What Is the Difference Between a Waistcoat and a Jacket?

If you’re new to wearing suits, you may be somewhat unfamiliar with the terms ‘waistcoat’ and ‘jacket’ in the context of suits.

The jacket simply refers to a suit jacket – what you wear over your shirt, just as you might wear a coat or a jacket over some other clothing. A jacket and its accompanying pair of trousers form a two-piece suit.

In a three-piece suit, you also have another garment referred to as a ‘waistcoat’. This is worn over the dress shirt and under the jacket, hence there are three ‘pieces’. Depending on where you are from, you might also refer to the waistcoat as a ‘vest’.

Subject to whether you’re wearing a single- or a double-breasted suit, the rules for buttoning a suit jacket and waistcoat are a little different. To learn more about how and when you should button a suit jacket and a vest, click here.

If you’re looking to purchase a new two- or three-piece suit, have you considered getting one custom-tailored? Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t actually cost a fortune to have one made especially for you. At Mister Singh’s Fashion Gallery, we are well-known for our high-quality custom-made suits, available at reasonable prices.

There are many benefits to getting a suit custom-tailored. To begin with, you are essentially able to design your own suit in order to match your personal tastes and styles. This will allow you to express yourself in a way that you can’t with an off-the-rack suit. Beyond this, however, the suit is also custom-tailored to fit you as opposed to a standard size, so that you feel comfortable in your own clothes.

To learn more about getting a suit custom-tailored, simply get in touch, and we’ll get back to you accordingly.