How To Style A Sweater Vest

Claw clips, bike shorts, combat boots, scrunchies…. the list goes on for 90’s trends that have come back in style. Taylor Swift says it best in her song Willow “I come back stronger than a 90’s trend!” The latest one would be the sweater vest. Gone are the days that a sweater vest is only for the super preppy types, they now come in different cuts, prints and styles. They also make a great layering piece for Winter outfits. In this post I’m sharing my tips on how to style a sweater vest. With each tip I have come up with outfit ideas as well!

How to Style A Sweater Vest

Play with Volume

There are so many styles of sweater vests. You can find one that complements any body type. One great way to style a sweater vest is to play with the volume of the outfit. To create balance pick one item with lots of volume and then keep the rest fitted and sleek. There are endless options to this combination. Take this as an opportunity to play up your favorite features. Or you can disguise your least favorite. A fitted pant or skirt under an oversize sweater vest will play up your legs. Personally I am self conscious of my arms so I love to wear puff sleeves tops. I can layer over a fitted vest to then play up the sleeves even more.

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Voluminous Dress & Cropped Fitted Sweater Vest

Dresses with a lot of volume have been a big the past couple years. I have a few summery ones that I wear non-stop when it’s warm. A cropped sweater vest will add some shape and a waist when layered over the flowy dress. It also adds some warmth to thinner fabrics.

Tennis Skirt & Oversized Sweater Vest

One of the most classic sweater vest outfits plays on this tip. It is an oversize sweater vest with a tennis skirt. For a full 90’s but now look add white tennis shoes, white button down and knee socks. To make it more current, switch your shoes with a knee high or thigh high boot.

Wear a Sweater Vest Dress

Whether it is tunic length or actually dress length, longer sweater vests can be styled as a dress. This is my personal favorite way to style a sweater vest. Think of these vest styles as the same as sweater dresses when it comes to putting an outfit together. Wear a long sleeve dress or body suit underneath for added warmth and coverage. Boots are the best complement to these dresses.

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Collared Shirt Dress and Sweater Vest Dress

A collared shirt dress is an incredibly versatile piece of clothing. Year round it works for so many outfits. In the winter it makes a great first layer when creating an outfit. Cardigans, sweater or in this case a sweater vest easily layer over. I like that the collared dress add length to the outfit to make it office appropriate. You could also pair this dress with a colorful sweater vest like this one or this one.

More Dress & Tunic Options

Try a Monochromatic Look

A simple but always fashion-forward look is a monochromatic outfit. This works with a sweater vest too! Pick a color and focus your whole outfit around it. They don’t have to be exactly the same shade of the color, just very similar and complement. Black and white are the most common ways to do monochromatic but don’t be scared to use color! Dressy or casual, the key to making a monochromatic look interesting is to play with textures. With a knit sweater vest, think about denim cotton or velvet items when making an outfit.

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Winter White Outfit

All black is pretty easy to put together so I wanted to show a not so easy option. Winter white/cream always looks chic and put together. Many people shy away from it because “no white in winter” but I think that rule is outdated. This look would be so cute for a casual friday outfit or brunch on the weekend.

Dress It Up

A sweater vest is a great way to mix up your typical business casual outfits. If you are lacking some work outfit inspiration think of the sweater vest in a similar way that you style a blazer. A sweater vest is the third piece of an outfit that mixes things up. Start by wearing a sweater vest with your favorite button down and dress pants. A fitted sweater vest will look the most professional and put together. Have some fun but mixing up the prints and color combination of the blouse and vest. A cropped sweater vest over a blouse will add a bit of playfulness to a business casual outfit.

Don’t stop at pants either, business casual dresses and skirts can all use the sweater vest treatment. Keep the body of the dress fitted so there isn’t too much bulk under the sweater vest. Pleated skirts work especially well with sweater vests. The pleats create a flowy feminine feel that contrasts with the vest and a white button down easily coordinates with almost any skirt!

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Pair it with Non-Preppy Pieces

Sweater vests are typically a preppy piece. We think of classic outfits with denim, white button downs and other preppy items. While those are all cute items and make great outfits, don’t let that limit your styling choices. Think outside the box and focus on some different fabrics to create an edgy or girly look. Leather, tulle, satin and brocade can all really change up how a sweater vest looks. A leather pant or skirt worn with a sweater vest is about as far away from preppy as you can get. If pairing items that are different styles seems overwhelming keep them in similar colors and the look will be cohesive.

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Leather Outfit

Leather pieces are the quickest way to make a sweater vest less preppy. The tough, edgy fabric instantly give a more cool girl look. I love the mixture of the softness of the knit with the smooth look of leather. The best outfits have great contrasts like this! Leather pants may seem intimidating but this faux leather pair is comfortable and easy to integrate into your wardrobe. They take a sweater vest that would typically be great for work or something during the day and make it ready for a night out!

Dress it Down with a T-shirt

Layer your sweater vest over your favorite t-shirt for an easy everyday look. This is a great example of how an outfit doesn’t have to be complicated for it to look good! You can also take this combo as an opportunity to mix and match prints and colors. Doesn’t have to be a plain white t-shirt, it can be a printed or graphic one. Almost any sweater vest style works with a t-shirt. Oversize sweater vests will look more casual. Printed ones can be playful and fun. And black and white sweater vests will keep the look classic.

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T-Shirt and Jeans

I love the ease and chicness of a t-shirt and jeans. It’s something that we all have in our closet. The combination can be changed up a hundred different ways and never looks boring or dated. Throw a sweater vest on over the outfit and you instantly have a whole new outfit. I don’t like overcomplicating this types of outfits so stick with a few gold pieces of jewelry and simple accessories!

More Sweater Vest Options

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