I remember there was once a time in my life in which I would only have to hear the word ‘vest’ and I would cringe so hard that I was convinced I wouldn’t survive. Little did I know how those long sleeveless pieces of fabric would grow to become one of my favourite things in my wardrobe.
Although I have embraced the beloved sleeveless vest, I do have some criteria when I’m deciding in-store whether or not I can wear it, or whether it’s to be put aside for Nan.
It cannot be made of a knit, jersey or any other kind of fabric — I’m sorry, I just ain’t about that knitted life. It absolutely MUST be tailored. It absolutely has to look like a proper, tailored waist coat, sleeveless trench, otherwise I will not think twice about tossing it into a corner.
It has to fall below my bum, otherwise I get reminiscent of this boy I used to date, who wore proper formal vests — you know the ones that men would usually wear under blazers and over a shirt at weddings? Yeah, those. He wore them over this horrible red T-shirt with the Batman logos stuck all over it. It makes me want to vom every time I think about it…anyway, it has to be long.
I also happen to be one of those people who get really, overly, excited when they discover there are pockets in their favourite piece of clothing. I honestly don’t know why, but the knowledge that I have somewhere for my hands to go is just such a comforting thought. So if a vest has pockets — which most of mine do — it’s a huge win for me.
Lastly, I do prefer if these vests are oversized. I’m not sure if it has anything to do with the fact that I’m just a very small human being and I find it strange for anything to fit me properly, but by God I do love a bit of bagginess in my clothing.
I find that they’re the PERFECT trans-seasonal piece, as they work so perfectly over T-shirt dresses, turtlenecks, cigarette trousers, jeans and whatever else you’ve got stashed away in your wardrobe – and they never fail to give your outfit a bit of a chic lift.
You can buy them in many kinds of fabric, as stated earlier, however I prefer those with a little bit more structure to them so that they hold their shape, making them perfect for the office or working environment. In saying that, a sleeveless vest made of thinner fabric can be your best friend on those days that are just a bit too warm to wear a jacket, but a tad too cold to go without.
I find the minimalist approach to these kinds of garments really wearable and easy to use to dress up an outfit, and anything that makes dressing between seasons is a huge check in my books!
Written by Jessica Alves
@jessicazalves
