I Tried the Vest-Set Trend Everyone's Talking About—See How I'm Styling It

Hero Piece is a Who What Wear column where our senior editor Kristen Nichols test-drives key seasonal buys IRL and shares all the ways she's wearing them.

I love the idea of "hero pieces" because they're those must-have items I end up wearing again and again. I tend to line my closet with great basics and investment items like shoes and bags, so I think about hero pieces as yet another core wardrobe staple I'll be wearing for months (and seasons) ahead. One specific piece I can't stop thinking about at the moment? Vest tops.

A major trend that we've seen pop up everywhere, from the F/W 21 runways to the street style scene, vest tops have carved themselves out as a tailored suiting essential. While I've never owned one, I knew I had to try it out for myself. I may be biased, but Who What Wear Collection just dropped the most stunning version that I had to try. Part of a matching three-piece suit, it's perfectly tailored and is in the tan shade I want to live in right now. Ahead, see three ways I'm styling the vest-set trend.

Already a huge trend among celebs and fashion insiders, the vest top is something I couldn't wait to add into my closet. Celebrity stylist Dani Michelle named it as one of the most important buys for fall 2021, and I couldn't agree with her more. I put this version from Who What Wear Collection to the test, and it's just so good.

The Three-Piece Suit

As the vest is part of a three-piece suiting set, I naturally had to try out the look together. I'm a huge fan of matching sets, but this takes it to a whole new level. While I own several suits, none of them include a vest top, and I can't get enough of the menswear-inspired fashion that it adds to the look.

I'm always a fan of a tonal look, and this tan suit is something I simply want to live in. It feels so pulled-together and is something I can imagine wearing everywhere, from the office to fashion week.

Shop the vest:

The Denim Look

Forever a denim fan, I instantly knew that I wanted to wear this vest top with some wide-leg jeans—my favorite silhouette at the moment that feels like a close cousin to tailored trousers, with a slightly more casual vibe.

In the photo above, I wore the vest top and jeans alone, but I also love the element of layering that comes with adding the blazer on top.

Shop the look:

The Two-Piece Suit

The third way I'm styling the look? With just the waistcoat and trousers, plus a pair of strappy sandals. A look inspired by Kendall Jenner, it's a little less formal than the three-piece suit but still reads as polished.

I actually sized up these pieces to a medium because I wanted them to be a bit loose. I can't get enough of the oversize fashion trend that celebs like Hailey Bieber have popularized.

Shop the look:

Shop More of My Favorite Who What Wear Collection Pieces

Next: The 12 Editor-Approved Trends I'm Wearing Until Further Notice