Ways to Style a Vest or Waistcoat All Through the Year

The vest (some know it as a waistcoat) is a third piece that takes your basic outfit up a notch and makes it something more interesting.  Just add one to a plain sweater and jeans combo, or to jeans and a tee. But this post goes beyond that simple combination to give you a couple of style tips and plenty more outfit ideas as well.

During cold weather, a vest can add warmth to what you’re wearing. In the warm-weather months, a sheer or lightweight vest provides style. This essential wardrobe piece also helps us to adapt comfortably between seasons.

Most of all, I’m sure we all know that age doesn’t matter when you’ve got style!

Ways to Style a Vest or Waistcoat All Through the Year

After the following two style tips, the first section below has outfit combinations warm enough for Fall and Winter; the second section contains lighter-weight outfits for Spring and Summer; the third and last section gives outfit combos that work for transitional weather.

Style Tip #1 –

Top an all-over lace camisole or shirt with a chunky knit or fur vest.

Style Tip #2 –

Wear a sleeveless sweater as a vest over a long-sleeve top & pants. Add one or more necklaces or jewelry of your choice.

Fall & Winter Outfit Ideas

1. Transition to Fall:  Layer a suede vest over an ivory tank or tee & blue jeans. Add a long pendant.
2. Add a vest over a short-sleeve or long-sleeve t-shirt & blue jeans. Add boots & jewelry of your choice.
3. Make a jacket by adding a warm black vest over a black boyfriend cardigan. Wear that over a black t-shirt or sweater & cozy black slim pants. Add sneakers & a chunky chain necklace. 
4. A thermal top + a black vest + black leggings or pants. Add broken-in brown Western boots. 
   

   

5. A faux leather vest + a long-sleeve lace or mesh top + blue jeans. Add color with turquoise.
6. A suede vest over a sheer blouse + blue jeans. Add statement earrings & a fedora hat.
7. Take a black vest, embellished or not + black pants or skirt + a long-sleeve top in an accent color.
8. Match a top & skirt or pants. Then add a contrasting vest.
9. Start with a black top & black pants or skirt. Then top with a vest in an accent color. Add a medallion & black footwear. 
   

   

10. Layer a pinstripe vest over a turtleneck & jeans.
11. A black turtleneck + black leggings + a leopard vest. Add black heeled ankle boots + earrings + black gloves with a cuff bracelet & ring. Put your hair up.
12. A long-sleeve gray t-shirt + gray pants + a black vest, embellished or not.
13. Warm up a little black dress with a fringed vest.
14. A fringed vest over a blue top & blue jeans.

Spring & Summer Outfit Ideas

1. Transition to Spring:  Layer a vest over a summer dress.
2. Top a long-sleeve lace-hemmed top extender & skinny blue jeans with a scarf vest. Add a long gold chain pendant & gold bangles.
3. Add a draped vest over a slip dress. Add a long tassel necklace or pendant + bead bracelets + sandals.
4. A white tunic top or wrap top + black crops or gauchos + a draped chiffon leopard-print vest. Add a y-necklace or rosary necklace + hoop earrings + an extra ring.
5. Or, wear a draped leopard-print vest over a column of black (such as a black top & black skinny bottoms.) Add flat black sandals + earrings + a cuff bracelet. 
   

   

6. Put a drapey vest over a white top and black pants. Belt in black. Layer gold and pearl jewelry.
7. A white t-shirt + distressed blue jeans + a draped vest. Add a long turquoise necklace.
8. Add a sheer vest over a long white tank or tee and distressed blue jeans. Layer a gold bar necklace with a collar necklace & a gold fringe necklace. Add narrow gold bangles.
9.   Wear a fitted vest over a loose silk tank or other shell top & silky trousers.

Outfit Ideas for Any Time of Year

1. For Fall/Winter, wear a dark floral skirt with a long-sleeve ruffled or billowy blouse & a suede or leather or dark-color vest. For Spring/Summer, choose a light or bright color floral skirt, a lightweight vest and a sheer or short-sleeve blouse.
2. Wear a lace or crochet vest, a fringed vest, a moto vest or an embellished vest over a graphic tee and blue jeans. You might like to add a cap.
3. Start with a long-sleeve black t-shirt & black pants. Top with a draped chiffon leopard vest. Accessorize with a long tassel necklace + bangles + hoop earrings.
4. Tuck a graphic tee into red or black pants or skirt and top with a black vest, embellished or not. Tie a colorful scarf, shawl or top around your waist. Finish with a chain belt. 
   

   

5. Layer a vest over a mesh top & matching color pants.
6. Wear a black (& gold or other color/s) printed tunic over bootcut or flare jeans and top with a black vest, embellished or not.
7. Put a lace or crochet vest over a peasant top & jeans. Add a long pendant framed by long chains or beads.

There Are Many More Ways to Style a Vest or Waistcoat

There are so many different types of vests:  long, short, thick, thin, in various shapes and textures. So there’s something for every season and every occasion. Try throwing one on over just about anything for warmth or style or both. Enjoy the variety it adds to your wardrobe!

Let’s Connect

What are your favorite ways to style a vest? If this was helpful to you, please let me know. Leave a reply in the comments below.  

Like this post?  You might also like to read more in:

• “100+ Remarkable Ways to Look Terrific in a Faux Fur Vest”
• “How to Style a Fleece Vest 15 Ways”
• “20+ Ways to Wear a Moto Vest That Will Give You an Edge”
• “How to Wear a Denim Vest Your Own Special Way”
• “How to Wear a Sleeveless Blazer in Classic and Unusual Ways”
• “Style Tips” category

Do you have a friend who would like this?  Please use the Share buttons.

Never miss a post! Click “Subscribe” in the drop-down at top or fill in the blanks for the “Newsletter” at right. That would be a great help in supporting my blog. I would appreciate it very much!

Please support Your True Self Blog by visiting my Shop for Style Guides HERE. Or go to the top of this page and select the Shop tab.

Please follow Your True Self Blog on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and/or Bloglovin.

Thank you for visiting Your True Self!

Angie

Related posts:

Style Tip: How to Get the Greatest Variety of Outfits From a Tiered Skirt How to Style Chains in a Variety of Interesting Ways Throughout the Year Easy Style Tip: Dress Up Denim for the Holidays

Outfit Combinations, Style Tips, Vest Series, Ways to Wear It

Style, Style Tips, The Third Piece, Vests