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With winter temperatures fluctuating between sweatshirt weather one day and puffer weather the next, a vest can be the key to layering wisely. There are, of course, the practical puffer vests, best for throwing on for a “hot-girl walk” or for errands, but there are plenty of other vests — like those made from faux fur or quilted cotton — that will keep you warm while looking stylish, too. To find vests for all tastes and styles, I chatted with a number of stylists, newsletter writers, and generally fashionable women about the vests they wear themselves. I heard about everything from a sculpted, capelike vest to athleisure ones that are especially easy to layer — all of which you’ll find here, sorted by price point so you can find one that suits your budget.
Under $100
With its large selection of vests varying in length, material, and fit, Lululemon is one of the most widely recommended brands on this list. Often, a Lululemon vest will come with plenty of bells and whistles — like a detachable hood and water-repellent fabric — but this one stands out for its simplicity, according to Helen Morris, a content creator and founder of the San Francisco Women’s Social Club. While Morris was training for a marathon, she was looking for “a nice form-fitting vest that I could run in and also layer under a sweatshirt,” and she landed on this option, which still “looks brand new” after a year of regular wear. Just note: The vest has a slim fit. Morris sized up, which gives her enough room to layer a long-sleeve tee under it while maintaining its form-fitting silhouette that “flatters the curvature of your body.”
Style blogger Bethany Everett-Ratcliffe owns an older version of this puffer vest from Abercrombie and calls it her “go-to basic black puffer vest” (though it’s only available in a light grey right now). The only difference between her old vest and this new one, she says, is the addition of a hood, which solves the one complaint she has about the version she currently owns: “If it’s really cold, I want something to be able to put on my over my head, without having to wear a hat — or in addition to a hat, if it’s really, really cold,” she says.
“When I wear a vest, it’s usually more of a puffer situation, something for warmth without adding in bulk,” says brand consultant and stylist Laurel Pantin, who writes the shopping newsletter Earl Earl. Although there are a couple of pricier vests that have earned her seal of approval, she says this affordable one from Uniqlo is “as good as it gets.” According to Pantin, the vests “last forever and they’re really warm and they don’t look like shit.” She’s drawn to this one in particular because it lacks the quilting details commonly found in “banker-bro vests or your more standard hiking vest.”
[Editor’s note: This Uniqlo vest is currently unavailable, but you can sign up for restock notifications here. In the meantime, a similar vest that was featured in the men’s version of this guide is still available.]
Under $150
Similar to the Uniqlo vest that Pantin recommends, this one from Cos lacks the quilting often associated with a puffer vest. Instead, it relies on polyester padding and extra fabric at the shoulders to provide warmth. Pantin calls it “somewhere between a cape and a vest” and adds that it’s “probably a bit warmer than a standard vest because it covers your shoulders, but again, not as bulky as a coat.” You can adjust the fit to your liking with the drawstrings at the waist.
Whether they’re based in London or New York, it seems that members of the Strategist team can’t go anywhere without spotting Damson Madder’s leopard-print vest. It’s a good option if you’re trying to get on the leopard bandwagon, but there are also a number of solid, striped, and checkered options, too, including this one that artist and writer Jo Rosenthal has been wearing all season.
Unlike a lot of the vests on this list with zipper closures, this one has two sets of ribbons that you can tie into bows. This also allows you to adjust the fit of the vest, which makes it easy for Rosenthal to layer it over something as bulky as a leather jacket (she told me she’s on a mission to see “all the crazy combinations” she can come up with cardigans and sweaters).
Stylist Sahra Brandt says “the sweater vest is out” and we’re moving toward vests with interesting textures, like puffers, shearling fleeces, and faux furs. She’s been seeing a lot of vintage fur vests, but she also recommends this option from Abercrombie for those hoping to embody the “cool girl out on the town edging into the mob-wife aesthetic.” When styling, she says, “You want to balance out that it has a lot of texture and volume.” That means pairing this one with something fitted, like a turtleneck or jeans, “to streamline your figure.” If you prefer an oversize look, Brandt recommends pairing the vest with a cable knit sweater and simple pants.
If you’re looking to “add a little bit of dimension to your outfit, especially if you’re going to be in your athleisure,” Brandt recommends Lululemon’s line of shiny vests, which currently includes a lustered-lilac option. In addition to its nice sheen, this vest boasts a 700-fill-power, one of the highest on this list, meaning it’s warm, too. (For those unfamiliar with fill power, in general, the higher the number, the warmer the coat.) Despite the high fill power, the vest is packable and comes with a matching carrying bag to stuff it in during a workout class or when the temperature fluctuates throughout the day.
Since a little shine isn’t for everyone, this insulated option from Levi’s is a subtler alternative to pair with workout clothes. Lexi Lunde, a Chicago-based content creator and personal stylist, found it was the perfect top layer to pair with leggings, a sports bra, and a long-sleeve tee when walking along Lake Michigan this fall. Now that it’s “officially 20 degrees and snowing,” she turns to a real jacket — specifically her Aritzia Super Puff — but if you’re based somewhere with a less notorious winter, this vest should keep you warm.
