In the South, men can usually wear summer attire through October. Then almost overnight, daytime temps can drop from 90 to 65 degrees, prompting the need for a warmer layer of clothing. Adding one or more fall vests to your wardrobe this season not only provides warmth but a dash of comfort and style too.
A Brief History of Vests
The vest, or waistcoat, began in 1666 when King Charles II of England sought to upend his French rivals in the fashion department. The sleeveless garment was designed to end at the waist or slightly below.
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Vests have evolved through the years and, in previous decades, were associated with the more formal three-piece suit. They also wore them in the early twentieth century because pocket watches were popular, and the garment often contained a small pocket to keep and protect the timepiece.
Fortunately, the three-piece suit is no longer necessary to close the big deal, so today’s vests are now associated with more casual styles. In recent years, the move toward “business casual” gives men yet another reason to add several vests styles to their closet.
Here are a few of my favorite fall vests in various colors and materials that you can consider adding to your shopping list:
Moncler
If luxury and looking fashionable in Vail or Aspen is your objective, you’ll like this puffer vest from Moncler. It will set you back about $750.00, but hey, you’ll look great this fall and winter.
Black TIB puffer vest from Moncler (Moncler)
Peter Millar
This brand is one of my favorite go-to fall vests, primarily because it’s lightweight, stylish, and well constructed. I have a medium gray, and it goes well with almost every color I wear.
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New for 2019 is the Crown Elite Light Vest, available in three colors; grey, navy, and fire glow. It looks great and has a large inside pocket, perfect for securing and keeping your cell phone out of sight and out of your back pocket.
Peter Millar’s All Day Reversible Vest also comes in three colors. I like the versatility of this vest since you can wear it with even more color combinations, creating a different look.
Even if you’re not a hunter, camo is making a splash in both men’s and women’s fashion this season, and the Essex Camo Quilted Traveler Vest in Navy is sharp! This vest also contains a couple of inside pockets to store valuables and possibly even a small flask for your favorite adult beverage.
You know, a man might need a nip or two or quality bourbon when braving the chilly weather at a college football tailgate or especially the endless six-year-old Saturday soccer free-for-all.
Peter Millar Essex camo quilted vest in blue (Peter Millar)
Orvis
My most recent purchase is this RT7 Quilted Vest from Orvis. I needed to add a black vest this season and found this vest both functional and lightweight. It also comes in navy, olive, and spice. The fit is generous, so I went with a medium for my 6’0, 190-pound frame to add a more oversized jacket for those extra chilly nights. It’s also a good deal at $120.
Barbour
If you’re looking for extra warmth, this Ruck Gilet vest in blue or brown and priced at $200 from Barbour is a solid choice. The vest contains baffle quilt and has a corduroy inner collar.
Barbour Ruck Gilet quilted vest from Orvis (Barbour)
Faherty
Another reversible vest I like comes from Faherty. The blue/grey color scheme comes with light blue trim, quilted on one side, with heather twill on the other.
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Crown & Ivy
If you want style and function in your vests but want to avoid spending over three digits, here are a few options. I found this Crown & Ivy quilted vest in gray at Belk’s. Priced at $75.00, I picked mine up for half-price and liked the quality.
Hawke & Company
For some reason, the fashion gods are proclaiming puffer vests in vogue this year, probably because Amazon’s Jeff Bezos was spotted wearing one at a Sun Valley conference in 2017.
Red, Crown and Ivy puffed vest (OneSouthernMan/2019)
My deal of the season might be this Quilted Puffer Vest from Hawke & Co. I picked it up for less than $30. Available in nine colors, I purchased one in red. Depending on the brand, I wear either medium or large. They tend to run large for this particular vest, and a medium fit me best. At this price point, I plan on ordering a couple of extra colors.
Make sure you wear and layer with vests this fall. You’ll find they are available in almost every color and at a price point that will fit your budget.