21 Best Sweater Vests for Men 2022: Meet the Layering Solution You’ve Been Praying For
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There’s a reason stylish luminaries like Tyler, the Creator swear by the best sweater vests for men: when it comes to warm-weather layering the silhouette remains undefeated. The sweater vest’s gradual emergence as a streetwear staple beloved by the most discerning dressers in the world—and the type of enthusiasts who document their every outfit—clinches it: There might not be a cooler piece of knitwear on the planet. (Not convinced? Peep the most recent bout of street style from NYFW and count the sweater vests in attendance.)
All of which is good news for you and your feebly-protesting credit card. Because the sweater vest’s surging popularity means there’s never been more options on the market, from woolly designer versions in kaleidoscopic colors to Supima cotton takes so soft you might mistake ’em for sleeveless hoodies. Wear one with a short-sleeve T-shirt (or sans any shirt entirely!) as summer winds down in earnest, and then swap out the tee for the type of unfussy button-downs we’ve been championing come the height of fall.
To help you get on board with the bona fide sweater vest renaissance, we assembled a heavy-hitting roster of the best sweater vests for men available right now—each and every one of them further proof that the once fuddy-duddy layer is really, truly a must-have item.
The Best Classic Sweater Vest
Over the years, Fair Isle, the centuries-old Scottish knitting technique, has survived countless fashion tailwinds, and it’s easy to see why. (The real deal will usually run you a pretty penny, but the pattern’s ubiquity today means it’s more accessible than ever.) J.Crew’s version costs just under a Benjamin, but the price belies the quality involved. Sure, it might not come straight from the Shetland islands, but for a hundred bucks you can afford to cop a spare—and when your grandkids swipe it from your drawer a few decades from now you’ll be happy you doubled up.
The Best Off-Duty Sweater Vest
Technically speaking, Todd Snyder’s cozy-as-hell fleece number is more like a sweatshirt vest, but in a morass of scratchy wools and occasional acrylics, it’s too damn soft not to include. Turns out, when you lop the sleeves of your favorite crewneck, the whole shebang looks considerably more luxe. Throw it on over a rumpled Oxford-cloth shirt with big ol’ chinos, layer it under a shaggy cardigan with pleated cords, and proceed to ignore the finger-wagging purists completely: while they’re shvitzing through their mohair you’ll feel as cool as you look.
The Best Budget Sweater Vest
Land’s End, it should be noted, doesn’t quite have what you might call a “storied designer pedigree”. (There are no grizzled industry craftspeople laboring over every stitch in an airy European atelier.) What it does have, though, is a history of turning out quality basics that won’t fall apart after a couple of wears, let alone a few tussles with the laundry machine. Case in point: this cheery eggshell yellow sweater, made out of a hearty cotton-modal yarn that prevents pilling and helps the sweater retain its shape in the long run, no matter how many times you dribble your Pét-Nat all over the front. Size up for a fit that’s more downtown skater type than backup tenor in an all-boys church choir, and prepare to be plied with the inevitable “Where’d you get that?” double-takes.
The Best No Budget (and No Frills) Sweater Vest
As much as we dig a wild-style pattern, it’s not a prerequisite to an excellent sweater vest. Exhibit A: Stoffa’s neutral-toned spin on the silhouette, made in Italy out of pure, locally-sourced cashmere soft enough to pique the interest of anyone with a hankering for the finer things in life. That deep, rounded neck promises to give your undershirt the shine it deserves, so best to come correct in that department while you’re at it.
The Best Sweater Vest of the Moment
Grace Wales Bonner’s ongoing partnership with Adidas consistently yields some of the sickest sneakers on the planet, but sleep on the rest of the collaboration at your own peril. Case in point: this retro-doused sweater vest, an athletic-leaning riff updated with an eye-grabbing geometric print. You could wear it over a plain white tee with some flared trousers, but if ever there was a time to break out the full tracksuit—and a pair of Bonner’s grail-level kicks—this would be it.
The Best Sweater Vest Your Grandpa Probably Owns, Too
Ralph Lauren put aspirational American style on the map by making stuff exactly like this: gently-tweaked prep staples that hearken back to the not-so-good-old days without veering into cosplay. To celebrate the stylish gents of Morehouse, the brand ditched the expected collegiate flourishes in favor of a retro-cool argyle pattern, done up with key hits of the HBCU’s signature maroon.
Plus 16 More Sweater Vests We Love
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