What image comes to mind when you think of sweater vests? The first thing that pops in my head is Ferris in a leopard print sweater vest, wilding in the streets of Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane and best bud Cameron. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a classic. I made my kids watch at a very young age, not realizing all the inuendos that abound. Rookie mom mistake.
The next image that comes to mind is Cher Horowitz from Clueless. Her outfits often included shrunken vests. As if. In both instances, vests help portray a character as fashion-forward. So here we are again with sweater vests offering a great way to push your style forward.
Sweater Vests are Trending
In a recent post, I tackled styling a waistcoat or menswear-inspired vest. In this post, I am diving into the Sweater Vest trend. Vests are a huge trend for fall. As the weather cools, a sweater vest is an excellent option for adding just the right bit of warmth to your outfit. There are so many fun options out there, including traditional argyle to Mondrian color blocking and everything in between. For this post, I am sticking with vests of a single color. That fits my style best and will work well with other pieces in my wardrobe.
Which Vest to Buy
My sweater vests are from Zara last season. Zara is where I turn when I want to dabble in a new trend but don’t want to spend much on it. Mango is another excellent place to look for inexpensive, trendy items. I found this black sweater vest from Revolve, which is similar to mine. If you want a similar look, size up. The closest dupe I found is from Banana Republic. The Oversized Washable Vest is available in cream and black. The BR vest is the one I would buy now if I were shopping for a vest today.
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7 Ways to Wear a Sweater Vest
Outfit #1: Sweater Vest + Button-Up Shirt + Straight Leg Jeans
A classic way to wear a sweater vest is with your favorite white button-up shirt. Mine is from Madewell, and it is by far the best white button-up shirt out there. It is the Oversized Ex-Boyfriend shirt, and I am wearing a medium. I am hoping (fingers crossed) they will bring it back. I want to buy a backup just in case. It is just that good.
Pair your white shirt with any vest you choose. Many patterned vests would look great with this outfit. A basic color style is just more me. Add some straight-leg jeans, so you aren’t considered cheugy by the youngins (no, seriously, don’t worry about it). Have you noticed most straight-leg jeans are basically skinny jeans with a little wider ankle? Mine are the AG Straight Leg Jeans (almost skinny but not…). We can outsmart GenZ. We gave birth to them.
Straight-leg jeans look great with all types of shoes, including sneakers and loafers. Depending on what my day ahead holds, I choose my shoes accordingly. I can always justify sneakers. Always!
Outfit #2: Sweater Vest + Button-Up Shirt + Blazer + Jeans
If you need more layers, start with the same formula above and add a blazer for warmth. Both of my blazers are the Everlane Oversized Blazer. I usually size up in blazers for a little more room, but in this one, I am wearing a size eight, which is my usual size. One of the reasons I love this blazer is the oversized fit that is still feels tailored through the body. It adds the look of an oversized blazer without adding bulk.
An alternative denim cut to try with your vest is the cropped flare. I am wearing loafers, but the cropped flares look great with booties too. My jeans are the Hustler Jeans by Mother Denim. They need to be hacked off an inch to be the proper length, but I have yet to tackle that project. Being a tall girl, cutting my jeans is foreign and definitely intimidating. I keep meaning to ask my 5’2″ BFF for help.
Outfit#3: Sweater Vest + Shirt Dress + Boots
You may have noticed that many of my outfits include jeans. It is definitely true. I am a casual girl at heart. Most days you will find me in jeans or leggings. I occasionally wear dresses. A denim shirt dress is a perfect alternative for a mostly jeans girl. The vibe is elevated casual.
Wear the sweater vest belted for a more defined waist, or let it hang long. Add your favorite tights for warmth if needed. You can add a sweater vest over many different styles of dresses. I am wearing the Mary Long Sleeve Shirtdress by Frank & Eileen. It is an expensive dress, but the quality is impeccable, and the style is classic, meaning you will get years of wear out of this dress.
