It’s Sweater-vest Time

Multiple sources mentioned this J.Crew button-front sweater-vest made from a blend of wool and alpaca. It also comes in gray and navy, but this pinkish-red shade was called out by both personal stylist Fanny Adams and brand strategist and the Goldenbrand founder Lisa Haukom. “It’s not your traditional cherry red for fall. I actually feel like pink is a great fall color,” Adams says. “I also love that it has dark buttons. It feels really elevated while being playful with the fuzzy texture.” Haukom adds that its silhouette is reminiscent of a vest or waistcoat, making it versatile for a range of body types.

“The quirky color blocking, with the olive, light-blue, and black stripes, creates a somewhat unexpected combination,” says Sword of this & Other Stories mohair vest. It has something of a Dries Van Noten vibe, she adds, but at a fraction of the cost. (If you prefer less pattern, it also comes in solid black and pale blue.)

Sword says this argyle vest from Mango is giving good ’90s grunge. With its black and red color combination, I could very much see pairing it with fishnet tights and lug-sole boots.

If you really want to go all in with a pattern, Sword recommends this Zara jacquard-knit vest. “It’s a really fun piece. I love the striped rib trim at the hem and armholes, plus the slightly offbeat color with the pop of turquoise and orange mixed with a Fair Isle pattern,” she says. And because it’s a men’s vest, it creates a nice oversize look.

Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens got this affordable Quince vest last fall and was quite impressed. The fit is “not too loose but roomy enough to wear over a long-sleeved tee or thin sweater,” she writes. “The cashmere is so soft, the mock neck just right — and best of all it’s just $60.” Kitchens says that after her ode was published, she inspired Christene Barberich to get one too.

This Boden vest has all the features Haukom looks for in a sweater vest: “an extended shoulder, not too chunky, and the right length for a long torso.” The cap sleeves give it a more elegant silhouette than a muscle tank, and it comes in navy and a vibrant tomato-red shade. She also thinks the vest would look great worn backward: “I think it’s really cute to see the buttons going down the back, and we’re at that point in life where nobody’s going to think it’s weird if you have your pockets in the back.”

Sword likes that this Massimo Dutti vest has a modern look, with its deep V-neck and cardiganlike row of buttons, but also echoes of menswear. “Styled with a blazer and dark bottoms, it almost looks like a three-piece suit. I like that little nod to a traditional tailored component,” Sword says. Plus the ribbed texture is great for fall, and it’s made of 100 percent wool.

“Sézane had its rebrand, for better or worse, depending on your take. But I do like that a lot of the knitwear went simple,” Adams says. This sweater-vest has button detailing on the side, so you could wear it completely unbuttoned for an open tunic, or you could play around with the buttons for the shape or definition you want. “You get this sort of nice V shape around your hips, which creates some very flattering lines,” Adams says. She also points out the flat crew neck, which will layer seamlessly under jackets or blazers.

According to Sword, the “pop of red” trend shows no signs of slowing down. With its round crew neck and vivid color, this Sézane vest “is a little bit preppy, a little bit Americana,” she says. “With all the color blocking happening this season, this would be great with purple pants or a dash of cobalt.”

Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro bought this Dôen cashmere top on sale last year and has gotten a slew of compliments on it. “It’s supersoft and flattering. It’s not cropped, but it’s the perfect length on me since I have a short torso,” she says. “It looks so good with both jeans and skirts.” Though it’s made of 100 percent cashmere, it’s not too fussy to take care of — Ro just gives it a light handwashing with Soak.

Haukom has been eyeing Mirth’s sweater-vests in several colors, including honey wheat and black cherry, but has found herself particularly drawn to this bright-citron color. With its longer length, it’s “great for long-waisted ladies like me,” she says. She also loves the clean, high finished neckline and the rolled-sleeve detail, which she doesn’t very often see. “If you live somewhere warm, you could technically not even wear anything underneath, but if you do need to layer, there are just so many options for this one,” she adds.

This Nikki Chasin vest is another colorful option that comes in nine eye-catching shades, from clover green to mustard yellow to bubblegum pink. McLennon is eyeing it as her next investment piece, specifically in powder blue. The alpaca fibers give it a slightly fuzzy texture, and it has a slouchy, boxy silhouette. It’s also relatively size-inclusive, going up to a 2XL.

“Noble keeps inclusivity in mind — the size range is quite impressive for how small of a brand it is,” McLennon says. This vest goes up to a 3X with a boxy fit and a cozy cable-knit design and was knitted in Peru from organic Tanguis cotton. It also has a reversible neckline, a V or a square, offering multiple styling options.

Adams shouted out Portland-based brand Tercette, which makes this side-tie vest from sustainably harvested yak wool. “This vest is definitely not your dad or grandpa’s sweater-vest,” she says. “It has drama to it, and with the side ties, there are lots of ways to experiment.” She has worn it layered over a big button-up shirt and some flow-y trousers and says “it felt really cool and relaxed and elevated,” adding that the neckline isn’t a full turtleneck so you don’t need to fold it down: “It hits really at a great point just below the chin.”

Adams also recommends Toast for well-made knitwear produced in limited quantities. In contrast to the Tercette vest above, “What I like about this one is it’s so old-school,” she says. “It feels like the vest you would imagine a grandpa wearing while smoking a pipe.” Plus the olive-green shade is both timeless and interesting: “I would consider it a neutral, but for someone else it’s a really great way to bring in a high-quality piece in a color that’s not bright or overwhelming.”

“I get full-body goose bumps with this one,” Haukom says. “It’s just so easy to throw on. The clean lines of the knit are beautiful, and it has some nice weight to it.” It also has a stylish tapered waist and a 100 percent cotton construction for people who aren’t fans of itchy wool. Though it’s admittedly pricey, Haukom owns a few Frank & Eileen items and reports that they last forever.

“Gigi Hadid’s Guest in Residence brand is so much better than it needs to be,” Sword says. “It has such a great point of view.” This cashmere vest is definitely an investment piece, but it comes in three versatile colors — black, red, and cream — and can be worn over a T-shirt, under a blazer, or just on its own. Sword also pointed out a fun menswear-inspired buckle detail at the back.

Adams says this Suzie Kondi vest feels like something she wore in the ’90s and early aughts: “I love that it looks like you took it from your dad’s closet. It doesn’t have buttons or side ties. It’s just a beautiful simple layer.” It comes in a handful of neutrals like navy and heather gray as well as a bright red, and Adams advises sizing down if you want the fit to be a little more shrunken. “It’s fun to lean into the old-school history of those pieces a little bit,” she says.

FYI: Purple is the hot color this season. Sword didn’t expect to be drawn to it, but after seeing this Johnstons of Elgin sweater, she’s all about it. “I think this is a really beautiful, elevated, refined way to do it,” she says. The made-in-Scotland, woollen-spun cashmere has a fine rib, and the style is a hybrid of a tank top and a traditional sweater-vest, meaning you can wear it on its own or layered.

Multiple people mentioned Dries Van Noten as a trailblazer for cool, interesting sweater-vests. “I love how the brand takes something as familiar as a sweater and makes it feel completely specific,” says jewelry designer and Julietta founder Juliana Liden. She loves the forest-green color of this sweater-vest, “but it’s really the striped neckline that does it for me. It has this slightly collegiate quality without feeling too preppy — it makes it a little bit more edgy,” she says. She would style it very simply with a gray trouser and some strong jewelry “and just let the collar do all the work.”