Who is the most accomplished waistcoat wearer of them all? The answer to that question depends, we suspect, on your cultural references. For some, there is and will always be an argument for King Charles II who, in many ways, deserves the accolade for having pioneered the style in the 17th-century. But far more recently, waistcoats were fashion news once again thanks to a certain Gareth Southgate, whose style – both sartorial and in sportsman-like manner – refreshed our memories as to how elegant this often-overlooked garment can be.

But truly, our hearts must belong to Kate Moss as the ultimate waistcoat wearer. Cast your minds back to circa 2004 when Ms Moss wore them everywhere, always with ripped denim shorts and wellies or skinny jeans, accessorised to perfection with a compulsory and equally skinny scarf. Cue, then, festival goers everywhere adopting the look as their own. What made it so great? The fact that Kate Moss was able to – as only Kate Moss can – completely change the way we view the waistcoat, taking it out of the context of formality and transposing it to crowded fields where, by the end of the night, it would invariably end up covered in mud and warm beer.

And now it’s back. However you choose to wear yours – we’ll be donning ours with corduroy skirts and billowing blouses, cottagecore-style – these are our hottest waistcoat picks.

By Nancy Alsop
January 2021

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