When I learned about Topo Design’s 100 percent recycled fleece vest from one of the stylish men I interviewed for the men’s version of this story, I was curious to see it for myself, so I called one in to test. After pairing it with a long-sleeve tee and crewneck to run errands around my neighborhood, I can say that it’s a solid layer if you’re looking for some extra warmth in 40- to 50-degree temperatures — though I’d recommend swapping it out for a puffer vest in colder places.
Under $200
As I chatted with stylish women, one vest came up again and again: the Aritzia Super Puff. Along with coming in a variety of lengths and textures — including this matte version and some shiny and glossy alternatives — it has the highest down fill power of any vest on this list. It’s the vest that Lunde recommends again and again to her Midwest-based clients and a staple piece that content creator and founder of No Particular Order Margot Lee says she can wear on “hot-girl walks” and out to dinner.
The vest is available in more than 20 colors, so you should think about how you’re planning to layer it when determining which color is best. For Lee, the black vest is ideal because, she says, “I can just slip it on underneath one of my wool coats and it keeps me warm without getting too puffy.” However, there are a lot of seasonal colors available if you’d like to keep the vest as your top layer. While stylist Kiarra Logan has her eye on the mocha brown, Lunde is into the cropped cobalt-blue vest to brighten up a dreary Chicago winter.
Although this vest isn’t marketed as a cropped option, it’s designed to hit your natural waist and is shorter than most vests on this list. That fit was part of the draw for Strategist junior writer Brenley Goertzen, who says: “I’m five-foot-five and have a shorter torso, so it actually hits the top of my hips.” She trades it out for her winter jacket once it becomes cold and snowy in Canada, but, she says, “I do feel like it provides good insulation for Toronto weather. The hooded collar also keeps wind off my face and neck.” Lunde has this one, too, and says it’s the wraparound hood that inspired her choice. Just note: The hood isn’t removable, so you’ll want to opt for the Aritzia Super Puff if you’re looking for a similar vest with a detachable hood.
When Lee borrows from her boyfriend’s closet, she usually grabs this polyester-acrylic-blend fleece from Octobre Éditions, which she says reminds her of a chore jacket. Since the piece is technically made for men, it has an oversize and boxy fit, which she likes. “I look for that in any of the vests that I wear,” says Lee. “I don’t want any fitted vests.” Best of all, since it doesn’t have a collar, it’s easy to layer.
Arc’teryx appeared multiple times in our guide to the best vests for men, so it’s no surprise that the brand’s Atom vest, which can be layered over a long-sleeve tee or under a parka, is popular with women, too. Morris, who calls it “one of the best vests out there,” primarily uses it for staying warm during heavier-duty occasions, like hiking — including the time she hiked the 93-mile Wonderland Trail.
Everett-Ratcliffe was drawn to this vest because she wanted a lengthy layer to keep her warm during outdoor sporting events in the fall and winter. In “any stadium, the seats are cold,” but with this vest, she says, “my butt is covered.” Although she typically wears leggings or jeans under the vest, if the weather called for it, she could even wear sweatpants thanks to the vest’s oversize fit. As for upper-body layers, she says, “I could wear a fleece under it, or a whole jacket under it, and have that extra layer of warmth if I needed it.”
“If you know L.L.Bean, their stuff lasts forever. So I love the fact that they are also making stylish pieces,” stylist Rasheena Liberté says of this asymmetrical puffer. “It’s a down vest, so it’s really warm, and it gives you that nice element of efficiency and style,” she adds, noting that it stands out to her because of its high neckline and diagonal stitching. While the jacket is unique enough to wear as a stylish outer layer, she recommends layering it under a wool jacket if you’d like even more warmth.
Under $300
“As an elder millennial, I need coats that come past my butt,” Logan told me. “Is that old? Does that date me? I don’t know, but I would like to make that point.” So even though she says “I like Aritzia’s Puff everything,” it’s the mid-length vest that holds a special place in her heart. This is in part because it allows her to wear leggings. “From a style perspective, I don’t think that leggings are pants, so, I always want my butt covered if I have on leggings,” she says. For a dressier look, she’ll layer it over a flannel or a leather biker jacket to add more texture.
As someone with a shorter torso, I often find that vests described as “cropped” are the perfect length for me, and this one is no exception. It is similar to the Aritzia Super Puff in form and function, and both include a detachable hood and water-repellent and wind-resistant fabric. The biggest differences between the two pieces are price point and fill power. So if you’re looking for a slightly slimmer fit, I’d choose the Wunder Puff thanks to its lower down fill power. I’m constantly checking that I still have my wallet and keys, so I also appreciate that the pockets zip all the way (Aritzia’s vest only has one button for pocket closure).
The Wunder Puff also comes in this longer cut, which features a belted waist that Brandt says “gives you a sense of shape for people who really don’t want to look like a Michelin Man.” Compared to the metallic vest she also recommends, she says, this one “is a little bit longer, so it’s a little cozier.” Plus, it features the aforementioned detachable hood, zippable pockets, and water-repellent and wind-resistant fabric.
For those who want an oversize street-style look, Liberté recommends this diamond-quilted puffer vest from Armani Exchange. “I’m always excited about the brighter colors that are a little bit more dynamic,” she says, which is in part why she felt drawn to this vest. Compared to the L.L.Bean one that she called out, Liberté says this vest feels more unisex, which “allows you to play around a little bit more. You can dress it up casually with some suit pants, or you can dress it up with your oversize baggy jeans.”
If you need some layers, too.
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