After spending a long time at the back of Dad's closet, vests are popping up everywhere - on rock stars, celebrities, and TV shows like AMC's "Mad Men" with its cool 1960s ad-exec wardrobes.
Vests exude power in a three-piece suit, add polish to a sport shirt and pants, and help minimize a less-than-fit midsection. So it's not surprising that men are once again taking a vested interest.
"They can add an unexpected note to an otherwise rather predictable ensemble," says William Young, senior preservation planner for the City of Boston Environment Department. While never without a jacket in his City Hall office, the owner of close to a dozen different styles says vests add a fun element and a splash of color. His favorite? "A red and black hunting vest that I have been known to wear with suits," he says.
Vests offer a textured layered look without bulk, says John Stefanelli, sales associate at Alan Bilzerian on Newbury Street. "And guys like wearing them," he adds.
Not to be left out, women are wearing vests over dresses or beautiful blouses, says Debi Greenberg, owner of Louis Boston. She especially likes the new high-neck styles in menswear fabrics that can be worn with or without a jacket. "They're good for global warming," she says.
TINA SUTTON
