Today, I will show you the best 9 ways to style a sweater vest, I will also tell you more about its popularity, the reasons for it, and how to choose an ideal sweater vest for your body type.
Based on the article from my website: https://www.letsglow-up.com/blog-posts/how-to-look-stylish-in-sweater-vest
Hey there, how have you been, my dear fashion enthusiasts? You probably noticed how quickly sweater vests started to gain popularity. We see them everywhere: at fashion shows, on YouTube, TikTok, or other social media platforms, or even when we go outside. I even have a whole Pinterest mood board dedicated to sweater vests, I absolutely love them, and a few in my wardrobe. And I know, that most of you also love it.
The interesting looks, the number of opportunities to style them with literally anything you can find, and the comfort they give made them stand out from other clothes, like sweaters, hoodies, sweatshirts, etc.
But many people still don’t know how to style them for the best look ever, so this is when this post comes in handy.
Before we start, I recommend you to read my other articles, such as What are Chino Pants? and 7 Ways to Style a Polo Shirt.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Did you know that they first gained popularity about 100 years ago? They were very popular as athletic wear at the beginning of the 20th century and were worn by professional cricketers in the UK and Australia. They were also popular in India and South Africa.
They became especially popular in the 1970s when fashion lovers started wearing them and their popularity spread around the whole ’70s and kept growing even in the ‘90s.
Let’s admit, sweater vests were extremely popular during the pandemic period, and there’re several reasons for it:
Firstly, comfort. Comfort played a huge role in everyone’s style during a pandemic. We all had quarantine in our countries and rarely were going outside, so there wasn’t any need of wearing stylish, but uncomfortable clothing. People began wearing oversized clothing, sweaters, hoodies, and other comfortable and common items because most of the people worked remotely. Why did they need to wear something fancy?
Secondly, is the overall trend in the style of the ’90s and nostalgia related to this time. Did you notice how many people wear haircuts from that period? Or how much clothing from the 90s do we see on the streets of our cities? Since sweater vests were popular then, they’re popular now and were especially popular during 2020–2021. Many TikTok influencers wore them, which obviously forced their fans to update their wardrobe.
And third, is a variety of styles. Many new clothing brands appeared over the last few decades, so to compete with each other, they need to stand out. This led to many new styles and looks of the same clothing. And sweater vest is not an exception.
Without considering your body type, you will not be able to choose the best-looking vest, so here’re a few tips for you to pay attention to:
Over a crisp button-down shirt
Whan can look better than wearing a sweater vest over a regular crisp button-down shirt? Nothing I would say. This look is ideal both for casual or official style.
So, how do you style them both? Firstly, decide which color palette you will be using. In my case, this is a beige vest with a white shirt tucked into my tailored beige pants, and I usually end the look with white low Air Forces (I really love them).
The point is that you can use jeans or other pants as well, and it all will look great together. Use some wide-leg pants or high-waisted jeans to diversify your look
With a turtleneck
Again, we’re starting with a color palette. But this time, instead of a shirt, we will put on a sweater vest with a turtleneck. You can use jeans or other pants to accomplish your look, do what you like, really.
This look will be especially good for a bit colder weather.
Under a blazer
I mentioned above that a sweater vest tends to be a more classic part of an outfit, and styling it with a blazer will be an excellent decision. So choose your desired blazer, and make sure that the colors are matching well. Then choose tailored pants you think are looking good with the blazer and end the look with official shoes.
You can technically use jeans or another type of pants for this style, but I highly recommend you do it carefully as it can mess everything up.
Over a dress
If you’re a girl or just a person who likes dresses, you should try this out! Looks amazing, and gives a little bit of creativity to the look. This creates a contrast between the softness of the dress and the structure of the vest, and I love how it looks, and I’m sure you love this too!
With high-waisted pants or skirts
Want a bit more casual and youthful look? Just tuck the vest into high-waisted jeans or a skirt. This will be a good style for going out or dating someone. This way of styling isn’t new and is very popular among other people, so you should give it a try!
Paired with a midi skirt
Another feminine look. Match the sweater vest with a midi skirt and finish the look with good loafers or other shoes. Looks stylish and creative. Experiment more with it!
Layered over a long-sleeve tee
Long-sleeve tee is a very good option for this casual, laid-back vibe. Looks simple yet great, and suits any occasion. Whether you wanna go to school or go out. Date someone in a restaurant or working at the office, consider pairing a sweater vest with a long-sleeve tee. Add any pants to this outfit and finish the look with neutral-colored loafers.
With shorts
Summer is almost here, so what do we do in that situation? Well, since pairing a vest with pants isn’t the best idea during that time, I recommend you wear shorts. Consider layering a sweater vest over a shirt or an oversized tee. You’ll feel really good then.
As a statement piece
Why don’t you choose a patterned sweater vest instead of a regular one? This will make your look stand out and look even more interesting. Find a good color combination, and pair a patterned sweater vest with any pants that suit your look well.
So, what do we do, if you don’t want your vest to look too official, and you want something more casual? Well, I covered this question a bit earlier, but here’s a full answer:
Generally, making a casual look with a sweater vest isn’t hard, you just need to take any casual item and try to match it with the sweater vest. If looks good, wear it!
It’s a personal preference. But tie gives this official kind of vibe, that might be beneficial for some people, but for other groups of people will not.
Generally speaking, a tie suits a sweater vest well, so there’s no problem in wearing it this way. But if you want to achieve a casual look, I’d recommend you skip this step, because it will look weird.
Wearing a sweater vest is going to be an excellent choice due to its comfort and ability to be worn on any occasion, in any style. By implementing the tips I mentioned above, you will definitely be looking great, but don’t forget to experiment with your outfits and express yourself through fashion, because this is what fashion is about. Don’t hesitate to wear weird looks, if you like them. This is your life and your tastes, so do whatever you want. And considering how many styling options a sweater vest gives you, you should experiment!
Thank you for your attention, and hopefully you found your perfect style today. Good luck and happy styling!