CityView Magazine

The Best Vest
By: Stephanie Napier
Photos: A.K. Vogel

The sleeveless jacket (aka the vest) is a fashion must have.  The vest has been seen up and down the runways this year.  Both men and women should own at least one vest to pull together this must do look.  I am going to give each a way to pull this off whether you feel more comfortable wearing the sleeveless jacket casual or dressy.

Men:  This is a great alternative for you at the office, rather than wearing a jacket during the hotter months.  You need a collared shirt, tie, and dress pant.  The vest should form fit your body; you do not want a loose fitting vest, which looks good on no one.  I personally like the hounds-tooth option with a single color tie.  If you are a brave gentleman opt for a bold colored tie to pull in some color.  The sleeveless jacket is also a great casual look for you men.  Throw on a pair of jeans, T-shirt and a vest and you look like you just walked off the streets of New York; trust me, guys, the girls will eat up this look.

Women:  You have a lot more options with the sleeveless jacket.  You can also definitely dress the vest up or dress the vest down.  My favorite is the same as suggested for the guys: jeans, T-shirt and some naughty, naughty stilettos, preferably patent leather.  The vest also looks great over a strapless or spaghetti strap dress.  The vest should fit a little more snugly to your body.  We  are definitely going for a sexier look.  Women, you can also take this look into the office.  Pair the sleeveless jacket with a skirt or dress pant and a crisp poplin shirt, and it definitely becomes business chic.

You will continue to see the sleeveless jacket throughout the fall and winter.  My suggestion for the guys would be to buy a dressy version and a casual version.  As far as the women go, buy one in every color!  But if you cannot afford to do so ladies, buy one black and one more neutral colored vest to wear with your neutral colored items already in your closet.  Adding trendy pieces to your wardrobe is much easier if you work with what you already have.  The vest is one of those fashion pieces that can easily be added to what you have in your closet, so don’t feel bad if you splurge a little bit on this item.