Nothing heralds fall's arrival and winter’s approach like layering. A decidedly different affair to spring and summer’s lightweight fabrics and minimal styling, layering clothes in bulk-free fashion is notoriously difficult to navigate.

Not so when a knitted vest is in your sartorial arsenal. A year-round stalwart, the piece comes into its own the moment the mercury drops, slotting in alongside dramatic balloon-sleeve blouses and ruffle-trimmed necklines with effortless elan.

While those that call the other side of the Pond home or binge-watched a certain award-winning 90s sitcom, the sweater vest might have had a certain grandad, less-than-cool reputation, but in recent years it’s shaken off these associations, favouring instead directional looks with a preppy twist while garnering designer knitwear status.

Discover why we’re dubbing this women’s knitwear staple a layering essential and cold-weather hero.

They Keep Dramatic Sleeves On Display

A knitted vest ensures an attention-commanding silhouette or ornate detailing stays on display.

Crafted from pure cashmere that has been given a high-temperature wash finish for cloud-like softness, our high-neck vests are the definition of luxury knitwear and celebrate a classic black colorway and a deep, fall-leaning Deep Cabernet one, the latter introducing a rich, bold shade to this season’s outfitting. Their sleeveless cut is precisely designed to line up with the shoulder seams of our blouses and layering tops.

With the same effect, our Merino Relaxed Chunky Knit Vest + Snood celebrates a deep charcoal shade that acts as a new fall-winter neutral while locking in heat and complementing statement sleeves.

Proving that autumn and a bold colour palette are anything but mutually exclusive, a knitted sweater vest in an eye-catching hue instantly uplifts and brightens your seasonal looks, layered over long-sleeved shirts, printed blouses, or sleeveless, ruffle-trimmed camis.

Boldly colored ones instantly uplift and brighten a fall look

Proving that fall and a bold color palette are anything but mutually exclusive, a knitted sweater vest in an eye-catching hue instantly uplifts and brightens your seasonal looks, layered over long-sleeved shirts, printed blouses, or sleeveless, ruffle-trimmed camis.

Our Merino Cashmere Relaxed Vest + Snood is spun from a blend of responsibly sourced merino wool and 10% cashmere knitted in 7gg for a lighter look. Breathable by nature, the yarn is dyed in a bold berry shade that complements other pieces from our fall and winter collections while brightening classic cold-weather pairings - think dark-wash denim, cotton shirts, tailored pants and silk blouses.

Topped instead with a neat V-neckline, our Merino Cashmere Relaxed V-Neck Vests boasting a deep purple hue (coming soon in October), soft cream or light chambray blue bring a feminine softness to structured tailoring while grounding bold prints.

They strike the perfect casual-yet-considered balance

Combine the structure of a tailored suit with the tactility of a knitted vest and the result is a look that relaxes the former while elevating the latter. 

Sitting in the sartorial sweet spot, our Boiled Cashmere V-Neck Pearl Button Vest in a soft creamy hue could be styled over sleeveless vests or camis to hero the neat V-neck cut, but for this approach, we’re layering it over a freshly pressed long-sleeved shirt for an elevated office look. Opt for a monochromatic outfit by teaming with a black pant suit for an easier, more laid-back result or turn to tailoring in whites and soft creams to build an ensemble around a subtle tonal look.

Turn to our Cashmere V-Neck Crop Vest to build a look around similar pieces but for a more pared-back finish. We styled it with our Flannel Pleat-Front Wide Tapered Pant and matching Flannel Bracelet Sleeve Short Blazer.

They’re a trans-seasonal stalwart

A woollen or cashmere vest doesn’t have to be the reserve of winter layering. As temperatures shift throughout the year, adapt our Merino Jacquard Chunky Relaxed Vest + Snood to match. A sleeveless silhouette topped with a round neckline is accompanied by a detachable snood that locks in extra warmth when needed. When temperatures are milder, remove the snood and wear as a standalone piece for a look that speaks to that tricky time in between seasons. In the same pattern but in a black-and-cream color and without an optional snood, our black-and-white iteration of the same vest is complemented by a matching A-line skirt to build a head-to-toe look.

Our Merino Cashmere Exposed Side Vest + Snood takes a different approach. It features open sides fitted with button fastenings to accommodate winter’s chunkiest layers and lighter ones when temperatures start to rise, cementing itself in your year-round rotation.  Complement fall and winter neutrals and ground bright colors by layering it under a cord blazer throughout fall. Swap it for a cozy shearling coat when winter takes its hold.

They pull together simple styling

A knitted vest instantly transforms classic pairings, resulting in a look that appears perfectly pieced together and considered. They upgrade everyday looks such as a round-neck T-shirt tucked into a pair of jeans, and ground pants in a classic pattern when teamed with a ruffle-trimmed blouse.

The reserve of your working and daytime outfitting, our Merino Cashmere High Neck Swing Vest in a dark mossy color or soft gray introduces a subtle texture clash with cotton shirting, soft silk, and tactile corduroy. The piece also complements the colors inflected throughout our check tailoring to build a cohesive look that’s suited to office-ready outfitting and finds a country-to-city balance. 

Swapping a solid color for a bold patterning, our Merino Cashmere Patchwork Fair Isle Vest + Snood is covered in a contemporary Fair Isle pattern in soft neutrals and light earthy hues that pair back to other pieces in our collections while the optional snood locks in warmth. Shaped to a V-neckline but in the same pattern, our Merino Cashmere Patchwork Fair Isle Vest (coming soon in our October Collection) creates a stark contrast with white shirts and blouses thanks to its bold monochrome palette.

A stripped-back iteration boasting cloud-soft boiled cashmere in a classic shade, our Boiled Cashmere Relaxed V-Neck Vest pulls together your every look, complementing statement tailoring like our wide-leg culottes with the same ease as casual T-shirts and camis.