There is one key item I rely on to transition my summer ‘fits into new season ready lewks. The sweater vest AKA the sleeveless jumper (or the item formerly known as the tank top…) It’s a game-changer, I tell you.
Ask any fashion industry insider and I’ll bet they favour autumn over all the other seasons… it’s because we get the chance to wear more clothes. If you love clothes, what could be better than more of them? The start of the crisper, cooler weather and the opportunity to wrap up in coats is a balm during September fashion month when there is a back to school mood in the air (even if it’s years since you last sharpened your pencils for class…)
Although I do have a pang of sadness as autumn rolls around and it’s time to say goodbye to summer dresses… but as we should all be making more of our clothes, wearing them for longer and aiming for 30 wears from each piece, the sweater vest is here to help your sustainable style goals.
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Believe it or not, the official start of winter is only just arriving.
If you rely on staples, say, jeans and a jumper, sometimes your outfit can feel rather… basic… but if you’re wearing a sweater vest, you can give your look a whole new dimension as you show off the layers below.
I have several plain sweater vests - a caramel one from Arket and a navy recycled wool version from Whistles are both favourites - which I often team with long sleeve striped t-shirts. But look for cable knit versions that add a dash of interest, as well as bold stripes or fair isle knits in cheerful colours. Once you start looking, you’ll spot dozens of options everywhere from ASOS to NET-A-PORTER, depending on your budget.
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How to style a sweater vest?
Over a shirt, they look preppy. Look to Francesca Saffari, above, in crisp pale blue poplin shirting and a cosy grey knit. So chic. You can clash a couple of prints for a fun dopamine hit. Try stripes and animal print or follow Zeena Shah’s glorious colour mix and print mash-up. Make your sleeveless summer dresses last longer by transforming them into skirts - simply by slipping a sweater vest over the top - like Charlotte Jacklin did. Or echo the summer trend of waistcoats worn as tops, and wear your sweater vest over bare skin after dark.
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Adding a sweater vest to your outfit also plays into one of the fashion world’s famous ‘rules’. Now, rules are made to be broken and outdated diktats like never wearing navy and black together are just plain daft. The fashion industry has much work to do to repair it’s reputation, but the Third Piece rule does make sense. Broken down it means that the third piece you add to an outfit is the transformer… (Shoes and bags don’t count btw.)
So, if you wear jeans and a t-shirt and then add one more layer, that's the fabled Third Piece. Maybe it’s a linen shirt worn open like a shacket, a blazer, a waistcoat or a sweater vest. This piece will add whole a different mood to your outfit and make your look more styled and coherent too.
Myriad styling options and pieces that suit every individual taste, body shape and occasion. I promise, sweater vests are The One. I can’t imagine doing autumn without one, or two, in my capsule wardrobe and you’ll be seeing me PR-ing them across the season. When it starts to get chilly, sweater vests add a layer of warmth without adding bulk under blazers so they’re practical too. Your nanna would be proud. Just don’t call them a tank top.
For more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton, follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton
