What is it:
The term “waistcoat” typically refers to a sleeveless, high-buttoned garment, often worn over a formal shirt and tie. With the convergence of trends for the coming season, the typically formal workwear garment has taken on a new form and is popular with the fashion-conscious as a trendy outfit complement. Brands and retailers have experimented to create new variations on the silhouette and modernize the design for a younger audience, leading to the vest becoming a gender-neutral garment. It has now left its original purpose behind and is available in different versions, ranging from fitted cuts to androgynous, puffy models.
Why you should order it:
Waistcoats have seemingly appeared out of nowhere this season, breaking away from their stuffy, business-like origins to attract a style-conscious crowd. As brands experiment with the look, new versions of traditional models have emerged, making them popular with a wide range of fashion-conscious consumers looking to get in on the trend. And her sudden rise to the top hasn’t gone unnoticed. In June this year, British retailer John Lewis reported a 53 percent increase in searches for the sleeveless garment. The change in fashion can be attributed to the resurgence of trends from the ’90s and the growing popularity of casual workwear, which has resulted in office attire becoming less formal.
Where we saw it:
Like other typical workwear, the waistcoat made a presence on the SS23 runways, albeit in a more casual form. Grace Wales Bonner paired the sleeveless look with loose-fitting printed trousers, while MM6 Maison Margiela presented a cropped version of the lace-up silhouette. In contrast, Boss and Giorgio Armani each presented an individual version of office fashion, in which the waistcoat played a role. However, each of the looks presented by the brands represented a modernized take on the typically formal wardrobe. Ahluwalia also revisited the waistcoat with patchwork materials, a similar technique used on Coach’s version worn by rapper Lil Nas X .
How to style it:
Versatile, the vest can be worn as an added fashion layer with everything from a printed chiffon shirt to a graphic tee. You can also wear the waistcoat to the office, combining it with a tie and wide trousers or a leather jacket, modernizing typical workwear. Another option is to combine the look with matching trousers or a skirt to complete the suit. To complete the outfit, you can wear a t-shirt or an oversized shirt under the vest or wear it alone. Complete the look with layered jewelry and boots.
Like many office-related garments, the waistcoat has taken on a new, modernized look this season, largely due to opposing trends that have led to a resurgence of the sleeveless silhouette. As brands continue to experiment with the look, the garment has become a joyful addition to the SS23 wardrobe.
This article was previously similarly published on FashionUnited.uk.