Do you know how to put together a men’s outfit with a vest? I promise you that this extra item of clothing can easily elevate the simplest outfit.

I’m not great at many things. I have a small set of expertise, usually rooted in years of study, practice, or life-long experience. Call me a jack of no trades, master of few. One of the things I’ve mastered is wearing a vest. This is why I’ve been chosen to show you how to wear a vest for men.
I’ve been wearing vests since birth. My school uniform always included one. Today, I wear sweater vests with my suits and a waistcoat with my tuxedo. All that to say, I’m your guy when it comes to how to style a vest for men.
What Is a Vest?

A vest is a waist-length, sleeveless piece of clothing worn over your shirt. It’s often close-fitting, but not always. It doesn’t usually have a collar and can be a button-up or a zip-up. Heck, it can feature a toggle-and-rope type fastening, similar to that on a duffel coat.
I’ll be covering all styles of this middle-layer mainstay. You’ll see that there’s a vest for every type of personal style. Whether you prefer a sporty look, a preppy look, or a business-forward one, you can put together a great men’s vest outfit.
Vest vs. Waistcoat

A waistcoat is a formal vest worn with a suit or a tuxedo. However, the phrase “waistcoat” is more common in British and Indian English. Meanwhile, the word “vest” is more common in American English.
Even if you refer to a suit vest as a waistcoat, a vest you’d wear with a tuxedo is, of course, not a suit vest. Could you refer to it as a tuxedo vest? Technically, yes. Waistcoat, however, is the more commonly accepted name for it. The phrase tuxedo vest is more of a literal descriptor.
And finally, regardless of what kind of English you speak, it’s safe to say that all waistcoats are vests. Yet, not all vests are waistcoats. No one would refer to a cable-knit, v-neck cricket vest as a waistcoat.
What Types of Vests Are There?

Suit vests and waistcoats come in many different styles. Manufacturers make them out of silk, wool, or tweed. They can be any color and feature different button styles. My midnight blue tuxedo comes with a matte gold double-breasted, shawl-lapel waistcoat.
In addition to formal vests, there is also a wide variety of casual, smart casual, and sporty vests. Here are a few.
- Sweater vest. As its name suggests, it’s basically just a sweater without the sleeves. As many variations there are of sweaters, that’s how many sweater vests there are. Think merino, cashmere, cable-knit, acrylic, crewneck or v-neck, and zip-up or button-up cardigan styles.
- Puffer vest. Puffer vests have become a popular style proposition. They pair naturally with henleys and button-downs, adding a sporty look to a suit. Of course, the puffier the vest is, the less likely you can layer over it.
- Tech vest. An early aughts staple, tech vests have made quite the comeback. Brands design them to conveniently hold your everyday carry via zip pockets and secret compartments.
- Tactical vest. A tactical vest is like an amped-up tech vest. It’s built to hold items but also be load-bearing. Used by those in the military and law enforcement, it has an authoritative aesthetic, a bit like an all-black G-Shock watch.
- Biker vest. A biker vest is a piece of protective gear worn by motorcyclists. It’s the warm-weather equivalent of a moto jacket. And like a moto jacket, it’s usually leather but can also be denim and even corduroy. Patches and pins often represent memberships, but you can also wear them for self-expression in fashion. Biker vests are popular in punk style.
What to Wear Under a Vest
You can wear just about anything under a vest. However, keep in mind that what you layer under depends on the style of your vest. We’ll go into specifics as we teach you how to style a vest. However, keep the formality and style goal of your outfit in mind. If you’re wearing a sporty puffer or tech vest, stick to sweatshirts, long-sleeve tees, and casual button-ups. However, if you’re going for an elevated look, stick to sweater vests or dressier-type vests.
How to Style a Vest for Men

Many who believe vests aren’t for them simply haven’t seen the right style vest in the proper context. If you’re a more formal kind of guy, perhaps you think more about loud party vests or athletic ones. Perhaps you’re more modern and consider suit vests old-fashioned.
These best practices will show you anyone can wear a vest.
Black Vest Outfit for Men

Black vest men’s outfits can be formal or casual.
An onyx-hued vest is a great way to add class to a suit. You can wear a black suit vest with a charcoal or blue suit. You can even play with patterns to add some dimensionality. Maybe you like the idea of pinstripes or chalk stripes but find it a touch too flashy. Go for a black pin-striped vest under a solid suit.
Add a vest if you’re unsure whether a broken suit is formal enough. Imagine a navy jacket, grey pants, and leather dress shoes. By adding a black suit vest to the mix, you definitely level up the combo.
Black puffers and tech vests are great additions to everyday casual wear. A tech vest will add a utilitarian look to a t-shirt, jeans, or even a polo and chinos. Meanwhile, a puffer provides dimensionality, always making outfits look more put together.
Black also has a cool factor. If you like workwear, service members actually do wear black tactical vests. You can pair one with cargo pants for a complete and intentional casual look.
Leather Vest Outfit for Men

