It's all in the difference.

[astral276]

I haven't found a good answer for this so thought I would try the fount of all knowledge - the Kitchen Table.

What is the difference between a T-shirt and a vest?

The simple answer would be that a T-shirt has short sleeves (resembling a 'T' when laid flat) and is designed to be an outer wear item, and a vest is sleeveless and designed to be an under wear item.

However, you can get vests (underwear) with short sleeves that look just the same as a T-shirt, so in that situation when does a vest become a T-shirt and change from a item of underwear to an item of outerwear?

[meebo1]

I think you answered the first question. A short sleeved vest will become a t-shirt when worn as an outer garment?

[FirstGreenIsGold]

I don't know what other people in my neck of the woods call them, but we call garments (either sleeveless or with short sleeves) worn under a shirt "undershirts". A T-Shirt is for outerwear. A vest goes over a T-shirt or long sleeved button up shirt. Over here, though, we talk and spell funny with our mix of British / French / American / etc. etc. influences all jumbled up.

[astral276]

I don't know what other people in my neck of the woods call them, but we call garments (either sleeveless or with short sleeves) worn under a shirt "undershirts". A T-Shirt is for outerwear. A vest goes over a T-shirt or long sleeved button up shirt. Over here, though, we talk and spell funny with our mix of British / French / American / etc. etc. influences all jumbled up.

Yeah, I think you have been living next door to Americans for too long.

English: Vest > American: Undershirt

English: Waistcoat > American: Vest

Foreigners don't 'arf talk funny.

[astral276]

I think you answered the first question. A short sleeved vest will become a t-shirt when worn as an outer garment?

I was wondering if there was some difference in style/fit/length/material/etc. that I wasn't aware of that would change a comment "Nice T-shirt you are wearing." to "Why are you walking around in your vest?".

[FirstGreenIsGold]

I'm pushing 60 and I've never seen tire spelled tyre over here. But, I put the u in neighbour and those types of words. I spell it centre, not center. Obviously, I'm confused. My British grandparents probably wouldn't be impressed with me.

[cambrensis]

What amuses me is that the US uses "vest" to mean shirt; therefore, logically, the outer garment should be a t-vest, which of course is not the usage. Add to that the confusion that exists on both sides of the Atlantic between a "sleeveless vest/singlet"and "tank top" (hilarious that one!) and the one piece kit used in some sports (also singlet) and I am left with only sign language and the occasional "ugh!"

A few years ago I walked into a local clothing store and asked them: "Can you tell me what is a tank top or show me one? I hear youngsters talking about them." One of the staff came back and showed me a garment..."But that's a sleeveless pullover! Why change the name...and where does it come from?" No answer of course...never expect the natives to understand their language is a well-known maxim!

There are other neologisms that annoy/confuse me. Why say "train station" when they mean railway/railroad station? Do they not know that there are such things as road trains, bridal trains and brain strains?!

Worst of all is the ubiquitous "plug-socket"!!! Is it a plug? a socket? hermaphroditic?

Waiting for the nice men in white coats....

[FirstGreenIsGold]

There are other neologisms that annoy/confuse me. Why say "train station" when they mean railway/railroad station? Do they not know that there are such things as road trains, bridal trains and brain strains?!....

We always called it the train station. The CPR station was never called railway or railroad station. (My parents and aunts /uncles were born here in Canada in the early 1900s into the 1920s , so I grew up learning the expressions of that generation.)

[youmeus]

Where I live (in mid USA) a t shirt is a pull over that can be underwear or outerwear. The outerwear ones fit looser, often have sayings or pictures on them. A vest is sleeveless to be worn over other clothes for warmth or looks and often buttons, zips in the front or left open. The men's dress undershirt is sleeveless and fairly thin.