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 The men's waistcoats
first were designed as the men's suit item, yet it was not called a waistcoat
then. In XVII the first original classic
waistcoat was designed with long sleeves and rather long flaps as the undergarment
to the suit for everyday use. Such suits were always seen in the wardrobe of the
respected and noble gentleman in Europe. This undergarment was manufactured off
the same fabric as the traditional suit. And only hundreds years later the
waistcoat gets out of the sleeves and got shorter in length. It was no more
practical garment to the suit; it became a separate garment that could be worn
as the accessory item. And such luxury fabrics were offered for waistcoats as
brocade, cashmere, velvet with buttons from precious gems.
Trendy
garments for men are always more conservative as compared with those for women
when talking about clothing for everyday use not for runways. And perhaps this is
the reason why men's suits today are more attracted with the wear from old
times, sometimes keeping to them strongly but sometimes changing a little bit.
There is
still too little information on the origin and mother place of the waistcoat
though France is considered as one of the possible places to give birth to the waistcoat.
The first person who launched the first tailored waistcoat was known as Gilet
according to the popular belief.
When the
waistcoat won the hearts of the men in France, it was considered as the worst
garment in Russia. The historians take the view that Paul I, emperor of Russia,
announced the waistcoat as the reason for the French revolution and it was
forbidden to wear there.
Though the waistcoats
were used as the undergarment to the suit, they could also be functional,
particularly in the winter when guys could keep the chill from their tummies
and backs in the most elegant of manners.
In the
early XX the waistcoat is still in the men's suit though sooner it loses its
fame. The fact was partly caused by the
central heating system installed in houses when people refused wearing abundant
clothing. They preferred other suits and costumes, not that official but the
same elegant, and that was the time when waistcoats were forgotten. The costume
with the waistcoat as the fashion item was launched again in ‘60s though these
garments were fairly expensive to acquire and in most cases were tailored.
Modern vs.
Classic trends
The waistcoat
is definitely a complicated piece of clothes of men and it should sit
perfectly. Should the waistcoat sits wrongly, it will spoil the whole
impression of the image when bristling triangle flaps, folds created on the
back of the waistcoat, the puffy look from the front and lower buttons undone
create the image that is not perfectly designed and made but not on the poor taste
of the man.
Traditional
men's waistcoat should go over the waist band. When the belt, or a belt buckle
or the shirts are seen down the waistcoat, it is bad manners. The good quality
waistcoat does not squeeze in the chest to feel uncomfortable or stiff, yet it
should be tight in the waistline. As the part of the men's suit, the waistcoat
should be seen slightly from behind the jacket.
Currently the
waistcoats are launched as trendy fashion items with luxury leather trimming.
The waistcoat over the shirt makes a man look slimmer and attractive drawing
attention to the bearer. Trendy waistcoat is in use by men for everyday use,
just changing colors, patterns or unique design of buttons. The waistcoat is
one of the favorite accessories of creative people who make them functional
using for warmth and glamorous for eveningwear.
Not every
single piece of clothes can be named as the waistcoat. The knitted clothing without
sleeves can be named as cardigan whereas the waistcoat keeps its cut and design
to be called like this in spite of some slight deviation from traditions.
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