Waistcoat is British English and vest is American English for the same sleeveless tailored garment worn under a jacket, but vest in British English also means a sleeveless undershirt, which is where the confusion comes from.
This is a translation problem more than a fashion one, but it causes real ordering mistakes. An American asking for a vest in a London shop may be shown underwear.
| Garment | British | American |
|---|---|---|
| Tailored, worn under a jacket | Waistcoat | Vest |
| Sleeveless undershirt | Vest | Undershirt or tank |
| Padded sleeveless jacket | Gilet or body warmer | Vest or puffer vest |
How to tell them apart in a photo
Context does it. If someone mentions a three piece suit, they mean the tailored one whichever word they use.
Which one should you pick
With a suit
The bottom button stays undone, and the waistcoat should be long enough that no shirt shows above the trouser waistband.
Examples from the blog
Try both on your own photo
Bold plaid suit in red and black
Black leather suit with zipper details and a tailored
Olive green tweed suit with elbow patches
White dinner jacket with black satin lapels
Electric blue suit with LED light trimmings along
Pastel pink suit with a satin shawl collar
Patchwork denim suit combining different washes
Opulent red velvet suit with gold embroidered dragons
Navy blue three-piece suit with a pinstripe pattern
Teal puffer vest
Neon green suit with a reflective material and edgy
Navy blue matte puffer vest
Tap any look to open it in the app on your own photo.
Related
Suits and Tuxedos · Suit vs Tuxedo
Questions people actually ask
What is a gilet?
A sleeveless padded outer layer, worn for warmth rather than tailoring. Americans call it a vest as well, and that is how the word is doing too much work.
Should the bottom button be left undone?
Yes, on a pointed hem waistcoat. The lowest button usually sits below the natural waist and fastening it pulls the front out of shape when you sit. Straight hemmed waistcoats, including many worn with dinner jackets, are cut to fasten all the way.
What is an odd waistcoat?
One that does not match the suit, in tweed, linen, a check or a different colour. It is a separate tradition from the three piece, and it reads as deliberate where a near matching waistcoat reads as a mistake. Odd here means unmatched, as it does with odd jackets.
Why is the back made of a different fabric?
Cost and comfort, both. The back was never meant to be seen under a jacket, so tailors used lining silk or satin there and saved the suiting for the front. Most also carry a buckle strap at the back so the waist can be pulled in.