Odd vest — broken up from 3 piece suit?

[Ben W]

Hi folks,

I'll be attending a friend's wedding here soon and I'm trying to remember how to dress properly after having been away from social events for so long. Is it ever appropriate to wear the vest from a 3 piece suit as an odd vest? I'm a bigger guy and I feel much more confident with a vest. The attire is "formal" but knowing the couple I suspect they mean "no denim." I think a 3-piece suit may be slightly over-dressed, though that is likely what I'll end up with if this doesn't work.

Would this combo work, or is it too much of the same color palette? Thinking of a flat white shirt with emerald grenadine tie and black oxfords (not pictured) to go with it. If the vest is out, does the rest work without it, or should I just go with the navy 3-piece suit the vest is from?

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I don’t see this working.

 

[Ben W]

Thanks. I think I'll just wear the suit this time around.

For the future: is there a way to make a vest work with a sport jacket / trouser combo, or is that pretty much never going to work? I would consider purchasing a different vest for the purpose.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Thanks. I think I'll just wear the suit this time around.

For the future: is there a way to make a vest work with a sport jacket / trouser combo, or is that pretty much never going to work? I would consider purchasing a different vest for the purpose.

I’m not really a vest person, be it with a suit or a sport coat.

But especially in this case, both are blue/navy but different shades.

 

[paxonus]

Thanks. I think I'll just wear the suit this time around.

For the future: is there a way to make a vest work with a sport jacket / trouser combo, or is that pretty much never going to work? I would consider purchasing a different vest for the purpose.

There are some classic combinations of vest and jacket like yellow tattersall with a tweed jacket, or a burgundy sweater vest with a navy blazer. But a vest specifically made for a suit is not going to work anyplace other than with the suit it was made for.

 

[Ben W]

Thank you!

 

[maxalex]

Odd vests are a bit like ties--they can and often should be brightly patterned--or as Italians would say, "alla fantasia." But it's a fine line between what looks cool and what looks like a riverboat gambler after the Civil War. I rarely wear odd vests--it's just too hot where I live, but I do like them in brocade, in relatively subdued colors.