Why We Call it the "DS9/NEM Captain Vest"

Before we begin the DS9/NEM "captain vest" construction analysis, we feel obliged to briefly explain its label. 

Although we saw many characters wearing the DS9/NEM jacket over the years, including characters who were not Starfleet captains, the corresponding vest was only ever worn by the captains - Captain Picard in First Contact (and a deleted scene in Insurrection), and the Sisko on Deep Space Nine. 

DS9, 6x18 "Inquisition"

The only other character to ever wear the DS9/NEM vest was "Deputy Director" Sloan. 

Perhaps this was done to visually present Sloan at an equivalent level of authority as Captain Sisko by giving him a jacket and vest; he did wear a variation of the four-pip rank insignia on his collar. 

Or perhaps this was just Sloan simply going all-out with his LARPing. 

Since Sloan wore a variation of the four-pip rank insignia and was ultimately LARPing anyway, we can arguably dismiss him from the "captain" crowd, but we'll still be taking a look at his vest during our analysis.

Considering this evidence on the shows (Deep Space Nine and Voyager), and Captain Picard being the only character to wear the vest during the TNG movies, it does seem that this vest was primarily intended for the captain - perhaps an intentionally distinguishing garment for the captain, or perhaps it was simply an issue of not having the time, budget, and/or other resources to construct the multitude of vests for all the non-captain characters. 

Hence why we call it the "captain vest."

Nemesis

Lastly, though, it is also worth noting that not all Starfleet captains of the DS9/NEM era wore the "captain vest."

DS9, 5x13 "For the Uniform"

DS9, 7x4 "Take Me Out to the Holosuite"

Furthermore, in Deep Space Nine's early sixth season episode, "Rocks and Shoals," while the crew was drying their uniforms and Jadzia was resting from her injuries, the Sisko did tell her, "Madam, your pants are ready. Your boots and vest will take a little longer. While you wait, I might suggest that you browse through the hotel's gift shop." 

That obviously implied that Jadzia wore a DS9/NEM vest, and, perhaps by extension, that all Starfleet crew did. 

Maybe that was just a line the writers threw in without understanding the costumers' intention of it being the "captain vest," or perhaps we are supposed to believe everybody wore one (under their jumpsuits?!?) but we only saw them on Captain Sisko and Captain Picard (and Sloan, once) purely for production budget/time reasons ... 

Still, though. "DS9/NEM captain vest."


Now, onto an analysis of the garment itself!

NEXT: Analysis, part 1 - Yoke