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Vests
Warm core. Free arms.
Men's Vests
Eight in the morning on the Moyenne Corniche. The Vespa climbs above Villefranche, the air is cool, the sun is not yet warm. Sleeves are too much, a shirt alone too little. A vest keeps the chest warm and leaves the arms free. That is the job of the Piaggio, the Baindoux vest.
Vest, gilet or body warmer
A vest is a sleeveless outer layer worn over a shirt, a knit or under a jacket. In the United States, “vest” covers both the waistcoat of a suit and the zip-up outerwear vest. In Britain, the outerwear version is usually a gilet or a body warmer. The Piaggio is an outerwear vest: a mens vest jacket with a zip, pockets and a collar.
1666: a king introduces the vest
The word “vest” comes from the French veste and the Latin vestis, “clothing”. On 8 October 1666, Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary that King Charles II had introduced a new fashion at court: a vest, meant “to teach the nobility thrift”. That sleeveless garment under the coat is the ancestor of the waistcoat.
The vest, then and now
Charles II wore the vest under a long coat, at court. Today, the mens outerwear vest sits on top: over a shirt on a cool morning, under a blazer on a windy evening. The modern vest is a layer for the in-between hours, light enough to carry and warm where it counts.
Baindoux names its vest after Piaggio, the Italian maker of the Vespa since 1946. “Vespa” means “wasp” in Italian. Piaggio 1 has a smooth cotton outside and soft terry inside, finished with a red zip; Piaggio 2 is cut entirely in Giza cotton terry. See Baindoux craftsmanship for how the collection is made.
How to wear a men's vest
To wear a zip-up vest with style, let the vest frame one clean layer.
- Oxford shirt under the Piaggio, sleeves rolled, for the morning ride.
- White T-shirt under the vest, open at the front, for lunch in the sun.
- Crew neck sweatshirt under the vest, like Eleventh Hour, for a cool evening.
- Blazer over the vest, like The Royal, when the wind turns.
A sleeveless jacket keeps the arms free for the handlebars, the helm or a glass at the bar.
A day on the Corniche in a vest
The ride starts at eight, up from Villefranche. The Piaggio, our zip-up vest with a smooth cotton outside and a terry inside, goes on in Dark Blue over a white Oxford shirt and sand chinos. On the open road, the vest keeps the wind off the chest while the arms stay free for the handlebars.
By eleven, in Èze village, coffee comes with a view of Cap Ferrat. The Piaggio hangs open over a T-shirt, and the red zip shows against the navy. Lunch in Beaulieu-sur-Mer sends the vest to the back of the chair.
At seven, on the way back to Villefranche, the air cools. A Piaggio in Sand, zipped up to the ribbed collar over a navy knit, closes the day.
Colour combinations that work on the road:
- Dark Blue with white and sand.
- Sand with navy and a red detail.
- Red with white for a bold contrast.
For more outfits on the coast, read what to wear in the South of France. The vest is a staple of every quiet luxury outfit.
Piaggio 1 and Piaggio 2
Piaggio 1
Piaggio 1 is a full zip vest with a smooth cotton outside and a terry inside, with a ribbed collar, ribbed armholes and a ribbed hem. A chest pocket and two hand pockets sit on the front, and a red zip runs from hem to collar. Piaggio 1 comes in Sand, Red, Dark Blue and Black.
Piaggio 2
Piaggio 2 is cut entirely in Giza cotton terry, inside and out, with a red rubber logo on the chest. Ribbed trims in the same colour, a two-way zip, a chest pocket and two slanted hand pockets complete the vest. Piaggio 2 is shown in Red.
The Piaggio comes in sizes M to XXL. Order online with free EU shipping (delivery and returns), or zip one up in the Baindoux stores.
More from Baindoux
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a vest, a gilet and a body warmer?
A vest, a gilet and a body warmer are the same sleeveless outer layer, named differently per country. Americans say vest, the British say gilet or body warmer.
How do you wear a vest with a blazer?
Wear the vest under the blazer, zipped, over a shirt or a thin knit. The vest adds warmth to the chest without bulk in the sleeves.
Why is the vest called Piaggio?
The Piaggio carries the name of the Italian company that builds the Vespa. The vest is made for the same life: riding along the coast on a cool morning.