So lately, I have been obsessed with what the big deal is with vests. Sweater vests and button-downs. When I saw them being used on the Pick Up Artist Season 2 on VH1, I wasn't sure about it. My buddy, Ty is notorious for wearing vests whenever we went out and it worked for him. I didn’t think that it would look as good on me but it was cool. Since I have been more open to trying new things in my wardrobe, I have decided to start giving vests a chance.
A few weeks ago, I went into Express and bought a sweater vest with the argyle pattern. Pretty solid. I love it.
Then I met someone is my buddy now, Ben Grossman. He loves sweater vests, wears them all the time and knows a thing or two about finding really good ones. He actually got me excited about wearing vests, which I thought was pretty cool! I'll see if he'd like to add his two cents here at a later time.
Then I came across this article in the newspaper. Yeah, I still read the newspapers sometimes. But of course I was able to find it online. So here it is. It's is from the Boston Herald's The Edge and it's by Jill Radsken.
Vest intentions: Classic silhouette is trendy again
Man girdle or exciting new menswear option?
The vest’s return this fall gives men more choices in the closet, but at least one expert cautions against using the sleeveless garment as Spanx.
“If you are a skinny-to-average build, this is a silhouette for you,” said Steve Cardino, men’s fashion director at Macy’s. “If you have a little bit of a stomach, move to the cardigan.”
Count Jared Bowen of Boston among the slender types who has embraced the vest - actually three of them - with glee.
“I just love the look,” he said. “It’s sort of old-world style without seeming too antiquated.”
Bowen, who works as a reporter for WGBH-TV’s “Greater Boston,” wears his vests at work and out for dinner. His most recent purchase, a midnight-hued woven piece by Giorgio Armani, usually gets paired with a white shirt and sport coat.
“And you have to be very careful of the pants you choose,” he said. “I don’t think you can wear it with jeans. It starts to look slovenly.”
Jonathan Plazonja thinks otherwise. The self-employed branding consultant from Brookline counts a charcoal-colored Marmot with jeans and a Paul Smith blazer as a favorite.
“I like mixing different styles,” said Plazonja, who channels such contrasting fashion icons as Cary Grant and David Bowie with the vests. “Even with a suit, it’s a great look.”
In these tough economic times, the vest also is relatively inexpensive, Plazonja added. Instead of buying a high-end label at a designer boutique, he scours consignments shops.
Mike Witt hasn’t decided whether to add a new or a gently worn vest to his wardrobe. But the 47-year-old, who owns Mike Witt Interior Design in Boston, said the fitted, high-button garment is any man’s best option.
“It holds you upright and it’s a bit more proper,” he said.
Witt, a sucker for a crisp white shirt, doesn’t own a single three-piece suit. But he finds the vest has the power to transform any outfit.
“It takes something very casual and makes it a bit more tailored without going the jacket route,” he said. “You put it under a jacket and it takes it to the next level.”
But Steve Cardino of Macy’s believes the vest shouldn’t be hidden under a jacket.
“It’s meant to be worn as a separate,” he said. “It’s meant to stand on its own.”
As for the button-popping guys sucking in their guts to squeeze into a vest, Cardino reiterated this advice: “The cardigan’s also very trendy - and more forgiving.”
Having read this, I immediately had the impulse to try this out. I remember when I last wore a vest. I was in elementary school. I was a suede vest and it was my favorite piece of clothing ever. I kept it almost through high school even though I couldn't even fit in it. It was also outdated and it was time to let go. Didn't think the vest would come back but since they are back, it was worth a shot.
So I went to Express again and I ran into these two.
A velvet vest:
And a tuxedo vest, a drastically more formal type of wear.
I felt great wearing these two and they looked so good with the shirts that I have.
The vest is an underrated accessory bound to take your wardrobe to the next level. I plan on wearing one tonight. Can't wait!
If you have any questions, feel free to comment and email me.