Abstract: A bullet-resistant vest has a vest-front and a vest-back with side panels able to join and fasten about the sides of a torso of the user. The side panels have a thickness of about half of that of the vest-front and vest-back. When the side panels are overlapped and fastened at the sides, the total thickness of the conjoined side panels equal that of the vest-front or vest back. In this way, the fastening system advantageously provides a wearable vest which has a consistent thickness all about the torso of the user which does not unnecessarily bulge at the sides or create an impediment to movement of the user.