How to wear a vest and not give waitress vibes
Did you buy a vest, but just can’t figure out how to style it without looking like a waitress? Yeah, me too. I bought a black waistcoat from Zara last summer and only wore it once, with a pleated mini skirt and chunky sneakers; but every time I tried to style it with trousers, it never felt quite right.
Fast forward to now: spring has arrived, and with warmer days on the horizon we must figure out how to style those vests! For both our sakes–we’re in this together, dear reader–I have been researching, moodboarding, and observing… and I think I finally figured it out. Here are six tips on how not to give waitress vibes when wearing your tailored vests.
But first, a general word of advice…
I think this general rule applies to all the six tips I’m about to share: in order for your vest to work, you need to take it as far away from business casual as possible. NO business, ALL casual. Got it? Great. Let’s dive in.
1. Choose a casual fabric
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If you haven’t bought your fated vest yet, this is for you: rather than the classic navy or black cotton, go for a more casual and unusual material: denim, leather, linen, etc.
-30%
Sportmax
Dama denim vest Blue
$406.00
$580.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Haikure
Button Denim Gilet Blue
$333.00
$416.00
Eraldo
-40%
Sir.
Leone draped vest Grey
$303.00
$505.00
Mytheresa
-27%
Haikure
Denim Vest
$530.00
$730.00
Balardi
For the ultimate effortless look, wear your vest with nothing underneath–except maybe a bra or a bandeau top–. If sleeveless isn’t your vibe, a baggy white t-shirt works too!
If you’re in the market for a two-piece suit, I would suggest going for a fun, casual colour: any shade of pink, bottle green, even cream or off-white. Avoiding classic “office” colours like black, navy, or grey will help you feel less stuffy.
-30%
Frankie Shop
Gelso vest Beige
$238.00
$340.00
Mytheresa
Frankie Shop
Black oversized single-breasted Gelso jacket
$660.00
TheDoubleF
Frankie Shop
Gelso wide-leg pants Beige
$350.00
Mytheresa
Frankie Shop
Gelso high-rise wide-leg pants Grey
$350.00
Mytheresa
Frankie Shop
Gelso vest Grey
$340.00
Mytheresa
Frankie Shop
Gelso oversized blazer Grey
$805.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Frankie Shop
Gelso vest Pink
$238.00
$340.00
Mytheresa
4. Trousers: dos and don'ts
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Since “chill and effortless” is our goal here, it might be a good idea to pair your vest with the chillest trousers of all: jeans. Any colour vest will work great with medium wash, dark wash, and even black denims. This, of course, doesn’t mean you necessarily have to stay away from slacks! I have found that slacks work best when in contrast with your vest: so, say, a dark vest with light slacks, or vice versa.
-30%
7 For All Mankind
High-rise wide-leg jeans Blue
$259.00
$370.00
Mytheresa
-30%
7 For All Mankind
Ali high-rise flared jeans Blue
$249.00
$355.00
Mytheresa
-30%
7 For All Mankind
Bootcut Tailorless mid-rise jeans Blue
$249.00
$355.00
Mytheresa
Taking the time to reflect on proportions will most definitely help you feel cool in your vest. Pair cropped, fitted, or skin-tight vests with baggy trousers, and oversized vests with shorts or mini skirts. Amy Smilovic, founder and creative director of Tibi, always stresses the importance of balancing “big/slim/skin” in an outfit. Words to live by!
-20%
Juliet Dunn
Mosaic printed cotton midi dress Beige
$464.00
$580.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Tory Burch
Romy canvas and leather slides Beige
$344.00
$430.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Rixo
Kelly sequined midi skirt Blue
$256.00
$365.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Vivienne Westwood
Hebo Orb cotton jersey top Red
$189.00
$270.00
Mytheresa
Orlebar Brown
Terry cotton toweling polo shirt Green
$265.00
Mytheresa
Thom Browne
Leather cardholder Black
$305.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Isabel Marant
Bessimega cotton-blend bomber jacket Beige
$546.00
$780.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Max Mara
Leisure Ondina lamé top Black
$342.00
$570.00
Mytheresa
I have found that, when styling a vest, your choice of shoes and accessories has the power to make or break your outfit. As we were saying before, our goal is to stay away from business casual as much as possible, and our accessories should reflect that.
As for the shoes, a pair of flat sandals or dad sneakers will do the trick. When picking your handbag for the day, go for a slouchy pouch, a tote bag, or a chill shoulder bag.
Remember, NO business, ALL casual!
DeMellier
New York Medium leather tote bag Brown
$955.00
Mytheresa
DeMellier
Hudson Midi leather tote bag Black
$880.00
Mytheresa
DeMellier
New York leather tote bag Beige
$955.00
Mytheresa
DeMellier
Stockholm Large suede tote bag Brown
$920.00
Mytheresa
-50%
Self Portrait
Micro croc-effect embellished leather tote bag White
$380.00
$760.00
Mytheresa
DeMellier
New York suede tote bag Brown
$955.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Isabel Marant
Praia striped raffia tote bag Brown
$627.00
$895.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Ganni
Mini top-handle bag Red
$431.00
$615.00
Mytheresa
And there you have it! Now go dust off your waistcoat, follow these tips, and show them how it’s done!
-25%
Pinko
Buttoned Pocket Waistcoat Black
$217.00
$290.00
Eraldo
-42%
Max Mara
Tegic Drip Proof Canvas Padded Waistcoat Brown
$547.00
$944.00
Balardi
-30%
Vivienne Westwood
Meryl Pinstripe Buttoned Sleeveless Waistcoat Grey
$462.00
$660.00
Eraldo
-65%
Max Mara
Bikini1234 Wool Felt Waistcoat Brown
$321.00
$914.00
Balardi
-30%
Max Mara
Staia Double-breasted Waistcoat White
$364.00
$520.00
Eraldo
-42%
Max Mara
Tegic Drip Proof Canvas Padded Waistcoat Grey
$547.00
$944.00
Balardi
-25%
Mark Kenly Domino Tan
Buttoned Waistcoat Beige
$387.00
$516.00
Eraldo
Our Legacy
Women s Base Waistcoat Deep Husk Beige
$468.00
Slam Jam
