How to Wear a Vest in the Winter
For both men and women, vests can add a bit of extra warmth and a lot of style to a winter wardrobe. Pulling off the look doesn't require much skill as long as a few key concepts are adhered to. Don't worry about looking too stuffy or too laid back. Vests can be casual or dressy, depending on the mood.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
How to wear vests
-
1
Determine which type of vest is most appropriate for your outfit. Pick a traditional suit-style vest for a business atmosphere. Choose one that is a dark color and pair it with either slacks or, for women, a dark pencil skirt. Keep the same formal style of vest in a business casual atmospheres or opt for a more casual sweater or knit vest. Pick a sweater or knit vest for casual occasions, too.
-
2
Find the right kind of shirt to go underneath the vest. Match one like style to another. An over-sized, puffy vest goes best with a casual T-shirt or sweater. A nice, suiting vest goes best with a button-down dress shirt or knit sweater. Make sure whatever shirt that is worn underneath fits properly, too. A shirt that is too big will bunch up under a vest, further frazzling your appearance.
-
-
3
Experiment with adding a vest as a fashion accessory, such as the way a scarf is worn. A thin, decorative vest can be worn over a dress, a printed T-shirt or tight sweater. These types of vests often have embellishment, embroidery or are made out of thin fabrics such as silk or satin. A dressy vest can dress up an otherwise casual outfit, such as with the T-shirt and vest combination. Likewise, a casual sweater or knit vest with a dress shirt can make the outfit more casual.
-
4
Match the vest so that it coordinates with the rest of the outfit. The vest does not need to match the outfit perfectly. For example, a black pinstriped vest could be worn with any other office-appropriate neutral, such as gray, stone or black. If the outfit is perfectly matched, it will look more formal and office appropriate. If there is a slight difference, it will appear more casual.
-
5
Button or zip the vest if you want your outfit to look more formal or if you are wearing a coat over it. Unbuttoned vests are more casual and more appropriate for social occasions and casual atmospheres. Top a knit vest that doesn't button or zip up with a belt if you want to pull your outfit together.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure your vest coordinates with the rest of your outfit.
Pick pinstriped or vertical striped vests to look slimmer.
Women can add a belt over a long vest for a different twist on the look.
Avoid vests with horizontal stripes, which can make you appear wide
References
- Photo Credit vest with the drawn glasses image by terex from Fotolia.com
