Are Vests Appropriate for Work in 2024?
Here's something I've been wanting to talk about for a while: are women's vests appropriate for work in 2024? If you're wearing them, are you wearing them as styled on every site (i.e., by themselves) or are you layering shirts beneath them? Which of the myriad types of vests out there is your favorite — knit, waistcoat, longer/split hem, double-breasted, belted, or something else?
Just to set the stage for you, these are some of the vests I'm seeing out there right now…
I think they're an interesting trend because they're more structured/tailored than a lot of the clothes we're seeing out there, especially for WFH or business casual offices… yet I also feel like for a lot of conservative offices, going sleeveless can be dicey, as can showing a bit of midriff (know your office!) They're also a quickly changing trend (as you'll see below), adding yet another layer of “know your office.”
So I'm curious — are you wearing vests, readers? Are you seeing all of the vests in your offices, or are these kind of the new “shorts suits” in that they seem work-appropriate but probably are not (know your office, of course)…
Recent Trends in Women's Vests
It's funny because I feel like vests have been trending for a while now, but they keep changing the exact style — we've gone from the drapey knit vests, to cropped sweater vests, to the fitted waistcoat look (still in, I think!), to the latest looks, with longer vests that can be double-breasted, belted, or split hem and intended only to be buttoned at the very top.
(Weirdly enough, we haven't swung back around to the men's-vests-over-drapey-blouses à la Labyrinth and Heathers (lousy photos here and here), so clearly that's going to come next…)
Some of the looks from recent years…
In fact, when we last discussed vests in 2015, this was the little collage I put together…
So trends are definitely moving quickly with women's vests!
My $.02…
For my $.02, I think this is very much a know your office situation. I absolutely adore the waistcoat vest-with-blazer-and-suit look, but in my experience those vests can be pretty low cut, and the buttons can be gapey, also… so in practicality they've never worked for me. Argent has a bunch of vests with matching suits, as does Reiss, Mango, White House Black Market, and Banana Republic. I also like the monochromatic look (vest + pants) in general, but I think it's at its best when there actually is a matching blazer that you have with you in the office.
Of course, you often see these styled as separates also, and I really like that look also — but I usually see it styled with jeans or matching shorts, and I tend to think those are looks best left to the weekend… but that may be me. You can see examples from J.Crew Factory, Loft, Open Edit, Target, and of course J.Crew.
I think the longer belted vests are my next favorite for work — they can be a sleek and polished look, and are usually meant to have something worn beneath them. But I know a lot of women feel that a belted, wrapped look isn't the most flattering, along with the fact that they're usually styled sleeveless, so I think we're only going to see it in practice on a few number of people. Ann Taylor has a bunch of these, as do Aqua and M.M.LaFleur; Spanx has a similar asymmetrical option that's somewhat between a double-breasted look and this longer vest look.
I'm biased against double-breasted looks because I almost never feel like a double-breasted jacket is flattering, on anyone. With double-breasted jackets, those are often meant to be unbuttoned when sitting because they gape in weird ways — but if you're wearing it as a top by itself that's going to be hard to do. As noted above, Reiss has one of these at the moment, as do Ann Taylor, Argent, and Banana Republic Factory.
The split hem looks are, IMHO, the ones that are best left to weekends… the Tuckernuck version above is one of the most work appropriate I've seen (Ann Taylor is down to lucky sizes in this one, but it's another option) — but in stores I'm most often seeing them like this or this, with the midriff exposed.
I have $1,400 in a personal IRA (not linked to any job). I need to pull money out to pay for a lawyer. Will I be able to pull out the whole $1,400 and pay taxes later or will I have to pay taxes when I withdraw?
I should add it’s a traditional, not Roth
Check with the provider of your IRA however I believe they take 40% off the top and you pay a 10% penalty tax unless you are 59 1/2 and your money has been in the account for 5 years.
You asked on another topic, and I replied,but it’s not posting.
You can mark the withdrawal request form “do not withhold” and then figure it all out later when you do your tax return.
Reposting because I just saw the afternoon post!
