The Vest: An Accessory You Definitely Want For Your Modern Suit

For many years the vest, also known as the waistcoat, was a critical part of any male suit. Originally, it was worn as a practical garment to provide warmth and an added layer under a coat. However, over time, it evolved into a statement piece of formal wear.

While the use of the vest has declined in recent decades as attire has become more casual, it's still worth considering having one in the wardrobe, because a well-chosen vest not only enhances the overall aesthetic of your outfit but also adds a sense of tradition and style.

Why People Wore Vests in the Past

In colder climates, layering was essential to stay warm, and the vest provided much-needed insulation in critical parts of the body while also allowing flexibility and movement.

But it also looks good as part of a suit, so in addition to its practical purpose, the vest served a social and fashion function. As men’s fashion became more formal, the vest became an indispensable part of the suit, completing the ensemble and offering a more refined look when the jacket was removed.

For over three centuries, the vest has been a symbol of formality and sophistication. In the 19th century, vests became highly decorated, allowing men to express their individuality and social status through various fabrics, colours, and patterns. Unfortunately, as other ways to heat the body became commonplace (most notably, central heating for indoor environments), the vest’s role was reduced to something for formal wear purposes alone.

Why Consider a Vest for Your Suit Today?

Though the vest is not as widely worn today as it once was, it remains a powerful accessory and one of the most effective ways to make you stand out from people wearing suits in a more casual manner. Incorporating a vest into your suit offers several benefits:

1. Adds Authority To Your Presence: The vest is a hallmark of formal wear. Whether you're attending a wedding, a business meeting, or a formal event, a vest can lend an air of authority and polish to your outfit.

2. Offers Flexibility: When you remove your jacket, a vest ensures you maintain a professional and put-together appearance. This can be especially useful during long events where you may not want to wear your jacket the entire time. So, ironically, where once the vest was a piece of clothing for warmth, now it also a way of staying comfortable in hotter environments while still appearing formal!

3. A Unique Style Statement: While most people opt for the standard two-piece suit, adding a vest sets you apart from the crowd. It's a subtle yet powerful way to express your style.

4. Seasonal Versatility: In cooler months, a vest provides that extra warmth and might mean you don’t need to carry a heavy coat around with you outside.

Exploring Vest Options

When it comes to choosing a vest, there are several styles and cuts to consider. The right vest will depend on the type of suit you're wearing, the occasion, and your personal style, and for this reason it’s a good idea to speak to your tailor to get their thoughts.

Here are some common options:

Single-Breasted Vest: This is the most common style, typically featuring five or six buttons. It's a versatile option that works well with most suits, and it offers a classic, understated look.

Double-Breasted Vest: For a more formal or daring look, a double-breasted vest is an excellent choice. This style features two rows of buttons and often creates a more structured, elegant appearance.

Vests with Shawl Collars: These are often reserved for the most formal occasions, such as weddings or black-tie events. Shawl collars add a luxurious touch to the vest and are typically seen on dinner jackets or morning coats.

Material Variations: Vests can be made from the same material as your suit, providing a uniform look, or from contrasting materials for a more modern twist. For example, pairing a wool suit with a satin-backed vest creates visual interest and highlights the layers of your outfit.

How to Wear a Vest Properly

A vest can make or break your outfit, so it’s essential to wear it properly to ensure a polished look. Here are some tips to help you get it right:

1. Show Just the Right Amount: Only a small portion of the vest, typically the top button or two, should be visible above your suit jacket’s collar. If the vest is too high, it can interfere with your tie and create a cluttered look.

2. Always Cover the Waistband: The vest should cover the waistband of your trousers entirely. If there’s a gap, it disrupts the flow of your outfit. This is especially important if you’re not wearing suspenders.

3. Leave the Bottom Button Unfastened: This timeless rule dates back to King Edward VIII, who set the trend by leaving the last button undone. It adds a touch of casual elegance and prevents the vest from pulling at the bottom when you sit.

4. Match or Contrast Appropriately: For formal suits, matching the vest to the jacket and trousers creates a seamless look. In more casual or semi-formal settings, you can opt for a contrasting vest to add flair and personality.

Why Talk to a Tailor?

Finding the right vest is not just about picking the right style off the rack. A well-fitted vest can transform your suit, while an ill-fitting one can do just the opposite. This is why it’s essential to consult with a tailor.

