It was a week of sightings here in London. First, I ate next to Bette Midler in Soho. Then, I really could have sworn I saw Hayden Pannetiere (still unconfirmed) at Spitalfields Market. And finally, in the city, I saw a well dressed guy wearing a down vest over his suit jacket looking very stylish. He was clearly a follower of the GQ Rules. Transforming any average Joe into a well-dressed rebel, layering a puffy down vest over a suit jacket, or even under, is one of GQ’s newest thirty essential rebel style secrets.
Scott Schuman, author of my favourite blog, the Sartorialist, blogged about seeing men in Milan wearing puffer vests over their suits back in 2006. So the Milanese did it first. Don’t they always? Good thing it is never too late for functional style. And fall 2008 has brought the look into the spotlight. Take it from style experts, “That puffy vest that’s normally reserved for weekends? Layer that over your suit on your way to work. It’s right off the runway, it’s really practical, and it’s easy. It’s kind of like you made a mistake, but it looks really good.”
Since it can be difficult to find weather appropriate outerwear for a suit when the weather is chilly but not quite freezing yet, it seems to me the puffer vest is an easy breezy option. While there is a rule that any jacket you wear over a suit has to be longer than your suit jacket, there is an exception in the case of the puffer vest. Vests that work best for this look are not too bulky or oversized. A well fitting navy down vest over a heavier weight dark grey suit looks good, as well as other neutrals like black on black. A fitted thin down vest can also be worn under the suit jacket for extra warmth. A perfect fit for either look is the key.
Keep in mind though that not everyone is going to be a fan of your new sporty professional look. The concept is not without its critics, as evidenced by the myriad of negative online comments. But really, who cares what Tom from Buffalo thinks anyway.
Terry Chan is a Canadian lawyer practicing finance law in London. She writes every Friday on style and fashion, perfectly aware that the next big thing is not looking like a lawyer.