Like all Indian fathers, my dad’s morning routine is one of the most predictable things on the planet. It starts with reading the newspaper while sipping a hot cup of tea. Then he gets ready to go about his day. He wears his white banyan and blue striped boxers while ironing his formal shirt. His phone usually keeps him occupied during breakfast time, and then he’s ready to face the day.
Over time, I came to understand his obsession with tea and his need for meticulous ironing. But my teenage mind, that constantly kept up with global fashion trends, found the vests incredibly uncool. It was one of those things that I associated with the slow morning newspapers and unchecked WhatsApp forwards.
When the mercury rose in the Mumbai summer, the new generation’s strategy was to wear as little as possible. We would skip the base layers completely, throw on a thin t-shirt, and assume less clothes meant more cooling. Growing up watching this trend, this is what I considered cool.
It took exactly one summer watching the men in my life suffer through a moderate heatwave warning for me to realise that my father wasn’t just being stubborn. He understood the hidden physics of everyday comfort.
When Vests Weren’t Trendy When Vests Weren’t Trendy
The summer I started my internship was also when my brother hit college. Being the rebellious teenager he was, he didn’t touch the cotton vests my dad had bought for him when the weather started getting hot. I had observed this trend among the other boys right from my time in college as well.
Most younger men stopped wearing vests because of the kind of “uncle” aesthetic they were associated with. Plus, let's be honest, nobody wanted to deal with the added effort of storing, wearing, and washing yet another piece of clothing on a tight schedule.
But I remember this was a particularly harsh summer and, as it progressed, I saw this "less is more" logic completely fall apart among the men in my life.
The Beginning of the Summer Meltdown
Around late April, when the true summer season kicked in, I saw the same colleagues who walked into the office wearing crisp, tailored shirts as a part of our company's strict smart casual dress code suddenly look a bit more sloppy. They had sweat patches on their shirt even before coming into the office.
They would spend a good part of their early workday trying to dry off under the air-conditioner. They also carried their deodorant around at all times to make sure they were smelling fresh for meetings and office catch-ups.
I took this to be a regular feature of the summer. But as time passed, I noticed something strange. A lot of senior managers seemed to come into the office looking much fresher. Was it because they didn’t use public transport? Or did they just use better shirts? Or did that generation of men know something the newer one didn’t?
If the last part was true, I realised I would see this playing out at home as well. Sure enough, my father seemed to return home from work looking much fresher and less sweaty than my brother, who spent half that time in college.
That’s when I realised it was the vest which helped keep all these problems at bay.
Protecting the Wardrobe
Men from my father’s generation knew that a fine linen shirt or a premium cotton shirt looks much better when it doesn't stick to your skin. A vest solves this problem while absorbing dampness.
There was also an economic side to this that I noticed. Though vests are another garment to buy and wash, they protect the expensive, high-quality shirts by taking the first hit of sweat. In the long run, this meant my dad went through fewer shirts in a year than my brother.
It seemed to be a no-brainer. But then why weren’t the others adopting this strategy as well?
The answer was actually much deeper than just a generation of youngsters trying to look cool.
What Traditional Vests Don’t Get RightWhat Traditional Vests Don’t Get Right
While discussing this with a colleague over lunch, I heard him mention how the vests peaking out from around the neck and the thick stitches around the shoulders made them look outdated. As a student of research, I found it fascinating that no one had addressed this issue yet. But I was wrong, while searching online, I found the XYXX invisible vests.
They seemed to have all the functionality of a traditional vest while keeping up with modern trends. The choices ranged from different fabrics to fittings to necklines.
I shared this with my colleague, who seemed more excited by this finding than me. He immediately bought a few. The first day, he wore a sand brown invisible vest with a square neckline that blended so perfectly that it almost disappeared under his crisp white linen shirt.
He couldn’t stop thanking me for introducing him to the brand. Every day from then on, I noticed how he didn’t have the same issues as the other men from the team.
That gave me an idea.
Making The Switch
As Christmas came around, I saved up to buy gifts for everyone at home. My mom got her favourite wristwatch, which she had been eyeing for weeks. My dad and brother, though, got something unique.
I got my dad a gift bag of a Modal Vest made from an ultra-soft blend of TENCEL™ Modal and super-combed cotton. They were white in colour, like all his other vests. He was impressed by the super soft texture and how lightweight they were.
But I knew my brother wouldn’t like the same plain white ones as my dad. So I got him one of the sand brown vests I had seen my colleague wear, along with some workout vests that would help my skin breathe easier. He didn’t say much, but I could see that he appreciated how useful it would be that summer. He could have his own unique sense of style while still benefiting from the comfort of the older generation’s wisdom.
I did something unique that summer. I managed to bridge the worlds of my dad and my brother. And all it took was a garment that stayed as relevant today as it was a generation ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better for men to wear a vest under a formal shirt in the summer?
Yes, a specialised inner layer acts as a critical sweat barrier, wicking moisture before it transfers to your shirt, preventing damp patches.
How do you prevent rash and skin irritation caused by sweat on a humid workday?
Choose a breathable vest made of super-combed cotton or modal. These materials draw sweat away from your skin instantly, minimising skin friction.
Which fabric is the best for an everyday undershirt or vest in India?
Premium super-combed cotton and modal microfibers are ideal. They maintain continuous airflow in high humidity and won't trap heat like synthetic polyester.
What should men wear under light linen shirts to avoid transparency?
Wear a square-neck, sleeveless invisible vest. It creates a uniform, opaque layer that neutralises skin contrast without showing at your open collar line.
Ready to bring true wardrobe wisdom to your daily routine? Explore our feather-light, moisture-wicking layers within the premium XYXX Vest Collection to build a flawless baseline.
