How to style this long ethno waistcoat?

I got this beautiful piece from my mother, who wore it a lot when she was my age. The colours and style are right up my alley, but I simply don't know what to wear it with! No matter what I do, the proportions seem a bit off. I have tried wearing slim brown pants and a form-fitting long-sleeve top, but then the waistcoat looked like it didn't belong there. Also, colours: I cannot wear it with white as the piece is rather beige; and I don't own much green (I love it, but can't seem to find much stuff in warm greens). What else is there?
I'd really appreciate any advice you could give me. I have tried searching for inspiration online, but can't find any waistcoat that long anywhere. Maybe this piece isn't even called a waistcoat? As I already mentioned, the piece has a sentimental value so I would really like to try to make it work before I decide to give it away. My style is rather feminine, lots of dresses and skirts, leggings; I'd probably call it casual-playful-lady with a touch of ethno influences that I pick up on my travels.

You can see the waistcoat on the photos. I tried it on top of a random outfit, and I know that red and black are totally not the colours I should combine it with. I just wanted to show the shape it has when worn.

Thanks so much to everybody who comments

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12 years ago

Missey

Veteran

Can you wear it over a slim fitting simple dress with boots? Anything in the grey family? How about a untucked chambray shirt with slim jeans? I think you would need a bit of a heel on the boot to balance things out. The vest has a pattern that could tend toward fussy but with simple or funky pieces it could veer more toward arty.

Neel

I like Missey's ideas. But this length is really difficult to work with I have a fur vest this length and although I loved it .... It never seems to work with anything!

Do you think you could make it shorter? A cropped length might be brilliant and on trend with dresses and skirts. I love unique pieces and with so much sentimental value it needs to be treasured

Anonymous

I think it would look lovely with a drapey linen T and oatmeal coloured pants, or cream or white jeans. I think white would look fine with it, even if it is mostly beige.

Jules

How about creating a slim column of one colour underneath? I like the idea of cream or white obviously, but what pieces do you have/are willing to buy to make this work? Olive green and taupe could also work. I wouldn't bring out the brighter green, although I love that colour I think the combo of bright colour/busy pattern would be ALGO.

Neelie

Can you wear it belted? Maybe over a cream top and A-line or full skirt...or over leggings with boots...a wide brown belt might make it feel a bit more modern.

Oh what a lovely piece! I love it! I can see how it would be tricky to style though.

What about over an a-line dress, to echo the lines? Or a skirt/top combo (preferably in the same colour to mimic a dress)? Does it work belted?

Are you sure it looks off with a ls top and slim trousers: maybe it's just a new look for you so you need to get used to it? Or perhaps you just needed less dark neutrals? I bet it'd be beautiful with grey or taupe or anything in the camel/tan family (not sure what colours are in your closet!). And if you have off white or cream, give that a try too. I'm no help re: real colours, as I don't wear green often, so I'm not sure what would look best.

Did you look at lookbooks from Toast? That might give you some ideas, although they tend more global artsy than global ladylike. There's always Anthropologie for inspiration too.

Diana

How warm is the waistcoat? Specifically, could you wear it in warmer weather with a sleeveless top underneath? I have a similar length waistcoat (my black one with flowers on the back) that also begs to be worn as a statement piece and I like it best with sleeveless or cap sleeved tops. A column of color with slim pants works well, as do my looser (but still straight leg) linen pants.

You could also try a flowy silk blouse with loose sleeves, over slim pants, although the vest + blouse might run into costumey territory.

MuseumGal

I'd start simple and pop it over - blue jeans and LS T in either blue, white, beige, brown, or green.

Vildy

I like the idea of over a sleeveless summer dress, maybe gauzy white.
But here's another way

ETA: did you check Pinterest for embroidered vest? I see some ways there.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How about wearing it over a white column of colour? Or blue jeans and white layering top.

Joyce B

Don't give it away! (Unless you want to give it to me, of course).
That vest is one of a kind. It is hand embroidered in a fine thread and from what I can see from the underside it was finished very carefully and neatly.
Could it work over a simple dress, maybe black, white or tan?
Please keep it, it is very beautiful. Your
mother has very good taste. They don't make garments like that one these days.

Gigi

Do you live nearby a major department store that would have a personal stylist? You could make an appointment to ask for her to help you with pinpointing some things that would work with the garment.

I wonder if the proportion problem is that the length of the coat effectively cuts you in half. Imogen Lamport says that proportions look better in thirds than in halves.

Have you tried wearing it with different lengths of skirts? I wonder what would happen if you tried it with a knee-length skirt. You could get a 3:2 ratio, with the coat being 3 parts and the skirt being 2 parts. I have no clue if this would work, but I struggle with proportions on my own body and have found that if I can't get pants to work with something, sometimes changing to a skirt--where I can try many different variations in length--can fix the problem.

Firecracker (Sharan)

You've gotten a lot of great suggestions already. Here's one to try in warmer weather, kind of along the lines of Diana's and Angie's suggestions, and playing on the boho vibe of the vest. . . wear it over a simple white tee and long denim cutoff shorts--rolled just at or below the knee. Add some long ethnic looking earrings and casual wedge sandals.

eternalvoyageur

Active Member

Oh wow. Thank you so much for all the amazing suggestions! I am making a note of them all in my style diary (I made it when working with the Already Pretty book), will be testing them out.

Liz

EV - what a treasure from your mom. And it's beautiful. I agree: maybe belted with a cozy underlayer for winter wear... and in warmer weather with a sleeveless top. A column of color underneath. Play, play, play with proportions. You might find this vest is a staple. Would love to see a post: one vest, six ways. Keep us posted.

unfrumped

I like the ideas of wearing it over a single item, like a solid-color sheath dress, or matching separates (column of color) to avoid so many lines and color breaks. Also you could experiment with different lengths by pinning it up and seeing if there's any aha moment on length making a difference.

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