The Coolest Men's Vests Are Made For Casual Style

man leaning against a table full of socks, wearing an olive green vest with tan pants and suede birkenstock boston clogs with red socks

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Men’s vest outfits make for an easy go-to look this fall. Here’s how to wear the cool weather layer…

Before we get into the types of men’s vests that Team SG thinks you’d look great in this fall, let’s dispense with what we’re not talking about first.

After all, there are many different types of vests out there for guys, and your mind might be wandering to some dark places that are definitely not #SGapproved. So, let’s clear things up right away:

1) We’re not suggesting you take a suit vest and wear it with jeans like Mr. Schue from Glee. No traditional suit vests or stuffy waistcoats here.

2) We’re also not talking about the kind of fleece vests made famous in recent years by finance bros. You won’t find a start-up or investment bank logo embroidered on the chest of the styles here.

The modern way to wear a men’s vest is much more casual, more relaxed.

Think: embracing the workwear trend with a durable twill vest. Adding a layer of extra warmth to a casual fall or winter outfit with a wool or quilted vest. Or a traditionally-cut vest worn in a decidedly non-traditional fabric, like denim.

Bottom line? You’ll be surprised by how versatile this layer can be in elevating a smart casual look this fall and winter.

Get inspired with 10 stylish vest outfits for men

man wearing a tan vest over a white t-shirt with chinos and sneakers, carrying a black briefcase — @gigo19

man standing in front of a brick wall wearing a brocade vest over a white collared shirt with grey trousers and brown loafers, carrying a large tote bag — @takayuki_oka

Embrace your favorite neutral color in a layered look

If wearing a vest already feels like a style stretch, don’t stray from your comfort zone when it comes to color.

You can easily reach new heights with your fashion in a tan, olive green, or navy vest. Whether it buttons or zips, you’ll feel more at home in your look when your vest matches your existing vibe.

man standing on a wood floor in front of a white wall wearing a white t-shirt with tan v-neck vest and dark pants with black and white penny loafers — images: @steelojeem

Performance material 🤝 Business casual

When it comes to the best fabric for your vest, consider leaning into performance materials. A technical fabric can offset a more classic outfit like trousers and loafers nicely.

Add a jacket on top for an extra layer of style.

Lightweight vests make the perfect complement to a casual outfit. Think: sneakers and your favorite pair of khaki pants.

Whether you show off your ankles or wear a trendy tall sock is up to you.

Not quite as heavy-duty as a puffer vest, a quilted vest is something you can wear with an outfit all day long.

Truly, its fashion flexibility is unmatched. A thin quilted vest looks great with a hoodie, a basic tee, or layered over other sturdy fall staples like an overshirt or wool sweater.