The vest has been freed from its status as a formal attire add-on, and you can now wear your vest with suits and casual slacks or jeans. But what about suspenders? Can you get away with wearing these two classic wardrobe accessories together? The answer to that question is, absolutely. Today’s fashion rules are more free-spirited, and you have several options for this pairing.
Over or Under the Vest?
First, let’s answer another common question about wearing suspenders with a vest. Can you wear suspenders over the vest, or do they need to always be worn underneath and mostly out of sight? Happily, you should wear suspenders outside the vest, unless there’s a strict dress code that forbids it. In this instance, consider suspenders as the last layer to a perfectly layered ensemble. You want everyone to see how great they look with your vest, shirt and pants.
Stylishly Casual
There may be times when you want to wear jeans, but you prefer to dress them up a little with a vest/shirt combination. Suspenders can add a nice finishing touch to a laid-back effortless look. For inspiration, look to vintage 1920s and 1930s retro styles. One idea is to pair a checkered pattern shirt with a solid navy color vest, plaid bow tie and dark jeans with patterned suspenders in a bright color such as red. Or, for something more modern, go with a sharp-looking grey vest over a navy patterned long-sleeve shirt with tan leather suspenders attached to burgundy slacks.
Semi-Formal
Step things up a notch or two by pairing quality leather suspenders with a navy vest, white shirt, and grey slacks, or choose button leather suspenders, a red vest, white shirt and snazzy striped tie with navy slacks. If you want to make this look trendier, allow suspender straps to fall to the sides, which gives this outfit a dash of carefree attitude.
Formal Dress
Consider adding a bit of charm to your formal vest by matching the color of your suspenders with vest color. Let’s say you decide to wear a classic black suit vest and slacks combo with a black tie and white shirt. Black suspenders go nicely with this formal attire.
FAQs
How To Wear Suspenders With a Vest. While it sometimes seems counterintuitive, your suspenders should go on the outside of your vest. Only put them on the inside if you must hide them but need them for fit- say you're a larger gent who prefers their support to a belt but has a set wedding party look to conform to.
What not to wear with suspenders? ›
Finally, never wear suspenders and a belt at the same time… even if you have a great belt like this. It's redundant. GQ's Style Guy explains it best: “Whenever I see a man wearing a belt and suspenders, which is not all that often, I think, now, here is a pessimist.
How do you properly wear a vest? ›
How to wear the vest. Excluding exceptions, the vest must always be worn over a shirt with a buttoned collar and under a single-breasted jacket or blazer. It should never be worn under a double-breasted jacket: the neck of the jacket, in fact, must be large enough to allow the waistcoat to be visible.
How do you wear a vest and not look like a waiter? ›
Go with jeans, chinos, or trousers for a more casual look.
The denim should also be a slimmer fit, in order to match with your vest. You may want to avoid wearing black trousers with your vest, since this might make you look like a waiter at a fancy restaurant!
Should suspenders be worn over or under a vest? ›
Most people choose to wear suspenders under their vest, so we recommend this classic look. However, it is acceptable to wear suspenders over your vest if you prefer! In conclusion, suspenders are a versatile accessory that will add a touch of personality and style to any outfit.
What are the rules to wearing suspenders? ›
NEVER WEAR SUSPENDERS WITHOUT A JACKET (FOR PROFESSIONAL LOOK) Unless you are Larry King, when wearing your suspenders for work, in a professional setting or any special occasion where a suit is required, you must wear a jacket. It is best to keep your suspenders tucked away beneath your jacket.
Is it OK to wear suspenders with a belt? ›
Obviously all suspenders are equipped with straps on both the front and the back. It is up to you whether or not you'd want to use loops on both ends, but we advise to keep it coherent at all times. It's also important to know that it is never advised to wear both a belt and suspenders at the same time.
Do suspenders have to match the pants color? ›
You want it to contrast your shirt but mesh well with your pant and jacket color. For example, a gray suit with a light blue shirt would look great with navy suspenders and a tie featuring gray and navy. When in doubt, suspenders in the same hue as your pants and jacket always work.
Why are suspenders out of style? ›
By the early 20th century, suspenders fell out of fashion as men's pants started riding lower and belts took over.
How should a vest look on a man? ›
THE LENGTH
It should fully cover the entire waistband of the trouser and never let any shirt fabric show in between. This means the trousers also need to be sitting on the natural waist. Gentlemen often leave the last button of a waistcoat unfastened to allow more room at the hips for movement and sitting.
Vest Buttoning
Similarly to the jacket, when buttoning your vest you should always leave the bottom button undone.
When should a man wear a vest? ›
Vests are great when hiking, bicycling, running, setting up camp or fly fishing. This is because these types of activities are vigorous enough to keep your body temperature up. A vest is perfect in such cases because they give your arms more freedom of movement and keep your core warm.
What top to wear under a vest? ›
You can wear as many or as few layers as you like underneath your puffer vest. Depending on the occasion, you could choose to style your puffer vest with a polo shirt, shirt, sweater or long-sleeved top. Because of its versatility, you can wear almost anything under a padded vest.
How should a vest look? ›
A suit vest is meant to be worn close to your body. It should be slim fitting to accentuate you, but should not be too tight so that you look like you're bursting out of it.
Do you wear a vest and suspenders with a tux? ›
In fact, actual tuxedo pants do not even have belt loops. This is where suspenders are a must have. They keep your pants at the correct rise without cinching in that waist which can cause an unflattering silhouette. You can then add a cumberbund or vest if you prefer to complete your suit.
Do you tuck your tie into your vest? ›
There's no right answer to this question – it's entirely up to personal preference! Some people prefer to keep their tie tucked neatly under their vest, while others let it hang loose. There's no correct way to do it, so go with whatever looks and feels best to you.
How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? ›
Quotes. Wobbles : You know you can trust me. Frank : Wobbles, how can you trust a man that wears both a belt and suspenders? Man can't even trust his own pants.
