Originally posted by StephenHampshire That is a string vest- a normal ves or singlet, would be made of a more solid fabric, such as cotton or polyester. I personally was made to wear hideously scratchy "woollen" vests when I was a nipper, although thankfully only in the winter months (Sept to May here in the UK)
At some time in the past two hundred and fifty years, pants and knickers (from pantaloons and knicker-bockers) transitioned from outerwear to underwear in the UK, whilst the former remains as outerwear in the ex-colonies. We also have briefs as underwear although shorts remain as something to wear when jogging or playing football or rugby.
Bloomers are of course a rather modest foundation garment for ladies, whereas a bloomer is a gaffe or a loaf.
This is a Brit by the way
A vest is a vest regardless of whether it's made of string,cotton,lycra(!)....The point I was making was that in the UK it would be regarded as eccentric to walk down the street in just a vest and pants,but not in The US.
WRT Brits,headlines such as "Brits Abroad","First Brit to win Wimbledon","Brit in space",etc all have completely different and surreal connotations if your definition is correct!!