How to Style a Sweater-Vest in a Way That Will Reinvent the Classic

I’ll let you in on a little fashion secret: Once you learn how to style a sweater-vest, the piece will become an unsung hero in your wardrobe. I can attest to this, having experimented with my fair share of styles—both vintage and new—ever since I noticed the knitwear roaring back into the trend cycle a few years ago.

However, I’ll admit that it took me a bit to warm up to the idea of welcoming a sweater-vest back into my closet, as it was once a core part of my school uniform. But after I got past its Catholic schoolgirl connotations, I became quite loyal to my well-rounded collection of season-transcending styles. In the spring and summer, I wear the knits solo (or over a tank top, depending on the material; some can be a tad itchy), paired with denim capris or a flowy skirt. Once fall arrives, I can really flex my styling muscles by wearing my sweater-vests atop everything from crisp button-up shirts to long-sleeve mesh tops.

I’m far from the only fashion person consistently flocking to the knitwear; plenty of stylish celebrities can’t seem to get enough of the sleeveless sweater, either. Look to Taylor Swift, who recently wore a Ralph Lauren cable-knit sweater-vest with a pleated denim miniskirt and knee-high boots at a college football game. Kendall Jenner is another sweater-vest enthusiast, often wearing her minimalist styles over white tees. (She’s a Cali girl, after all.)

Have I persuaded you to dabble in the sweater-vest trend trend? Ready for some fall inspo? If yes, take a peek at eight easy-to-emulate outfit ideas for how to style a sweater-vest, below.

1. Lots of volume

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Quince Mongolian Cashmere Padded-Shoulder Sweater Tank

Styling your sleeveless knit with voluminous silhouettes—like a puff-sleeve blouse and/or billowy pants—may sound, well, frumpy. But somehow the outfit formula works. The trick is to opt for an oversized sweater-vest that can keep everything in balance. To offset all the XXL proportions in this sweater-vest outfit, however, I recommend sticking to sleek accents like ballet flats and simple gold hoop earrings.