"Even three decades later, the fashion of the Friends characters is still iconic. It may be 2024, but there are multiple outfits from Phoebe, Rachel, and Monica that would not look at all out of place if worn today. But, while the three women of the show may be the ones touted as fashion icons, one of the men also rocked a fairly iconic look that can still be emulated today.
Chandler Bing is known as much for his vast collection of sweater vests as he is for a sarcastic joke (or two). The character seemingly owns vests in every color and fabric imaginable, and, honestly? The style is underrated. Typically, Chandler wore button-up sweater vests, unbuttoned and showing off whatever shirt he wore underneath (button-ups, sweatshirts, T-shirts—his closet really was big). But there are plenty of other sweater vest outfits you can make with this closet staple. Whether it’s wearing the item as the highlight of your outfit or a cozy accessory, this fall we’ll be embracing our inner Chandler Bing with sweater vest outfits of our own.
How to style sweater vest outfits
While plenty of trends come and go throughout the years, sweater vests have kind of stuck around throughout time. They’ve gone through plenty of iterations on how they’ve been styled, but look back at any television show from the past 50 years, and you’ll likely spot a character or two rocking a sweater vest in one way or another.
Of course, there have been updates throughout time. The item is particularly versatile, with the option for button-ups, v-necks, printed, crocheted, etc. One of the great things about this is that they are also extremely versatile in styling.
You can wear a vest over a shirt, over a dress, with a skirt—you can even wear it by itself with some jeans! And because it’s, you know, a vest, it’s the ideal style to start off the fall season and adjust as the temperatures start dropping.
No matter what your style is, there’s a way to incorporate a sweater vest. Here are four sweater vest outfits to consider.
Sweater vest outfit ideas
Sweater vest with a maxi dress and boots
A sweater vest and dress are a match made in heaven, pairing together both masculine and feminine style elements. There are a few ways you can do this: pairing a shorter dress with a cropped vest or going for a slightly longer vest and maxi dress style. Having more billowy sleeves can add a fun bit of movement when paired with the more fitted vest.
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One way to bring a little more shape to an oversized, long shirt is to add a sweater vest on top! Paired with some jewelry and leggings or jeans, this can be a deceptively comfortable outfit for how fashionable it looks.
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Sweater vest with jeans and a short coat
While sweater vests can be the perfect layering opportunity, that doesn’t mean they necessarily have to be. Whether it’s a cropped style or a longer one, you can wear a sweater vest alone with jeans (and a jacket over it for cold weather) for a simple, sophisticated outfit.
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Sweater vest with a tee underneath and a skirt
Going back to Friends, there’s one particularly iconic Rachel outfit that always stuck out to me. In the finale, she wore a black sweater vest with a white T-shirt, mini skirt, and high boots, and I loved it. Taking a bit of inspiration from that look, it’s an easy one to remake yourself.
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More of our favorite sweater vests to shop
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The Everygirl Media Group has brought valuable content to our readers for 12+ years. In 2018, The Everymom set out to ensure that all moms know they’re not alone. If you find yourself seeking advice on how to style the latest fashion trend or searching for the best kid-friendly coffee table, we have the answers. And if you’re wondering what’s actually worth it from a sale or looking for a review of the hottest new kids’ product, we’ve got that covered too. From our annual Registry Awards and beloved holiday gift guides to the shopping round-ups you find on our site every day, The Everymom commerce team is well-versed in sifting through thousands of products to curate a digestible list for you. We combine our own experience with in-depth research to bring you a selection that meets our high standards for both fashion and function.
Morgan Flaherty, Contributing Writer
Morgan is full-time writer, editor, and mom. Along with her work as a contributing writer for The Everymom on all things Disney World, beauty products, and the latest fashion trends, her writing has appeared in Well + Good, InStyle, Scary Mommy, Byrdie, and Baby Chick.