I did a big closet cleanout last night, which was precipitated by needing to find all my summer shorts. I am sort of disgusted by how much I own. I don’t think of myself as a big shopper, but it’s clearly added up. And, some of the physical changes I’ve been through in the last 2-3 years made some very nice things unwearable.
It feels good to purge and get it out of there, but I need to resolve to not let myself get to that point again. I have plenty of nice clothes to wear! I think I have two weaknesses: 1) thinking I need lots of variety when I probably don’t; and 2) making impulse buys when I’m feeling insecure about how I look and present myself. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit that, but it’s true. My work stuff hangs around forever, probably because it’s thoughtfully considered. My casual wardrobe turns over much faster even though, and I really don’t need as much as I’ve purchased in the past because it just doesn’t get worn as often. I’m not going to fabulous brunches every weekend or tons of parties. I’m a 40-something mom in suburbia who spends most of the weekend in athleisure and just wants to wear comfy clothes.
On the plus side: over the past 4-5 years, I have become much better about sticking to a set of colors and looking for more items that can cross over between work and casual, which has made my wardrobe more versatile overall. So, I guess that’s a point for growth and being able to do more with less. Five years ago, I would not have been quite as discerning.
Would love to hear how others are culling and keeping a smaller wardrobe!
I need to cull, but I actually own an entire wardrobe for a life I don’t lead and most likely will never lead.
I hear you! I tend to buy lots of the same kind of thing — for example I must have a dozen Breton-striped tops. But the problem with that is the favorite one or two get worn ALL THE TIME and the rest just languish. Same with other categories like jeans and shorts. So I am working really hard to curb the impulse to buy more of what I already have and love.
Oh yeah, this feels very familiar!
I started doing clothing rental through Nuuly and love it. I get to feel like I’m buying new clothes all the time, without cluttering up my closet.
Based on my own experience switching my closet around for the warm weather last week, I would reframe your thinking on this. It doesn’t sound like you don’t buy too many clothes, but rather that you have not been diligent about getting rid of what does not work. There’s a lot of guilt and shame in your post when the reality is that you need clothes and you deserve clothes that are current, clean, and fit you.
I would push back on the idea that a smaller wardrobe is inherently better. A wardrobe where every piece meets your needs is better!
I like this. Thank you.
I will add to this – there is nothing wrong with having specific items that serve a purpose however intermittently. Live in a warm climate but have knits that are too hot to wear here but perfect for the surprise dead of winter trip every couple years. Keeping some extra clothes is much less wasteful than having to buy them every time that surprise trip comes up.
This is why I have a couple of c-cktail dresses, a funeral dress, and a suit for the 3 times per year I go to court. These items don’t get much wear, but I need them when I need them. I like the ones I have and they fit. So I keep them.
Anyone here tried Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) to treat rosacea? Did it work for you? How long did the effects last? It sounds like a good option to me, but I’m worried that I’ll have to go back every year or two for treatments.
Re: the vests. In financial services. Sleeveless is a hard no. Just saw a sweater vest wearing Gen Z’er sashay past, and she was wearing a black mock neck shirt underneath (in 80 degree NY 🤣).
As someone who never does feel right in blazer, whether with a collar or without, I really enjoy vests. I work in mostly business causal settings, some business, and like wearing vests as my third piece. I like a draped, printed vest more than the goes-with-a-suit buttoned (looks borrowed from a man) look. This is a way for me to get more wear out of my solid colored shirts. Or a way to wear a busier printed shirt with a solid vest. This style is very hard to find, especially in plus size. Would love some ideas for where to shop for such behind Cato’s or Torrid. I too am not a fan of belted or double breasted in any cut.
Jamie- I would like to see this in a plus size too but need something workable with sleeves for my work environment
I rocked a vest in the early 90s. Don’t necessarily want to do it again, though.
I had a super cool vest in middle school in the late 80’s. Back in the day when I was not an E cup…
I was also a vest-wearing middle schooler around 1989 or so. Floral tapestry fabric in the front, satin in the back. I wore it with acid-wash jeans, and a white t-shirt with rolled sleeves, and white ankle boots with fringe.