Vest question

matei · 02-25-2005, 08:18 PM

Greetings all!

I have a number of single-breasted suits, and none of them have vests. Is it poor form to wear a suit sans vest?

Was it done "back in the day"?

Chamorro · 02-26-2005, 12:32 AM

Of course it was done back in the day. You're fine without. Doesn't mean you can't mix it up once in a while though.

Mr. Rover · 02-26-2005, 04:29 AM

I think the vest was done year round, but in the hotter months, I believe you could go around vest-less. In movies I see that take place in the winter, the vest is worn, obviously because it's cold and it adds additional warmth. But if you watch a movie, say Casablanca, Bogey isn't wear a vest in the marketplace scene, simply because it's uncomfortable to.

Mycroft · 02-26-2005, 02:39 PM

I agree with Ghos7a55assin, don't where it in warm climates or weather. I like vests, but I have not got a suit with one yet.

matei · 02-26-2005, 02:50 PM

Thanks fellas for the sound advice as always.

That is what is really cool about this board... For years I have had all this little, niggling questions - but there was no one to pose them to!

Mycroft · 02-26-2005, 03:06 PM

No problem.

Matt Deckard · 02-28-2005, 02:35 PM

I need more vested suits.

Mycroft · 02-28-2005, 02:36 PM

Me too Matt.

Mr. Rover · 02-28-2005, 03:27 PM

I need a double breasted suit! I have 2 vintage suits, but they're both single breasted 3-piece suits. I'm not complaining though. They're both great suits. Good place to start a collection, I think. But I think the double breasted jacket screams 30's and 40's film noir. So keep an eye out for any super small sized suits! Like 36S sized.

Mycroft · 02-28-2005, 03:30 PM

I prefer single, maybe since I never had double. How is a vest with a double-brested like?

Wild Root · 02-28-2005, 08:40 PM

Double breasted suits with matching vest are the best! They had them all through the 20's and into the 50's! In the 40's they didn't make vests because of the war.

The vest played a big roll in suits mostly from the 20's to the early years of the 40's. But, if you don't have a vest with your vintage suit, what's the big deal? You'll just see more of the tie then. You could find a nice sweater vest and wear it with your suit. That was done many times!

Good luck,

Root.

PS. If you look close, you can see vests on the Double breasted suits.

Wild Root · 02-28-2005, 08:43 PM

This was a photo I saved from an ebay auction I saw. It's very hard to find a three piece double breasted, but they were very common back then!

Root.

Mycroft · 02-28-2005, 09:25 PM

Thanks for the info and pics Root. Also, the father (Mr. Banks) in Mary Poppin's wears a suit with a red sweater vest.

Mr. Rover · 03-01-2005, 08:56 AM

The fact that they were common means there are less of them now, because everyone wore them day-in, day-out.
Anyways, I read that the reason why double breasted suits got so popular in the 30's and 40's, especially with the younger scene, was the fact that you DIDN'T need to wear a vest with it. The vest was integral to a single breasted suit because people wanted to cover up more of the tie, considering the ties in fashion were so short. Double breasted suits, because the overlap of lapels is so much higher, can be worn without a vest and still have that higher, smaller-cut V around the chest, which was the look back then.

ray

Mycroft · 03-01-2005, 03:40 PM

Wow, I did not know that, thanks for the history.

02-25-2005, 08:18 PM	#1
matei Practically Family Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 918	Vest question Greetings all! I have a number of single-breasted suits, and none of them have vests. Is it poor form to wear a suit sans vest? Was it done "back in the day"?

