It’s funny. Amidst all the wild fashion moves we’ve seen this year—from extreme gorpcore to cartoonish sneakers—it’s the simple vest (or tank top if you prefer) that has become the one item you need in your wardrobe for the remainder of 2023.
Versatile and coming at a price point that suits you, the vest can be as quiet or as braggy as you wish (presuming you’ve got the biceps for it). The star of the show or the underestimated water carrier, the vest can be all things to all people. Here’s what you should know.
A brief history of the vest
Originally created in the early 20th century as part of bathing suits for men and women, it then became seen as a simple undergarment item of utilitarian workwear, at least until Marlon Brando made it look cool in A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway in the late ’40s. After that, what are we saying? Oversized fits on frat boys, thin strapped versions for Muscle Beach flexing, Bruce Willis using one to help save a building in Die Hard. The vest has endured a chequered past for sure. But this summer has seen it become the must-have item for both women and men.
How did the vest become so popular again?
A few seasons ago, Bottega Veneta walked one down the runway and it was an instant hit. Prada then walloped us with a logo-bearing vest that sold out from the jump, even though it cost AED 3,600. Other brands have followed suit and at various price points—Uniqlo does a great vest for around AED 37, incidentally. However, it’s the Anagram tank top from Loewe (AED 1,080) that has come out on, erm, top, with the Lyst Index—the quarterly rankings of fashion’s hottest brands—naming it as the most sought after item of Q2.
So, who’s wearing a vest?
Who isn’t? From Shawn Mendes to Justin Bieber, The Bear star Jeremy Allen White to internet’s boyfriend Paul Mescal, the vest has been championed by the finest exponents of menswear in the game right now.
How should you wear a vest?
Well, here’s the true beauty of this item, you can kind of wear it with and to anything. OK, so we’re not really advocating a full-on gun show, but for everything else it’s fair game. Pair it with wide-legged trousers à la Shawn Mendes, for a throwback Brando vibe. Use a white vest to pair-down a brightly coloured fit, or just try it in an exaggerated skater look, with an open short-sleeved shirt and cargo pants. If you’re looking to scale things up, how about you try it underneath your boxy, double-breasted suit for smarter evenings out or even an end-of-summer wedding? Last but not least, you live in the Middle East, right? Your vest can simply be your biggest ally in the never-ending battle against sweat.
See, like we said, all things to all people. The question is, can you really do without one in your wardrobe?
(No. The answer is no).