Sweater vest - Do or don't ?

Kumandaro · Jun 11, 2008

Hello all, I'm new here and I have a little problem. Probably everyone knows what teens thinks about sweater vests, right ? It's ugly, it looks gay, etc...but, actually, I saw some teens and mens wearing them and they didn't look ugly at all.

I was wondering, can a sweater vest be cool (for teens) and if yes, how ?

sonlegoman · Jun 12, 2008

I think you're right, they can be cool. But more than not, they're bad.

I would:

1) keep the material thin.
2) no cabling or ribbing.
3) single color.
4) no t-shirt under the sweater vest. Most important rule. You don't want to look like anybody from F•R•I•E•N•D•S.
5) this only looks good on thin people. Sorry fatties.

sonlegoman · Jun 12, 2008

Demitri Martin : "vests are all about protection. Life vests protect you from drowning. Bullet proof vests protect you from bullets. Sweater vests protect you from... pretty girls."

novqilin · Jun 12, 2008

Originally Posted by sonlegoman

Demitri Martin : "vests are all about protection. Life vests protect you from drowning. Bullet proof vests protect you from bullets. Sweater vests protect you from... pretty girls."

nicely said. I like that fellow

Roikins · Jun 12, 2008

Originally Posted by Kumandaro

Hello all, I'm new here and I have a little problem. Probably everyone knows what teens thinks about sweater vests, right ? It's ugly, it looks gay, etc...but, actually, I saw some teens and mens wearing them and they didn't look ugly at all.

I was wondering, can a sweater vest be cool (for teens) and if yes, how ?

I have a few solid colored sweater vests that I use with suits, sort of like this "gay" guy does:

Teacher · Jun 12, 2008

I'm not a fan, but the solid plain weave ones are okay. I wouldn't go any other direction.

DocHolliday · Jun 12, 2008

It's a tricky style for a teenager, as it can look really dorky, and often does. It's much easier to wear 'em with sportcoats and suits, but I doubt you're wearing those regularly. So I'd advise caution. A few bits of advice:

-- Find examples you think look good, worn the way you'd wear them, then think long and hard about whether the style would look good on you, and why.
-- Consider your overall style. If you're naturally preppy, it'll be easier to integrate sweater vests into your wardrobe than if you mostly wear, say, t-shirts and denim.
-- Consider your personality, and be honest with yourself. If you're considered "the smart kid" or your tastes lean toward the nerdy, probably worth giving the sweater vest a skip, unless you just want to reinforce that image.

If you do decide to wear 'em, make sure everything you're wearing fits very well -- no oversized shirts, pants or sweaters, and no high-water trou. That's a sure kiss of death. Good luck.

kalice · Jun 14, 2008

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

It's a tricky style for a teenager, as it can look really dorky, and often does. It's much easier to wear 'em with sportcoats and suits, but I doubt you're wearing those regularly. So I'd advise caution. A few bits of advice:

-- Find examples you think look good, worn the way you'd wear them, then think long and hard about whether the style would look good on you, and why.
-- Consider your overall style. If you're naturally preppy, it'll be easier to integrate sweater vests into your wardrobe than if you mostly wear, say, t-shirts and denim.
-- Consider your personality, and be honest with yourself. If you're considered "the smart kid" or your tastes lean toward the nerdy, probably worth giving the sweater vest a skip, unless you just want to reinforce that image.

If you do decide to wear 'em, make sure everything you're wearing fits very well -- no oversized shirts, pants or sweaters, and no high-water trou. That's a sure kiss of death. Good luck.

+1. I think they're very classy.

Vivek · Jun 14, 2008

Originally Posted by sonlegoman

Sorry fatties.
You should be glad I'm not as judgmental as you are, Lego, lol. Your comment is just downright rude, and it doesn't add anything to the thread. Too much opinion, too little information.

selbsttatig · Jun 14, 2008

Knabe · Jun 14, 2008

I don't think they necessarily have to be single color:

I think this looks good too. I forgot who the person from that picture is, I think I got it from AAAC some months ago. Sorry about the lack of source...

Spilotro · Jun 14, 2008

I look like a supreme dork in them...

BABuckeye · Jun 14, 2008

Yes, sweater vests are cool. Here's the most famous sweater vest of all time:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/galle...&story=3138383

Kumandaro · Jun 15, 2008

Actually, if I wouldn't care about what others think, I would wear'em.

P.S. Knabe, that guy in your post don't look good at all.

This looks good :

sonlegoman · Jun 16, 2008

Originally Posted by Vivek

You should be glad I'm not as judgmental as you are, Lego, lol. Your comment is just downright rude, and it doesn't add anything to the thread. Too much opinion, too little information.

I think you mistook my comment about it only being for thin people. I understand that a rule that sweater vests be reserved only for thin people would disappoint fat people. Therefore, I was apologizing to fat people. Hence the phrase "sorry, fatties."

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