As OC Richard said, there was a time that a gentleman would not be seen without his jacket on. This period ended about 10 years after the end of WWII. This is why vests designed to be worn with a jacket have a satin back. It is plainly obvious that the back of the vest is not to be seen.
Earlier a man may own one or possibly two jackets. (Suits as we know them today, with all three pieces of the same cloth, are a fairly recent development) In the period of the 1860's through the First World War men would have many different vests made from many different fabrics. Some fabrics were very fancy by todays standards. It was not uncommon to see brocade and wild colors.
If you carry that thinking up to today there is no reason that you cannot wear a contrasting vest with your jacket.
Today the way men dress is much more relaxed with far fewer 'rules'. In some places in N. America it is rare that a man has need for a jacket at all unless he works in an office environment. Men today do not 'dress for dinner' by changing into more formal clothes. Heck, very few men today even own formal clothes.
It is rare that a man would need a jacket except for those few times a year when dressing up would be required.
So in much of N. America a good dark Tweed would be all that would be needed for most occasions. I often continue in the same jacket I wore during the day for a dinner out or to a show. And I am the most formally dress in attendance.
Now most kilties like to peacock up a bit. I like contrasting vests. I think they add a little something extra.
I have a nice burgundy one along with a dove gray, dark mustard, and matching ones.
I took these photos one day in the shop to show people that a simple and inexpensive addition to their wardrobe could make a big change in the look.
Just a bit of fun trying something that you don't usually see on the 'cookie cutter' web.
I personally think that either of these outfits would work very well almost anywhere, anytime that I want to look dressed up without being formal or stuffy.
And a different colored jacket but the same civilian style worn without a vest and it still looks pretty good for an evening out.
I would challange almost anyone to say that this charcoal tweed civilian jacket with contrasting vest does not look good, and would be acceptable for 99% of the time.
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