At Pascalis, we will ensure that the vest fits perfectly — not too tight and not too loose. We will also offer advice on the right cut, fabric, and style based on your body type and the suit you’re pairing it with. Additionally, a tailor can customise the back of the vest to ensure it sits comfortably and doesn’t bunch or pull when you move.

Whether you’re looking for a vest for a formal occasion or simply to upgrade your everyday suit, at Pascalis, the leading tailor Sydney CBD has to offer, we can help you find the perfect fit and style to match your needs.

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Why Good Tailoring Beats Shorts In The Summer Heat

By Michael Pascalis • October 24, 2025

Smarter tailoring, breathable fabrics, and better cuts keep you cool and professional—without resorting to shorts at work.

Eight Things to Consider for Your Summer Suit

October 22, 2025

The conversation about summer dressing too often circles back to gimmicks. Shorts in the office, polo shirts in the boardroom, but these are symptoms of a deeper problem: we have forgotten how to make and wear proper clothing for the climate we live in. A summer suit, chosen with care, remains the most elegant answer. But not all suits are created equal. If the heat leaves you dreaming of linen drawstrings, it’s not the suit’s fault. It’s the wrong suit. Here are eight considerations that turn summer tailoring from punishment into pleasure. 1. Fabric First The single most important decision is fabric. Natural fibres are non-negotiable. Polyester and other synthetics trap heat and suffocate the skin; they are cheap in every sense of the word. Tropical wool, with its fine yarn and open weave, has been the quiet hero of summer tailoring for decades. Linen, either pure or in a wool blend, brings unmatched breathability and texture. Cotton offers a crisp alternative for the more casual office. The principle is simple: fabric should breathe. 2. Lightness of Weave Weight is not enough; weave matters too. A dense cloth, no matter how fine, will feel like armour in January. Fresco, hopsack, and other open-weave constructions let air circulate without sacrificing drape. They prove that you don’t need to bare skin to keep cool. 3. The Case for Unlined Jackets Every layer in a suit traps heat. A fully lined jacket in the peak of summer is as unnecessary as it is uncomfortable. Half-lined or unlined jackets offer structure without insulation. Stripped back to its essentials, the jacket still frames the shoulders, flatters the waist, and gives shape, only now it does so without suffocating the wearer. 4. Rethinking Fit The tyranny of the skinny suit has done more to ruin summer dressing than the thermometer ever could. Narrow lapels, shrunken jackets, and trousers cut like leggings may look sharp in shop windows, but in the real world they cling, sweat, and stifle. A summer suit demands room to breathe: a touch more fullness in the chest, pleats in the trousers, a slightly longer rise. These small concessions to airflow make all the difference. 5. Freedom of Movement Tailoring was never meant to be restrictive. The best summer suits allow ease: side vents that open as you walk, trousers that fall cleanly without gripping the thigh, shoulders that move without resistance. Comfort is not the enemy of style, but rather it is its foundation. 6. The Role of Colour Summer is no time for charcoal and midnight navy. Dark cloth absorbs heat and looks heavy against the season’s light. Pale grey, beige, sky blue are shades that reflect the sun and signal ease. Seersucker, with its puckered surface, even lifts the fabric off the skin to create tiny channels of air. If ever there was a fabric designed for August, this is it. 7. Care and Longevity Summer is unforgiving. Suits face sweat, humidity, and relentless sun. The careless solution is cheap rotation: buy more, wear them out, throw them away. The wiser approach is investment. A well-made summer suit, rested between wears and hung to air, will last for years. Quality not only looks better, it endures. 8. Dressing with Intent The final consideration is not technical but philosophical. A summer suit is more than cloth and cut. It is a statement that professionalism need not wilt in the heat, that respect for the occasion is not seasonal. To wear one well is to prove that elegance adapts. Shorts may make headlines; tailoring makes an impression. There is nothing radical about suggesting that a summer suit can be cool, comfortable, and dignified. It has always been possible. The knowledge is there, in the choice of fabric, the looseness of cut, the restraint of lining, the play of colour. What is required is not reinvention but remembrance: a return to tailoring that understands climate rather than fights it. Eight considerations for made to measure suits for summer, then, but really one principle: good clothes work with the body, not against it. And in the heart of summer, a well-made suit is not a contradiction. It is liberation.