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Home / Blog / Clothing and Style / Outfit Ideas

Lightweight Vests: My Favorite Middle Layering Piece

Published on January 10, 2018 by Brock McGoff · Outfit Ideas May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

The lightweight vest is one of the most versatile articles of clothing for cold weather layering.

Casual fall layers
Photography by Erin McGoff

Fall and winter are two of the best seasons for men’s style, mostly because you get to wear multiple layers.

Layers look super stylish, and they’re very practical. They let you add insulation to your outfit without adding too much bulk.

Plus, if you get too hot or cold, you can simply remove or add one layer.


Shop the Post


J Crew Factory Walker Vest navy
vest | shirt (sold out) | jeans | boots

A typical fall outfit might include three layers: the base layer, the middle layer and the outer layer. For example:

  1. Shirt
  2. Sweater
  3. Jacket

The middle layer is crucial. Every guy needs to have a few versatile middle layers in his wardrobe. Most men default to sweaters, which makes sense because there are so many different types:

V-neck, crew neck, cotton, wool, cashmere, quarter zip, full zip, hoodie, cardigan, etc.

While sweaters make excellent middle layers, I believe that the lightweight vest is just as versatile – and often overlooked.

In fact, I find myself reaching for my lightweight vests more often than not, especially when I’m putting together a casual layered getup.

Now, there are many different types of lightweight vests, from cotton to down-filled polyester.

In terms of fit and style, my favorite vest is the J. Crew Factory Walker Vest.

Brock looking at watch
sunglasses (similar)

It’s an insulated, quilted vest, but it’s not nearly as thick as most down “puffer” vests you can buy.

This makes it perfect for shorter men, as it adds visual interest and warmth without being too bulky.

This kind of lightweight vest can be worn under any light/medium weight jacket. It looks fantastic with field jackets and leather jackets.

Tribeca Field Jacket olive

Hamilton Khaki Mechanical
watch

Of course, you can also wear it as an outer layer over a button up shirt, sweatshirt or henley.

Here’s one thing I love about vests: you don’t have to worry about the sleeves being too long!

Just make sure the length is correct (just below the waistline), and make sure the vest fits close to the body.

Casual layered outfit

jeans | boots

Many vests (like the Walker Vest) have side adjusters that let you cinch the vest for a closer fit around the lower torso.

If you don’t like the look of this vest, here are a few other options that may work better for you:

  1. Arc-Teryx Atom LT Vest (super thin, high quality, expensive)
  2. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Vest (affordable, lots of color choices)
  3. Patagonia Classic Fleece Vest (soft, high quality, classic “outdoorsy” look)

I have the Walker Vest in grey and navy, and both colors get a lot of wear. Since these are pretty neutral, versatile colors, one of them will work with pretty much any outfit.

Tribeca field jacket back

I’ve tried thicker, warmer vests in the past, but the extra bulk made it impossible to use them as middle layers.

If it’s that cold outside, I’ll probably just wear a heavy coat like a topcoat or parka.

Do You Wear Vests?

If you’ve never tried layering with vests, you might want to give it a shot. If you simply don’t like them, I get it. They’re not for everyone. You do you!

Do you wear vests? Let me know in the comments below!

Outfit Ideas fall, J. Crew Factory, layering, vests

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How to Wear Layers During Fall and Winter + 16 Outfit Ideas
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8 Casual Fall Outfit Ideas for Guys
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How to Wear a Lightweight Cardigan During Fall
How to Wear an Overcoat
How to Wear an Overcoat (20 Ways For Men)

About Brock McGoff

The Modest Man founder, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his family, discovering new brands and creating great content.

Background: Brock McGoff has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a professional background in digital marketing. He believes that men's fashion is just one facet of self-improvement, and he started The Modest Man to help regular guys feel more confident by improving their appearance.

An east coast native, Brock currently lives in Arizona with his wife and daughter. When he's not working, he spends time with family, training BJJ, reading/listening to books and podcasts, and unsuccessfully trying to decide which movie to stream.

Expertise: Brock has built a men's lifestyle YouTube channel with over 400k subscribers. He's also worked as the creative marketing manager in a men's apparel startup. Brock has been quoted in, mentioned by or featured in publications like Esquire, Huff Post, Men's Health, WWD and Forbes.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

    Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

  1. Christopher says

    October 13, 2018 at 11:50 pm

    What size is your olive jacket? Is it 2 or 3?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      October 13, 2018 at 11:50 pm

      It’s a 1, actually.

      Reply
      • Christopher says

        October 17, 2018 at 7:55 pm

        Cool, thanks Brock!

        Reply
  2. Ian says

    February 25, 2018 at 11:27 pm

    Is your vest a size x-small?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      February 25, 2018 at 11:28 pm

      Yes sir!

      Reply
  3. Maxwell says

    January 24, 2018 at 12:05 am

    Did you have the Mott & Bow jeans tailored or did you leave them with the 32L?

    Reply
    • Brock says

      January 24, 2018 at 12:14 am

      I had them hemmed down to ~28 inches.

      Reply
  4. David says

    January 13, 2018 at 6:37 pm

    Is them material on the outside of the vest poly or cotton? I can’t tell from the pictures.

    Reply
    • Brock says

      January 13, 2018 at 7:59 pm

      Poly

      Reply
  5. Neil says

    January 13, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    What a coincidence. I have been wearing the Peter Manning olive green field coat and a navy quilted J Crew vest for the past month and love the look

    Reply
  6. Michael McLean says

    January 13, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    After reading your list of holiday deals last month, I bought the J Crew Walker vest in navy on sale. I had no idea what I was missing! It can be worn with almost anything and it keeps me warm, but not too warm. I love it!!

    Reply
  7. Matthew says

    January 11, 2018 at 3:15 am

    I really love them too, I wear my virtually every day in the colder months. One of the best purchases I ever made.

    Reply

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