Look here! Is it a sweater? Is it a vest? Nooo, it’s a sweater vest!! And if you’re out to add a touch of vintage class to your outfit, read on to discover how you can best style your very own sweater vest in a truly vintage aesthetic. From layering to accessorising, we’ve got your torso fully covered in the sweater vest department.
Yes, we are here to talk about the ultimate fashion statement, the ever-stylish sweater vest aka ‘SV’ for aficionados of the cosy wundergarm with truncated sleeves. Also known to UK fashionistas as a tank top, sleeveless jumper, cabled v-neck cricket top or a nostalgic sleeveless home-knit special,. Yes, you read it correctly: sweater vests are rocking the day yet again and we’re taking a dive straight into the adaptable and adorable world of the SV to show you just how you can best style your sweater vest like a pro.
The Perfect Sweater Vest For The Vintage Aesthetic
Let’s take a brief look now at the different types of sweater vests worn through the decades, such as the classic V-neck sweater vest, the crewneck sweater vest and the button-up sweater vest. Each type has its own unique style, however if you’re keen to achieve that vintage aesthetic style, we’d recommend the V-neck sweater vest for starters, as it looks a little baggier, so shows off whatever you’re wearing underneath that much better.
How Can I Style My Sweater Vest?
No need to worry if you are dithering just a bit over how to style your chosen sweater vest, and how best to rep one viz a viz this sleeveless beaut, just check out our suggestions right here, and take your pick in whichever combo you love:
1. Pair with a Button-Up Shirt
For a preppy smart look, pair your sweater vest with a crisp long-sleeved button-up shirt. Opt for neutral colours, which can simply be two shades of the same colour, but if you are still at all undecided, go for the classic white shirt with a plain blue overlayer – timeless classic for a very good reason!
2. Layer over a Turtleneck
For a cosy and stylish winter outfit, layer your sweater vest over a turtleneck. Choose a neutral-coloured sweater vest, such as grey or camel, and pair it with a contrasting black or white turtleneck. Neat one!
3. Start with a plain white Tee
One of the most popular of all sweater vest looks is also one of the simplest. Just wear a smart white tee under any coloured sweater vest, add a pair of nice straight legged jeans and you’re ready to roll. This outfit is so simple, yet so effective.
4. Use a base layer Long-sleeved Top
You can readily combine the t-shirt and shirt ideas, by going instead for a cool long-sleeved tee – this option works surprisingly well, once a sweater vest is popped on top, but just be careful to ensure the colours/designs of both items complement each other.
5 Cut a dash with a Pattern
Now, if you’re feeling somewhat daring, you can always incorporate a pattern into your sweater vest style. Fair Isle, Argyle and cabled knits all give a truly trad vintage feel, with their variety of colours, designs and textures making them truly amazing. Or go for stripes and geometrics as a distinct possibility when considering a unique sweater vest look, but avoid a leap into craziness, by considering a taming of the rest of your outfit accordingly.
6. Go Bare
If you’re really feeling up for it, wear your sweater vest solo – remember, chaps, this was the classic look back in the day! For female SV fans, a cropped sports top will ensure necessary privacy from unwanted attention.
How Should My Sweater Vest Fit?
We cannot stress enough the importance of fit for all your vintage aesthetic wardrobe items, and of course the fit you choose, is entirely dependant on whatever style you’re going for. You may like to choose to super oversize your sweater vest, if you’re after that baggy skater look or you may prefer to have it fit slightly tighter for more of a softboy style. For a general vintage look, we’d recommend keeping it slightly baggy.
Why Are Sweater Vests In Right Now?
Sweater vests were originally worn as a practical item of clothing, designed to keep the wearer’s core warm, but over time and through the decades of fashion trends, these garments have evolved into being stylish pieces that can be dressed up or down, according to wherever they appear. A sweater vest is the perfect match to chuck on top of a shirt or tee and its joy still remains today within its temperature-regulating qualities, which ensure the wearer will neither overheat or freeze once a sweater vest is in operation. And of course, to come to the main point: a sweater vest won’t make you that much hotter but it will make you a whole lot more stylish!
A Brief History Of The Sweater Vest
Tying in beautifully with our idea of a truly sustainable wardrobe, the sweater vest can’t truly be said to be making a come-back nowadays, as it has never been out of fashion. A sweater vest, like its fully armed forefather, the crewneck sweater, were both originally designed to enable elite sportsmen to pace through their chosen athletic disciplines without excessive and unseemly perspiration ruining the aesthetic effect. Technical fabrics were way in the future back then, so take a look at our Guide To The Vintage 90s Nike Crewneck Sweatshirt to find out where it all began.
Sweater vests certainly carry the sort of vintage credentials we love, as they have been evidenced through the decades, from 60s children packed off to school in their knitted tank tops, to every grandpa and professor loving their own timelessly comfortable top layer, and even becoming a practical staple wardrobe item of the 70s before continuing on to the iconic muscle revealing sweater vest + jeans combo from the 90s.
And when Chandler absolutely nailed the adorable SV fashion trend for the TV-viewing Friends generation, the sleeveless sweater vest cemented its position in the fashion world, were it ever in any doubt.
And so, bringing it all up to date, the 2000s went on to see Tom Daley knitting his own sleeveless designs poolside while Harry Styles repped many a sought-after cool version for all to admire. A man needs a sleeveless vest cheers the messaging, loud and clear!
Conclusion/Takeaway
As we sum up, look over there, what is he wearing? Why, it’s a cross between a sweater and a vest! Yessir, it’s a sweater vest, and we love the style! We hope you too can embrace a sweater vest as an awesome piece of snazzy topwear when putting together an ensemble in a vintage aesthetic, now you have discovered more about the heritage surrounding the glorious sweater vest.
As with many fashion styles, the sweater vest proves the endurability and circularity of all clothing trends, as well as the value of holding on to what we have rather than demanding a finite end for every garment as soon as the latest fast trend approaches. Check out our blog, Circular Fashion All You Need To Know and you will soon realise that the reason why the sweater vest is still treasured by many today, rather than having been mothballed along the book-lined corridors inhabited by professors, is simply because a sweater vest is an awesome and clever piece of kit, for people of all ages.
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