In the Throes of My Vest Obsession, I Discovered 8 Impeccable Outfits to Try

It may take a minute to actually dig it out of the depths of your closet, but it's finally time for the humble vest to shine. On the laundry list of classic seasonal pieces, it's definitely among the most underrated. And I get it—in the dead of winter, its sleeveless nature does require more of an effort to style. There's no ease of simply throwing it over whatever you're wearing like a coat or jacket. Especially if you're trying to make it a principal part of your cold-weather arsenal, you'll need to exercise a few layering tricks. That being said, it deserves more than collecting dust behind your wool coats and puffer jackets. 

To show you the many sartorial possibilities of owning a vest, I made use of my current vest obsession and found all of the creative ways stylish people are wearing them now. If you already own the staple piece (or will soon), but you're not quite sure what to style it with, consider this your how-to guide.

1. Puffer Vest + Cargo Pants + Chukka Boots

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641336872992-main

(Image credit: @looseunicorns)

If you're like me and never thought puffer vests could ever be cool, you're in for a rude awakening. Paired with a minimalist sweatsuit or loose cargo pants, a puffer vest amps up a low-key look in the most effortlessly cool way possible. As for shoes, we recommend sneakers (or chukkas for the experimental crowd).

Shop the look:

2. Three Piece Suit

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641337075681-main

(Image credit: @fannyekstrand)

Last year saw the rise of the three-piece suit, and surprisingly, it's not hard to pull off. Traditionally a menswear staple, the three-piece suit was a defining trend of 2021, and we've seen insiders wear it a number of ways, including this sharply tailored version. To avoid looking like a character from Sherlock Holmes, style it with strappy heels and shiny bold jewelry. 

Shop the look:

3. Oversize Button-Down + Oversize Sweater-Vest + Wool Trousers

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641337518758-main

(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

I'll say it now: I have an unhealthy obsession with sweater-vests. This look is near close to my ideal winter 'fit, complete with a trendy oversize blouse and loosely tailored trousers.

Shop the look:

4. White Long-Sleeve Tee + Denim Vest + Printed Pants

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641336835101-main

The most straightforward way to extend the life of your summery denim vests? Layer it over a long-sleeved sweater or tee. For an extra dose of the unexpected add in your favorite pair of printed pants.

Shop the look:

5. Utility Vest + Utility Pants + Retro Sneakers

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641336908372-main

(Image credit: @matildadjerf)

Utility vests put a sporty spin on the classic piece complete with larger-than-life pockets and rigid cargo material. Baggy utility pants make the streetwear vibe come full circle.

Shop the look:

6. Suit Vest + Blazer + Jeans

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641337142260-main

(Image credit: @tylynnnguyen)

If donning an entire matching suit is too much, simply swap out the trousers for jeans. It's business meets casual.

Shop the look:

7. Shearling Vest + Chunky Sweater + Skinny Jeans

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641337017116-main

(Image credit: @annelauremais)

Few things rival the exquisite warmth of a shearling vest. To bolster up the cozy factor, throw in a chunky sweater and heeled boots.

Shop the look:

8. White Knit Vest Set

how-to-wear-a-vest-this-winter-274549-1641337178680-main

(Image credit: @femmeblk)

Turns out vests are also an amazing workwear staple—just take this matching knit set in a palette of crisp winter whites. If you want to make this cold-weather proof, style it with a crisp blazer or layer a thin ribbed sweater underneath.

Shop the look:

Next: Zara's Sale Is Selling Out Like Crazy—30 Under-$100 Finds That Aren't Gone Yet 

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.