This post is about quilted/puffy vests. Sorry if you got all excited for 90s-era or tuxedo-style numbers!
In college I had a red, slim, quilted vest by Caslon. I remember it being the first piece of clothing my mom convinced me to spend $50 (!!) of my own money on. She explained the concept of investing in a quality piece you’ll wear for years – and she was right. It was quite chic and a great color, and I wore that puppy on the regular for 6 or 7 years, easy:
College me, posing in said vest at an Olympique Marseille football-watching club in France. I have no idea what Che is doing there.
I haven’t gone in for quilted vests much since then – mostly because the styles available now tend more toward the sporty (not my style), and it’s hard to find a silhouette that doesn’t add a lot of visual volume.
Indeed, my next vest wasn’t purchased until 2012, when I picked one up last minute from Costco for a family trip to Scandinavia. (Judge away. I was thrifting 95% of the time but got seduced by the bright, inexpensive clothes at Costco and the idea that you need to buy new/specific clothes for travel. Lies, I tell you, lies!)
And then, ironically, I wore it thrifting at the Salvation Army shop in Oslo:
What, you don’t thrift on vacation?
It packs down to almost nothing and is filled with down, so it’s a great layering piece. But it’s been stashed in the back of my closet pretty much since 2012. If I had to say why, it’s – again – because of its rather sporty style and the unfortunate volume added where none is wanted.
Two of my coworkers regularly wear puffy vests and manage to look chic, though. (One thing that appears to help the volume problem is not zipping them up. Who knew?) So lately I’ve been kicking around the idea of giving quilted vests another try. Luckily for me, picking up a vest from Goodwill costs about $5 instead of the $25 at Costco (or the much higher price tag in retail stores).
Here are my two picks:
Old Navy – thrifted
Nau – my version is taupe. This is 850 down and retails for $185!
The liner on this vest is 100% recycled polyester, and the down inside is also re-used. I love the asymmetrical zipper which takes it a little more in the direction of everyday chic rather than camping chic.
My spouse laughed when he saw the Old Navy one – “You’re still on that leopard print thing, aren’t you?” Yes, dear, I am. It is NEVER going out of style, so get used to it!
I know, I know, I just said no more winter clothes – but although I didn’t showcase them in my winter wardrobe post, I did indeed write that proclamation after I’d bought these. And I’m hoping these babies will help me get more wear out of my existing wardrobe by pairing with my turtlenecks, which I have neglected rather severely this winter. Additionally, I think the taupe vest will transition quite well to spring, for those days when it’s still a bit chilly but I don’t want a full blazer/coat/thick sweater.
What’s your take on quilted vests – do you wear them or no? For those who do, any tips for styling them in business casual appropriate ways? Scroll down to comment!
Your beige leopard vest with turtleneck looks really great on you! (Just the right amount of “animal print”) Although there are a lot of down vests now with a slimmer silhouette, and they look great when wearing them, I don’t own any and haven’t been tempted for a long time! Reason: if I am cold enough to wear down at all, my arms are too cold without any coverage! (That is not to say I wouldn’t give in to a vest as sharp as yours if I found it while thrifting!!!) I do own a puffy quilted sweater/jacket (synthetic fill) and a 750 fill down coat with hood (really lightweight though) and although not thrifted, they were both purchased at deep discount.
Carol, I feel the same as you – why keep my torso that warm if my arms will be chilly? If I’m truly cold I’ll be wearing the down equivalent of these withlong sleeves!
These babies work great for my office environment where I might not be *cold* per se – just not quite warm enough. And I’ve used the taupe one as a removable layer for hiking, wearing it just long enough to warm up and then stuffing it away (it packs down really well). Thanks for commenting!