Top 11 Movie Vests
- CJ Tiernan
- 10 hours ago
- 6 min read
By CJ Tiernan
Every now and then, a character will become synonymous with an article of clothing. They wear it so well, or it’s so interwoven with the plot, the two become inextricably linked. Mario and overalls. Cinderella and clear shoes. Batman and eyeliner. I’m not a big “remember what people look like” guy myself. If asked to close my eyes and reveal the hair color of friends and family I’ve held dear for decades, I’m not likely to surpass (in a statistically significant way) a monkey at a typewriter. Sorry, it’s just not my strong suit. It is, therefore, of some note that I recall these particular outfits with clarity. Whether because they ooze coolness, are endlessly practical, or are so laughably impractical that one can’t help but love them, the following are extremely memorable. Without further ado, I present my list of my Top 11 Favorite Movie Vests I’ve ever seen. Enjoy! Heads Up: I don't have the rights to any of the pictures so you can click on the character names and it will take you to a Google Image result if you don't remember the vest in quesiton.
1. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) - Back to the Future
While repeated mistaken for a life preserver when he travels back in time, our boy Marty is rocking a vest designed for warmth. You know how, when you get cold, it’s only ever your torso, and never your fingers, toes, and nose that get cold? That’s why they invented vests! Marty is traveling from October 1985 to November 1955, so the practicality of a warm torso is unmistakable (at least from a Midwest perspective. He’s in California, so who knows what it’s like there in late fall). I like how, in Back to the Future 2, he puts on the futuristic jacket that shrinks to his size, and the color scheme perfectly matches him in the vest. As though, if they didn’t do that, we’d lose track of who Michael J. Fox is supposed to be.
2. Bane (Tom Hardy) - The Dark Knight Rises
Why do they make a bulletproof vest and not a bulletproof everything? Cost control, mostly, although you famously keep nearly every vital organ between the belly button and the neck (*looks to the heavens and brandishes a fist* Damn you, Brain!). What makes the Bane vest seem so sinister? Well, Bane mostly. That mask is as menacing as they come. But the willingness to be rocking a vest in among the Gotham rabble is brazen like a raisin. Also, his wool-lined leather overcoat is sick!
3. Ken (Ryan Gosling) - Barbie
Ken actually rocks a large number of vests throughout the film, so I won’t step on your toes by choosing just one favorite. He’s got the black, Mojo Dojo Casa House vest complete with tassels and a wool coat. He’s got the jean jacket vest, where the sleeves appear to be torn off (or just popped off because, I mean, did you see Ryan Gosling’s arms?). He’s got the 80s, dayglow vest coupled with matching visor and fanny pack. I feel like I could just go on and on about all these vests but at some point, enough is Kenough.
4. Aladdin (Scott Weinger) - Aladdin
When we meet Aladdin, we not only find out he is a thief, but watch him actively stealing at the time. He and his pet monkey are perusing the market, engaging in shenanigans, ultimately all for an apple (which, I did check and while they aren’t native to the region, can be grown there). I believe that we are supposed to sympathize and respect this choice. He’s not stealing out of greed, but stealing out of need. The vest further emphasizes this point. He’s not stealing sleeves; he has just enough shirt to prevent sunburn on his nipples and that’s it. I personally have no respect for anyone who steals anything for any reason, but it’s tough to get too worked up about a cartoon character in a work of fiction. I’ll reserve my ire for the sultans of the real world.
5. Woody (Tom Hanks) - Toy Story
How does one convey that a character is a cowboy, if we never see them wrangle any cows? (or whatever a cowboy does). Such is the question foisted upon the animation team at Pixar, who were also trying to invent a whole new way of animating at the same time. A cowboy hat? Sure. Cowboy boots? Obviously. Jeans with a big belt buckle? It goes without saying. How about a cow-hide vest? Now that’s an innovation. While the vest may barely be big enough to pin a Sherrif’s badge to, it clearly sends the message that he’s in charge (until that space ranger shows up and ruins everything).
6. Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) - Superbad
This guy is great for several reasons. One, he’s a 25-year-old organ donor from Hawaii. That one is obvious and unimpeachable (I’m McLovin it!) But two, he is so earnest and wears a drab, brown vest that wouldn’t have been out of place in the 70s. What’s the story there? It’s not a period piece. I don’t think I ever knew anyone who wore a vest to school, except for one of my high school teachers. Said teacher would consume exactly 22 red, seedless grapes every day, hoarded pennies in his basement for the day they would be discontinued (nailed it!), and any time the weather dipped south of 72 degrees, he could be spotted sporting a sweater vest. Salute to you, Mr. Schroeder. The weirdest dude I ever met (and boy did he love himself some FRANKLIN! DELANO! ROOSEVELT!).
7. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Another high school kid with a vest? What?! Man, did I just not GET high school? To be fair, no one has ever gotten high school better than Ferris Bueller. You know those days when you wake up and you’re just not feeling it? Well, this guy did something about it. When your parents name you after a carnival attraction, you know that you’re bound for big things. Ferris (Wheel) Bueller did not disappoint. That scene where he’s lip syncing to Twist and Shout in the middle of a parade: chef’s kiss. Pure perfection (as is the vest).
8. The Joker (Heath Ledger) - The Dark Knight
The Joker has a set color scheme. He is, in almost every iteration, clad in green and purple. It is a fantastic mix. In the Heath Ledger version, he rocks this wonderful purple suit with a green vest. While the vest is hiding for a lot of the movie, the jacket has been discarded for the interrogation room scene, allowing it the screentime to flourish. The vest is both simple and iconic (and green is my favorite color so, c’mon, it had to make the list).
9. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) - Black Widow
This vest is tactical and practical. It’s got a surplus of pockets and straps (what more could you ask for?). Florence Pugh looks perfect in it, like she’s absolutely well-equipped to take on the world in hand-to-hand combat. It is also a point of pride. She relishes the compliment on it from Black Widow with a “I knew it! I knew you did. It’s so cool, right?” She also delights in the admission that it’s the “first piece of clothing I’ve ever bought for myself.” The Black Widow movie has probably the most dialogue ever allocated to talking about a vest, although the corset in Pirates of the Caribbean would like a word (wait, is a corset a vest? Does Elizabeth Swan need to be on this list?).
10. Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) - The Big Lebowski
John Goodman is a delightfully intimidating presence in this movie. You step one toe over the line and he’s coming for you (and that’s not just, like, my opinion, man). If you’re The Dude, you have to love a friend like that. Other than his unavailability to roll on the Shabbos, he is down for whatever. If someone comes into your home and pees on your rug, you want a guy like Walter in your corner. Heads are gonna roll and he’s got room for them in his vest pockets.
11. Stan (Paul Wilson) - Office Space
Remember the guy with all the pieces of flair at Chotchkie's? The guy that chastises Jennifer Aniston for only having 15 pieces of flair (the minimum acceptable threshold) while he’s out here rocking 37. Now that’s a vest! I’m sure most of us have a had a job or two that required some level of wardrobe commitment we wouldn’t have engaged in while on our own dime. Now personally, (*whispers*) I actually kind of like the look of the flair and would be open to it, but I’m willing to admit it’s not for everyone. Fun fact: 37 is considered to be objectively the funniest number. Click here for the deets from Vulture.
Final Thoughts
There are countless characters that have worn a vest throughout the history of movie-dom. Some are for style and some are practical, but all are memorable in their own way. I will leave a list down below of the ones that just missed my Top 11. Please let me know in the comments section if I’ve omitted any of your faves. Thanks! Have a great day!
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