4 Ways to Style a Sweater Vest
There’s no denying that men’s-inspired fashion has been having a major moment over these past few seasons. From dad sneakers and baggy jeans, to oversized cardigans and now sweater vests. To ensure you don’t look like you’re roaming the halls of your local high school, it’s important to pay close attention to fit, style and size. We’re not going for that preppy uniform look, instead, opt for something more loose and oversized for that chic and trendy effect. Again, it all comes back to that “stole from your boyfriend’s closet” look.
Probably one of the easiest ways to style a sweater vest is on its own. Obviously, this is going to show a little more skin that if you paired it with a blouse, turtleneck or long sleeve shirt underneath, but somehow still looks chic and sophisticated. As for the bottoms, it’s up to you. You could style it with a skinny pair of jeans and heels to help elongate the legs, or faux leather pants and booties for an edgier, street-style effect. You could also rock your fave pair of boyfriend jeans and sneakers for a laid-back weekend vibe, or as the weather gets warmer, biker shorts for an incredibly trendy look.
Looking for a more “classic” effect, try pairing your sweater vest with a white button-down shirt/ blouse. I highly suggest opting for a collared shirt, especially if your vest is V-shaped. The high neck detail of the shirt will slightly peek and lay over the vest perfectly, allowing for the knit detail of the vest to really pop. Speaking of the shirt, pick one that’s slightly longer in length, this allows you to play with layer and really get creative in the bottom you choose to pair with it. For those that love leggings, this is the scenario where you can style your tights as pants, as the shirt will cover the booty. If you’re looking for a little more structure in the bottom half, this is when you can reach for those perfectly worn-in mom jeans. Nothing trendier than a sweater vest and mom jeans.
Want that “model off duty” vibe, nothing is more effortlessly chic than boyfriend jeans and a blazer. Although normally paired with a basic white tee, you can totally switch out the tee for a sweater vest. Since the vest is oversized and bulky, you want the blazer to have the same feeling. Nothing too tight or form-fitting. Toss on a pair of booties and cross-body bag and you’re instantly hip and trendy. Moving into the slightly warmer months, you can switch out your boyfriend jeans for a mini skirt. This allows you to show-off a little skin and add some balance to the slightly bulkier upper half.
Finally, another way to take your sweater vest from winter to spring, is to pair it over a lose-flowing dress. This makes an excellent transition into next season. If the dress is boxy, you might consider adding a belt, just to help accentuate the waist and add a little more shape to the outfit. I also think a silky slip dress would look beautiful with a sweater vest. This will help feminize the look and add juxtaposition to an otherwise masculine outfit. Either way, and dress you style with it, just have fun with it and also don’t forget about the footwear. Booties, over-the-knee boots and even sneakers will all work with this look.
How do you style your sweater vest?
What I Wore- Hat- Lack Of Colors, White Blouse- Zara, Sweater Vest- H&M, Purse- YSL, Watch- c/o Bulova, Jeans- Target, Booties- Circus by Sam Edelman
