That's Right, Sweater Vests Are A Summer 2025 Essential
Sweater vests have always been around, but when the preppy style started making headlines again a few years ago, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was another micro-trend that would dissipate as soon as it began.
Over the past few years, and especially during the summer season, the summer sweater vest has proven that it's here to stay.
What was once a slightly ironic play on the grandad aesthetic has become a pretty standard fixture not only on the backs of celebs but also on the runway. Some of the most talked-about shows in recent seasons have been bringing new takes on the sweater vest: Kenzo, Jil Sander, and JW Anderson, to name just a few.
A testament to how popular they have become, a number of these designers and celebrities have even found a way to style them in warm weather, going commando and treating the summer vest like a winterized version of a tank top.
Whether it be a thick-knitted collegiate style, like the Kenzo sweater vest or a more slim-fitting graphic design, it seems that nobody is worried about itchy cotton on their bare skin this summer.
Summer vests are one of the earliest examples of athleisure, An early-20th-century example of a focus on functionality, with the lack of sleeves making it a sportsman's essential. Soon, the functional pros of going sleeveless made it hugely popular outside of sports, with its biggest surge in popularity coming in the '70s before being sidelined to life as a preppy piece of golf attire.
No doubt influenced by the current '70s resurgence, the sleeveless summer sweater is once again getting the respect it deserves, and we've picked our favorite designs.
Scroll down to shop our favorite summer sweater vests.
Café de Flore x Highsnobiety Script Sweater Vest
A love letter to Parisian café culture, this piece merges Highsnobiety’s global street sensibility with Café de Flore’s timeless charm. The collaborative vest was created for our Not In Paris city series blends nostalgia and contemporary cool, perfect for city dwellers who romanticize their daily rituals.
Highsnobiety HS05 Loose Gauge Tank Top
Our very own Highsnobiety’s in-house line channels editorial influence into wearable essentials. This tank bridges runway minimalism with Berlin’s relaxed streetwear energy. It’s a lightweight knit for transitional layering that is understated yet quietly bold.
Manaaki Jacquard-Knit Merino Wool & Cashmere
Manaaki crafts heirloom-level knitwear with purpose and sustainability at its core. This vest brings luxury New Zealand craftsmanship into everyday life. Refined, quietly confident, and built to last for generations.
AMI Paris Sleeveless V-Neck Sweater
Founded by Alexandre Mattiussi, AMI is Parisian nonchalance perfected. This minimal v-neck vest captures AMI’s signature balance of effortless tailoring and approachable French elegance, making it a wardrobe essential for modern romantics.
Polo Ralph Lauren Fair Isle Cotton-Cashmere Sweater Vest
An icon of American heritage style, Polo Ralph Lauren fuses Ivy League aesthetics with vintage outdoor charm. This Fair Isle knit revives collegiate codes for a new generation of preppy revivalists.
Marni Fuzzy Wuzzy Vest
Marni thrives in the space between eccentricity and sophistication. The Fuzzy Wuzzy vest channels the brand's playful texture obsession. Weird in the best way, designed for sartorial rule-breakers.
MM6 Maison Margiela Distressed Vest
MM6 reinterprets Maison Margiela’s avant-garde legacy through a streetwear lens. This distressed knit vest distills the house’s love for deconstruction as raw, rebellious, and undeniably subversive.
Ader Error Significant TRS Tag Knit 01 Vest
Seoul-based Ader Error exists in a world of curated imperfections. This vest features subtle off-beat details and branding that speaks to the brand’s quiet commentary on fashion culture and identity.
Ganni Graphic Vest
Copenhagen-based Ganni has built a global following by flipping Scandi minimalism into playful maximalism. This cropped knit vest is bold yet wearable and the perfect punctuation for sustainably minded wardrobes.
Carhartt WIP Madison Vest Sweater
Carhartt WIP reimagines American workwear for European streets. The Madison vest channels utilitarian roots but adds contemporary polish, a piece that bridges durability with understated style.
Wales Bonner x Adidas Originals Edition Knit Vest
Wales Bonner, besides being one of the hottest brands coming out of England in recent years and allowing us to rediscover our love for Jamaican fashion, is also one of the few brands that truly take knitting to another level. This knit vest blends sport heritage with Afro-Atlantic aesthetics — a celebration of identity, movement, and community.
Vivienne Westwood Orbit Vest
Westwood’s world is punk at heart but grounded in heritage tailoring. The Orbit vest quietly nods to her subversive legacy for classic knitwear infused with anti-establishment energy.
C2H4 Hollow Out V-Neck Knit Vest
C2H4 operates at the intersection of streetwear and science fiction. This hollowed-out knit feels experimental, reflecting the brand’s vision of dystopian street style fused with technical precision.
After Pray Damier Knit Vest
Rooted in Korean streetwear culture, After Pray explores everyday uniforms with a twist. This checkerboard knit vest leans graphic and youthful making an eye-catching statement for layered casual looks.
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