Which outfit do you prefer? Belted or unbelted? 60’s style white boots or modern lug sole?
Outfit#4: Sweater Vest + Plaid Shirt + Jeans + Boots (Casual Holiday Style)
Being from SoCal, our holiday celebrations are always informal. Both my husband and I are 6th generation Californians, so casual runs in our veins. Our family gatherings are usually raucous and relaxed. We wouldn’t have it any other way. So for the holidays, I like to add a celebratory vibe to my casual style. One easy way to add some festiveness is to add some plaid to your usual outfit. Every year J.Crew comes out with a holiday plaid button-up shirt. I picked this one up a couple of years ago and wear it all holiday season long.
Knee-high boots are back, but honestly, I never gave them up. They are a classic and Frye Boots are my favorite. The quality is insane, and the styles timeless. Many of my Frye Boots are over ten years old. I’m wearing the Billy Tall Boots that I thought I got for Xmas last year, but apparently, it was 2019. Of course, last year doesn’t count, so it seems like just a year ago. The Carson Piping Tall boots are similar with a slightly more obvious western influence which is on trend this fall.
Outfit #5: Sweater Vest + Button Up Shirt + Faux Leather Leggings
You can dress up a sweater vest for an evening out. Add a pair of faux leather leggings to your favorite sweater vest. I am wearing a white shirt, but you could also wear a t-shirt or your favorite silk camisole underneath. To define my waist, I added an asymmetrical belt, and because even when I am dressing up, I want to be comfortable, I added a pretty pair of flats.
Outfit #6: Sweater Vest + T-Shirt + Satin
Add something satin to your sweater vest and t-shirt for another elevated casual look. On the left, I’m wearing the Vince Drawstring Lounge Pants with the Frame Le Lexington Chelsea Boot. In the photo on the right, I am wearing the J.Crew Pull-On Slip Skirt in Leopard Dot, which is no longer available. The skirt is available in several fabulous colors. I think a plain satin skirt is more current. If I were looking for another slip skirt, I would pick up the navy or camel. My boots are the Sam Edelman Larina Boot. Adding a lug sole boot modernizes this slip skirt.
Outfit #7: Sweater Vest + T-Shirt + Jeans
Back to my beloved jeans: Probably my favorite combination is a sweater vest with a white t-shirt and a utility jacket. Utility jackets are my jam. I am a hoarder collector of utility jackets. They offer just the right level of warmth for the mild CA winters. I wear them as a topper to pretty much any and every outfit. My jacket is the Pistola Camilo Star Utility Jacket. Target has a quality dupe at a fraction of the cost.
Another staple in my fall/winter wardrobe is combat boots. They are by far the most comfortable shoes to walk in next to sneakers. There really is no summer equivalent. My feet are so happy when boot season arrives and I can put away all the sandals.
My green boots are from last year but these Staud boots are similar. However, they are more olive green than mine. My black boots are the Vagabond Shoes Cosmo 2.o Chelsea Boot. I wear them all the time. I am new to Vagabond Shoes, but I am now a huge fan.
There are countless ways to wear a sweater vest making it an easy trend for anyone to try. The sweater vest options are so varied that finding one to fit your personal style should be easy. I have rounded up a fun selection of vests for your consideration. Most are budget-friendly, but a few are splurge-worthy. Which one is your favorite?
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I didn’t include sweater vests in my 5 Fall Trends to Invest In post because they are a trendy item that came in hot and will likely fade just as quickly. It doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the trend. It just means find a nice inexpensive option you can wear for the next season or two and then donate. But if vests are your thing consider one of the high-quality options and hold on to it until the next time sweater vests come around. Yes, they will undoubtedly be back again.
And a small reminder from Ferris, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around you once in a while, you could miss it”. In many ways, it seems like just yesterday, I was wearing vests and watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Almost 40 years later, I am back wearing vests and look for my chance to run wild in the city.
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