for men’s fashion in 2017, bucking a broader trend for lighter, relaxed clothing next season.
This sleeveless garment, often a component of a three-piece suit along with trousers and a jacket, is typically worn over a shirt and partially covers the waist.
Fashion experts say the current waistcoat styles are “deeply cut or detailed with small lapels.”
Waistcoats will not only be worn in combination with a suit: the forecast predicts they will be paired mainly with casual clothing like jeans and chinos.
Indeed, generally speaking “the casualisation of men’s fashion is forging ahead,” according to a trend report from Germany’s Fashion Institute.
Some fashion brands are already dressing their models in this informal way, combining denim trousers, denim shirts and a colour-coordinated waistcoat on top. Sometimes a tie is thrown into the mix.
For a more elegant variant of the waistcoat and jeans look, the otherwise classic combination of a white shirt and a colourful pocket handkerchief can be donned - thought to be a musthave accessory of the season. – dpa