02-26-2005, 02:39 PM	#4
Mycroft Call Me a Cab Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida, U.S.A. for now Posts: 2,009	I agree with Ghos7a55assin, don't where it in warm climates or weather. I like vests, but I have not got a suit with one yet. __________________ Member of Dumpster Divers International Since 2006

02-26-2005, 03:06 PM	#6
Mycroft Call Me a Cab Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida, U.S.A. for now Posts: 2,009	No problem. __________________ Member of Dumpster Divers International Since 2006

02-28-2005, 02:35 PM	#7
Matt Deckard Bartender Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: A devout capitalist in Rosemead CA. Posts: 8,624	I need more vested suits. __________________ Matt Deckard Apparel Deckard's Guide Looking for my Emma Peel. END OF LINE

02-28-2005, 02:36 PM	#8
Mycroft Call Me a Cab Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida, U.S.A. for now Posts: 2,009	Me too Matt. __________________ Member of Dumpster Divers International Since 2006

02-26-2005, 12:32 AM	#2
Chamorro "A" List Customer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles Posts: 324	Of course it was done back in the day. You're fine without. Doesn't mean you can't mix it up once in a while though.

02-26-2005, 04:29 AM	#3
Mr. Rover One Too Many Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Center of the Universe Posts: 1,879	I think the vest was done year round, but in the hotter months, I believe you could go around vest-less. In movies I see that take place in the winter, the vest is worn, obviously because it's cold and it adds additional warmth. But if you watch a movie, say Casablanca, Bogey isn't wear a vest in the marketplace scene, simply because it's uncomfortable to.

02-26-2005, 02:50 PM	#5
matei Practically Family Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 918	Thanks fellas for the sound advice as always. That is what is really cool about this board... For years I have had all this little, niggling questions - but there was no one to pose them to!

02-28-2005, 03:27 PM	#9
Mr. Rover One Too Many Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Center of the Universe Posts: 1,879	I need a double breasted suit! I have 2 vintage suits, but they're both single breasted 3-piece suits. I'm not complaining though. They're both great suits. Good place to start a collection, I think. But I think the double breasted jacket screams 30's and 40's film noir. So keep an eye out for any super small sized suits! Like 36S sized.

02-28-2005, 03:30 PM	#10
Mycroft Call Me a Cab Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida, U.S.A. for now Posts: 2,009	I prefer single, maybe since I never had double. How is a vest with a double-brested like? __________________ Member of Dumpster Divers International Since 2006

02-28-2005, 08:40 PM	#11
Wild Root Gone Home Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Monrovia California. Posts: 5,590	Double breasted suits with matching vest are the best! They had them all through the 20's and into the 50's! In the 40's they didn't make vests because of the war. The vest played a big roll in suits mostly from the 20's to the early years of the 40's. But, if you don't have a vest with your vintage suit, what's the big deal? You'll just see more of the tie then. You could find a nice sweater vest and wear it with your suit. That was done many times! Good luck, Root. PS. If you look close, you can see vests on the Double breasted suits. __________________ Wrong is wrong even if every one says it's right. Right is right even if every one else says it's wrong. -Hugh Beaumont

02-28-2005, 08:43 PM	#12
Wild Root Gone Home Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Monrovia California. Posts: 5,590	This was a photo I saved from an ebay auction I saw. It's very hard to find a three piece double breasted, but they were very common back then! Root. __________________ Wrong is wrong even if every one says it's right. Right is right even if every one else says it's wrong. -Hugh Beaumont

02-28-2005, 09:25 PM	#13
Mycroft Call Me a Cab Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida, U.S.A. for now Posts: 2,009	Thanks for the info and pics Root. Also, the father (Mr. Banks) in Mary Poppin's wears a suit with a red sweater vest. __________________ Member of Dumpster Divers International Since 2006

03-01-2005, 08:56 AM	#14
Mr. Rover One Too Many Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Center of the Universe Posts: 1,879	The fact that they were common means there are less of them now, because everyone wore them day-in, day-out. Anyways, I read that the reason why double breasted suits got so popular in the 30's and 40's, especially with the younger scene, was the fact that you DIDN'T need to wear a vest with it. The vest was integral to a single breasted suit because people wanted to cover up more of the tie, considering the ties in fashion were so short. Double breasted suits, because the overlap of lapels is so much higher, can be worn without a vest and still have that higher, smaller-cut V around the chest, which was the look back then. ray

03-01-2005, 03:40 PM	#15
Mycroft Call Me a Cab Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida, U.S.A. for now Posts: 2,009	Wow, I did not know that, thanks for the history. __________________ Member of Dumpster Divers International Since 2006

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