There are two ways to incorporate a leather vest into your personal style.
If you love distressed jeans, accessories with hardware, and vintage tees, try going for a biker or rocker look. You might consider a leather motorcycle vest. Pair it with dark jeans, a T-shirt, and Chucks. Or you can wear ripped jeans, pointy leather boots, and a long-sleeve utility shirt.
Another option? An Americana or cowboy aesthetic. There’s a lot of overlap between the two, as protective wear and textures are common in both sartorial toolboxes. Consider a brown leather vest, a distressed rancher vest, or a suede variation with fringe. Either would pair beautifully with Western wear.
Men’s Grey Vest Outfit

I highly recommend considering a grey vest. It’s an excellent garment to have in your smart casual arsenal.
First, put together your favorite smart casual outfit. Perhaps it’s a simple button-down, slacks, and leather
A thin grey puffer adds a sporty vibe, while a cashmere or merino sweater vest brings a touch of elegance. For something in the middle, go for a cable-knit vest. Grey is so neutral that it truly goes with everything.
Men’s Jeans and Vest Outfit

You can pair any type of vest with jeans. Think about it. If you can wear sporty tops with jeans, you can wear techy vests or fleece vests with jeans, too. Throw on a baseball cap and nice
Men’s Green Vest Outfit
Green vests are highly versatile. Remember that dark olive is a menswear neutral. So, you can wear an olive fleece zip-up or sweater vest with any casual or smart casual combination. Meanwhile, an olive waistcoat goes beautifully with a matching suit or even one in brown, grey, or tweed.
Meanwhile, mint greens and pastel greens are perfect for summer or spring. You can always top off a warm-weather outfit with a light green tech vest.
Men’s Casual Vest Outfit

I’ve mentioned this before. Whether utilitarian or athletic, any casual vest easily levels up casual outfits. Your outfit looks more thought-out but doesn’t have to compromise an effortless look.
You can wear a polo and chinos with a cashmere or knit vest. Meanwhile, you can wear a button-down and jeans with a fleece or tech vest. It’s very Silicon Valley but much more sophisticated. I also love a henley, corduroys, and loafers when topped off with an open puffer.
Vest Under a Field Jacket

There’s nothing more English countryside than adding a vest under your field jacket. This is especially so if you go for a classic quilted Norfolk with a corduroy collar. You can also go for a gentleman explorer look with a safari jacket or a more workwear look with a waxed jacket.
Either way, feel free to go for a thin puffer for a classy but outdoorsy look or dress it up with a tweed vest.
Vest With Shorts

You absolutely can wear a vest with shorts. In fact, you can wear any style of vest you like. It’s just a matter of wearing the right size shorts for the occasion. Unless they’re Bermudas, you ideally want them to stop no further down than just above your knee. This is especially important for us modest men. You can wear a sporty puffer or academic-leaning sweater vest from there.
How To Wear a Winter Vest for Men?

When wearing a winter vest, the main thing to consider is whether you want to layer over it. You can easily wear a puffer underneath a winter coat unless it’s really thick.
The practical look of a thin puffer pairs naturally with an athletic or tactical jacket and adds a down-to-earth quality to peacoats. The same is true for cashmere or button-up vests, but vice versa.
Styling Tips

Below are some styling tips that you can use as rules of thumb. You can categorize these actionable suggestions under size, occasion, and personal style. Also, remember to have fun with your vest. You can always layer over it or wear it open if you realize you don’t actually love the choice you made!
What to Layer Under a Vest

You can layer anything under a vest. Just keep intentionality in mind. Crew-neck t-shirts aren’t traditionally worn with a suit vest, but maybe you’re going for an early-aughts high-low look. For those not trying to make a statement, workwear vests (leather or denim, perhaps) go perfectly with a button-down. Last, wear dressier vests with a dress shirt.
Exploring Color Choices

You either want the vest to be an accent or to blend in. If the former, the bigger the color contrast between your shirt and vest, the more it’ll pop. You can also achieve this with textures. For example, perhaps you go for a subtle color contrast (slate blue shirt and grey vest), but the vest is heavily woven tweed.
V-Neck or Not?

Whether you go for a V-neck depends on whether you want to show your collar area. If it’s a straight, high crew, it may very well just cover a collar and tie. Perhaps your shirt has a fun pattern, so you go for a deeper V to show it off. Or maybe you have a stylish necklace you want to show off.
How to Accessorize With a Vest

You want your accessories to match, not contrast your vest. Again, consider formality and intention. If you wear a dressier vest, wear a dress watch or a luxury sports watch. Field watches look great with workwear vests. You might even consider accessorizing with a pocket watch, which attaches beautifully to vest pockets.
FAQs
Here are some common questions about vests!
Can You Wear a Vest With a Short Sleeve Shirt?
Yes, wearing a vest over a short-sleeve shirt can add a handsome structure to your outfit.
Can You Wear a Different Color Vest With a Suit?
Absolutely. Wearing a different-colored vest with your suit (say, an olive vest and charcoal suit) adds a fun but professional accent.
Can You Wear a Vest Without a Jacket?
Yes. In fact, many thicker vests aren’t meant to be layered over.
Conclusion: Practical and Stylish
Now you know how to wear a vest for men!
In a way, it boils down to choosing between matching the vest to the outfit or using it to stand out. I personally prefer the former. However, it’s all about personal style (and following dress codes, of course). After all, a sporty tech vest or puffer paired with a suit has become a Wall Street staple.
How do you wear your vests? Let us know in the comments below.
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