Best Vest Quest: results are in

Thanks to everyone who helped me with my vest quest last month. The results are in, and I wanted to update y'all on my decisions, because nearly everything is still available.

Find #1: Talbots vest. I asked the forum for moral support to talk me out of keeping it, because it is a quality item, but the fit was off for me.Took a few days, but I realized that the problem is that it has high side slits, which are nowhere in the photo or description. The shortness of the garment, plus high slits, and then a bulky collar that can be fully cinched, made this item too seasonally confused for me.... However, for all my Pretty Pear friends out there, this is a vest that won't cling to your sides, and is comfortable to sit down in it, so if you're looking for a summer vest, check it out.

Find #2 Vigoss Cloud Trench vest at Saks off Fifth. (also available several other retailers last I checked). This one was overwhelmingly big/long/large lapels on me. If it had come in a petite size, I would have re-ordered.This is a great vest for Team Tall. But I got some nice bralettes and sports bras in the same order, so all was not lost....

Find #3: Target Women's Military Vest. Recommended to me by forum friends. This vest arrived very crumpled, and I decided to reserve judgement until I sprayed it out with a water mist, to see if the wrinkles fell, out, and they did, and it is easy to de-wrinkle when necessary. The fabric is smooth and silky looking, and not at all drab. This vest runs on the smaller side. I got a medium, and that allows me to wear a basic T underneath, but at that size I cannot wear an average pullover sweater underneath. I am taking XS-M in tops/coats nowadays depending on the cut/brand, so size recommendations have gotten very hard to give. For some reason the Find link list this item as XXL, but it's still available in many sizes: $15 on clearance. Definitely worth getting if you aren't sure you want to: invest in a vest It's quite lightweight, so for my purposes it's more of a fashion accessory, to break up a print top into sections, then a piece of gear. However it is still very functional. It is nice, for example, if your basement is colder than your upstairs and you are going back and forth; it's perfect for that.

Find #4: Caslon Vest from Nordstrom. I got the Green Dune color, but only dark gray is still available. At first I was going to send it back, because it's quite large through the bust and armholes. But then a cold snap (for springtime) came on and I put it on over a bulky sweater and was very comfortable. Also realized it would work well for any kind of peasant blouse, flutter sleeve, etc. Have worn in at least twice a week for the whole month. If a dark gray casual vest can work for you, I highly recommend it for anyone who takes one of the available sizes.

Find #5: From Eddie Bauer, Women's Atlas 2.0. Also recommended by forum friends.... Reviewers on the merchant website complained about the small pockets, so I ordered a Tall, which solved the problem. Not sure if an actual Tall person would like the way it sits on them. Pockets on a petite sized vest would likely be basically so small as to be unusable. This is a very versatile vest. It's thin but warm for its weight, so it makes a good middle layer under a coat. I'm looking forward to test its sun blocking capabilities soon. I got the Light Gray color, which I would have called Stone or Putty or one of those funny names. It's very light, and very beige. Not for those seeking a true gray.... The other lesson I learned is that a long vest which fits snugly on the hips without side slits is not something one can sit down in, if the vest is zipped. So, this vest is either for outdoors, or indoors if standing or if there is no need to zip.... The Talbots folks weren't so crazy with their side slits after all, it just depends upon what you are seeking.

I decided not to try the Sam Edelman Elongated hooded vest, (now 60% off) because I already have a lot of hooded trenches and windbreakers, etc., so I was likely to end up with a hood collision if I tried to layer this piece.

Talbots

Casual Vest

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Saks Off 5th

Vigoss Cloud Trench Vest

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Target

Women's Military Vest - A New Day™ Olive XXL

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Eddie Bauer

Women's Atlas 2.0 Vest

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Nordstrom

Caslon Utility Vest

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5 years ago

Kathie

Veteran

Thanks for the reviews. I’m assuming you kept 4 and 5? The dark green and gray are great neutrals. Looking forward to seeing how you style them.

3style

Kathie, Yes I kept the #3 Target, #4 Caslon, and #5 Eddie Bauer. Like so many folks on the forum, we've pretty much had heatwave or quite cold, and the Caslon is the warmest by far, so it's been getting the most use. I'm starting to explore vests over dresses. I will de-lurk (visually) and take some photos in the near future.

Suz

(website)

Wow, what was an exhaustive search and terrific reviews!. You really wanted a vest and you did your homework! It sounds as if you have found several that work for you. I like the Caslon in particular. I missed the first thread where you explained why vests are especially valuable in your closet.

Suz, Some short answers for now, more now if folks are interested.
(1) Pockets are good.
(2) I often want that extra half a layer, rather than a full additional layer.
(3) I like the look of smaller color areas: breaking up prints or whittling chunky knits into smaller visual bites. Like to emphasize the vertical in preference to the horizontal.

Joy

First, I love your title...not just a vest but a best vest. Have you tried a vest over a jacket, coat, or even a puffer? Summer, they will be a great third piece over a tank top

Joy, Thanks for your compliment and suggestions. I started frequently wearing non-gear vests at my previous residence, which was a four story tall & narrow townhouse. The temperature could easily be different from floor to floor, and I often needed to make sure phone or other small items came up and down stairs with me. I first tried knit vests of various thicknesses, but over time have come to prefer woven ones. Partly for the pockets, and partly for less of picking up of less cat hair, etc....

Now I live in a split ranch, and my home’s lower level (1/2 below grade) is typically 10-15 degrees F colder than the upper level, unless we really blast winter heat downstairs or AC upstairs in summer. Still need to be comfortable rapidly going back and forth to both zones.... Also, now I live 1/4 mile directly up a hill from the Atlantic Ocean, on a peninsula. And it can be drastically different weather on the east versus west coast of the same town! And near the shore versus uphill where I live.

As far as vests over jackets, coats and puffers, it’s funny because I always do that when I’m visiting in your part of the world: CO, NV, UT, NM. I’ve tried doing it around here, on and off over the last decade or so, but it’s usually not enough warmth for wearing successfully outside and yet too much for wearing inside. So the fact that it is tricky, probably has to do with our frequently much higher (than the Southwest) humidity levels. Thanks for a good reminder to consider this option for wearing on dry days.

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