However, vests make carrying pocket watches very convenient, whether or not vests are considered fashionable today, or not. Retrospectively, if you will take a look at photos of men from the mid-to-late 1800’s period, many of them wore vests, and had watch chains connected to their vests, with a pocket watch inside a vest pocket! For an antique pocket watch collector such as myself, wearing a vest is a viable option for carrying my pocket watch in a practical, and convenient manner. For men like me, sexual preference has absolutely nothing to do with wearing a vest to accomodate my carrying one of my many pocket watches from my collection. I’m talking about a conservative, low-key style, button-up-the-front vest, with working pockets (I’ve actually seen vests with mock pockets sewn shut, with a fake opening of a pocket on each side of the vest, but NO actual pocket!).

I have also decided to seek out adding several sweater-style vests, that button up the front, to accomodate carrying my pocket watches secured to a watch chain.

Finally, there is an organization, the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, with hundreds of members who carry pocket watches. The membership also has many ladies who wear antique pendant watches, and yes, some who even carry pocket watches! For those of us who prefer to sport our pocket watches, we need somewhere practical and safe to store them for easy access when we want to know the time!

Regards,
JB

Vests aren’t just for pocket watches I might add. vests keep your tie neatly squared away, keep your tie from dipping into your soup, and when it gets too hot to wear your suit jacket in the office etc. you can take off the jacket and still look great.

There was a time when working in shirt sleeves was forbidden. While that is of course old etiquette I think if a man truly wants to look spiffy he’ll go with the 3 piece suit.

I might also add that having vests to wear with your suits adds an extra element to your wardrobe which gives you far more flexibility in changing your look on a day to day basis, especially if you don’t have 8 suits hanging in your closet. Combined with different color shirts and ties, the addition or removal of a vest can give a suit an entirely different appearance for a fraction of the cost of buying a new suit.

Heck if your feeling daring stop by your local tailor and have them make you one that compliments a suit you already own. With thousands of patterns to choose from it’s an inexpensive way to change up your appearance.

Plus, I don’t do animal fur.

Leather vests, suit vests, or nuthin’.
Just my opinion.

You gotta six pack, walk around shirtless.
THAT will impress the ladies.

These are examples of vests that work:
• worn over a rumpled shirt with buttons in an absent-minded professor stylee
• worn by a Vincent Gallo look-a-like in a rough-trade manner
• worn in a dandyish fashion with french cuffs and high waisted trousers

All vests should be tailored wool-and-silk with that little belty thing in the back. Black leather is also permitted but it should point down in the front. Done up is better than undone.

Anything else is unacceptable. You may as well put on a fedora and call yourself Joey Jerimiah.

It’ll make you stand out in the sea of suits.

Agree with the biker stuff, though, that kinda rocks.
Rocked more like…36 years ago…

One, they are very much “priviledge-wear”. A La, “Spandex is a priviledge, not a right”. They simply do not look becoming on many guys. Particularly, if you are too thin, or too bulky. I myself, am bulky, so I avoid them.

Two, unless 80’s style (file under Andrew McCarthy and Kevin Bacon) falls back in line, there is no way any self-respecting male will wear a vest. The exception to this: Artsy, eclectic types. In that case, see point one above.

Three, vests must be worn properly, which most folks do not. The only acceptable way, to wear a vest is with a blazer or suit. This is all my humble opinion, but it really seems to ring true. Don’t believe me? Look at other niche clothing such as spectators and white leather/red rubber oxfords. Full brimmed hats on men as well.

Possible, Gay, and Flaming Gay.

Vest have little use, unless your into three piece suits or harley’s etc. But as I grow older, they begin having a certain appeal. Older men easily pull off a sweater vest, and make it work. But not the vests shown on the right side – EGAD!

Ahem. Unless, of course, you like pocket watches.

In high-school, where it became obvious that I couldn’t…and wasn’t dressing myself.

In college, when I hoped to be perceived as less artsy and more academic…and failed at both.

At weddings. And the wedding one is the worst. You take off your coat, cause you’re sweating like a hog, and over your shirt you’re wearing two triangular pieces of fabric held together with an elastic strap across your back! That’s not a vest, it’s a bra!

Vests have one function…and that’s to hold your pocket watch. If you eschew the pocket watch…and there’s no reason to have one of those anymore, the vest is pointless as well.

Thanks for keeping us fashionable AND sensible, J. And congrats on the launch. We wish you luck.

Unless you’re on a Harley, and the vest is leather. Probably no one will argue with you then.