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Looking for the best sweater vests for men, huh? Figures. What is it about those sleeveless, grandad-coded jumpers that folks just can’t seem to quit? While you’d always expect to see the likes of college football coaching great Jim Tressel in his “Tress-vest”, these days everyone from Jeremy Allen White to Tyler, the Creator considers the sweater vest a core part of their fall arsenal. And if those style legends do, why shouldn’t you? cropped knit pullover
So to make sure you’re adequately kitted out for the transitional weather ahead, we rounded up the absolute best sweater vests for men on the market right now—proving once and for all that you don't need to be an aspiring PGA pro (or, heck, an aspiring PhD) to free your arms and cool your core in impeccable style.
Take Me To: More Sweater Vests We Love | How We Review Products | How We Make These Picks | Why Buy a Sweater Vest Today?
It’s not just giant-fit chinos and great value Oxford shirts: J.Crew also currently offers a note-perfect sweater vest, knit in a rugged fisherman style that’s practically begging to be taken for foggy morning stroll by the sea. The beauty of a cable-knit fisherman design like this one is that the weave is dense enough to fend off chill and keep out water, but still open just enough to breathe a little. And while J.Crew’s version isn’t hand-knit by a seafarer’s devoted wife, it has been updated for modern life, with a 100% machine-washable fabric and six different sizes to choose from.
Lands' End isn’t just a guaranteed “low risk, high reward” solution for most heritage styles—it’s also a low cost one. For just 40 bucks, you can end your layering quest right here. The cotton-modal blend keeps this vest in shape no matter how many times you wear or wash it, and the red, black, or forest green colorways are already dying to be worn at all holiday events. So whether you want to flex your inner finance bro with a more fitted cut, or size up over a T-shirt for that "cool substitute teacher" energy, this vest has got you covered in more ways than one.
If the Fair Isle sweater was good enough for my favorite Beatle (Sir Paul), it’s good enough for us all. The iconic knitting technique—where two yarns tango across each row to create colorful geometric diamond, star, and zigzag patterns—hails from a tiny Scottish island called, yes, Fair Isle. And while few brands still knit their Fair Isle sweaters in the motherland, Drake’s is keeping it real. Their version is 100% lambswool, which not only keeps you warm, but also lets moisture out—a must in an overly-heated restaurant or bar. And that print is undeniable—just the right amount of chaos, kept in order by that thick, ribbed caramel collar and hem.
If you zoomed in on a Fair Isle, you’d end up with a print resembling an argyle knit. That’s the look Our Legacy chose for their sweater vest, and given the success of their Camion boots and Stüssy collabs, I’d take their word that the argyle is a solid direction of travel for this style. The cult Swedish brand's riff brings the entire sweater vest look in line with current fashion preferences: the wool is an alpaca-nylon blend, making it a little lighter and softer to wear, while the larger armholes and uneven hem make it clear that you’ve lost none of your punk edge, even as you dip your toe into a more golf club fit.
If the sweater vest is associated with any one sport, it’s cricket. And given that the sport is making its historic return at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, now’s a great time to secure your patriotic (and on sale) cricket sweater vest from the king of Team USA outfitting and heritage clothing alike, Ralph Lauren. It boasts an archival Team USA shield patch, and because it’s made from soft combed cotton rather than wool, will be that much breathable should you choose to layer it under a heavy blazer this winter, or wear it early as summer ends.
I’ve been whispering it for a while, but Gap is right now making pieces that are as strong as they were in the brand’s high-kicking khakis heyday. Case in point: This low-buttoning, Ferris Bueller-esque sweater vest in a mid-weight plush yarn they claim is as soft as cashmere. Just as they do on a blazer, the patch pockets add a dose more of laid-back cool, and the all-black colorway? Looks luxe as hell for the low-low.
Danish knitwear brand S.N.S Herning has been outfitting outdoor enthusiasts for almost a century. Their woolen sweater vest looks almost like someone chopped the sleeves and hood off of a hoodie—there’s a strong crew collar, and deep but discreet welt pockets. This is the pick if you live somewhere that winters get real.
Nobody ties the knot between grandpa-style and Ivy-League-prepster-cool quite like Japanese label Beams Plus. The indigo-patterned motif isn't too wild—you won't feel like you're wearing your grandma’s curtains—plus, the ribbing works some magic for a fit that flatters, rather than flops.
Margaret Howell’s slightly wider sweater vest has deep ribbing, reinforced collar stitching, and is made in Scotland from 100% merino wool that will warm in cool air and breathe in warmer temps. Essentially, it’s everything the muted British designer does best: get the details right, then let the silhouette do the talking.
An alternate merino wool option for a quarter of the price comes from Banana Republic. Theirs has a slightly closer fit than Margaret Howell’s—not a bad thing—but a similar wide-ribbed neckline.
Nicholas Daley’s riff on the traditional argyle pattern is exactly what I imagine the lead singer of Jamiroquai would choose for a music video. Two things are new here: the red is as bright as anything on this list, and the collar is a crew this time, not a V—though its wide rib and low positioning mean you’ll barely feel it at your neck.
For his take on the Argyle print, 18 East designer Antonio Ciongoli flipped the style on its head, shrinking the classic pattern into a tighter print with finer ribbing , and shifting the focus to textured stripes that kind of give off a "drug rug" hoodie feeling. It's also made from a bouclé knit—think fabric spun from loopy, curly yarn for that ultimate nubby, can't-stop-touching-it feel.
A shawl collar and a zip? Plus tiny pockets to sneak your Airpods and keys into? Oh, Nepenthes. This vest is also made in collaboration with the Canadian Sweater Company—and they know cold.
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)
Why Buy a Sweater Vest Today, In the Year of Our Lord 2024?
The best part about wearing a sweater vest right now? The layering possibilities, which are about as endless as a CVS receipt but a lot more interesting. You can throw one over a tee, a long-sleeve thermal, a crisp dress shirt, or even rock it with nothing but a necklace underneath if you're chasing that charmingly-sleazy-nightclub-owner vibe. The choice is yours. And if the sheer amount of layering options don't get your creative juices flowing, then the prints and patterns almost definitely will. Preppy-cool Fair Isle? Acid-washed argyle? Just-kooky-enough cable-knit? There's a veritable buffet of cozy, stylish choices on the market these days, and we promise you won’t leave hungry.
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