/3/ - 3DCG

This is a shot in the dark because I have hunch that there's no solution, but I'm making this character with a somewhat tight fitting metal vest here, and I've no idea how to rig it. Particularly around the abdomen area. I mean it logically shouldn't really be deforming, but I can't make it not clip if I don't make it like cloth, can I? So do I just skin it like normal clothing and simply avoid touching the abdomen when animating? I can't really make it less tight fitting either because it'd be off reference.