There are certain things that you automatically associate with different people- those facts that are useful when you’re trying to explain to someone who someone else is. You give a name, and the person you’re talking with has no clue who you’re talking about. You notice that blank look on their face. The question mark lights up over their head. Then, you bring out the qualifier. “You know, so and so who wears/does such and such all the time.” Almost immediately, you hear an, “OHHHHHH….I know who you mean!” come out of the person’s mouth. The statement is riddled with exclamation points, as if that one lone item or activity distinguishes the person from the rest of the world. This could be Angelina’s indicator having adopted a dozen children, Lindsey Lohan’s being recognized as that skinny actress who turned gay, or as Dennis Rodman as that once-was crazy basketball player with the big dyed hair. For me, that indicator has become that I’m that girl that often wears a sweater vest and tie.
Sweater vests have a bit a stigma of screaming “nerd”. One of the sources that I read about sweater vests (yes, I actually read up on the brief history of sweater vests…no comments needed) stated, “Though the sweater vest has seen many various fashion styles, for many, the sweater vest invokes images of a golfer or a high school math teacher.” However, I’ve heard from a couple sources that sweater vests are back “in” this year. I can’t recall what sources these were exactly since I don’t actually read up on any fashion trends myself, and because these comments were all just tidbits of trends information passed on by friends who they thought I’d be ecstatic to hear about this fashion breakthrough. I have to admit, this is good news for me. As anyone who knows me knows, I have a slight obsession (and I’d like to think a healthy one) with sweater vests. With this fresh news, my love of this sweater vest fashion was justified by trends and top designers saying, “Yes! You should wear that.” However, as anyone who knows me also knows, it doesn’t take for sweater vests to be in fashion for them to keep making regular appearances in my wardrobe.
I have at least a dozen sweater vests and have worn them throughout the years several times each week, even when they weren’t “in”. Although I absolutely love summer, my biggest aversion to it is that many days during the season get too sticky hot for me to try to comfortably pull off even a thin sweater vest over a t-shirt. Really, though, I often try anyway. I try to fool nobody by attempting to convince them otherwise. Then, when fall comes, I become ecstatic that I can then comfortably wear a sweater vest with a button down shirt and tie (though I still try to pull it off a number of times during the summer months, too). Even better is that, on the crisper of fall days, I even get to compliment the sweater vest with a blazer. That makes me feel a bit like a five year old on Christmas morning when I haven’t yet uncovered the mystery of what their parents bought them.
This obsession with sweater vests started in my late 20s. Once I bought my first one, I never stepped back. These sweater vests have consisted of many varied solid colors with some argyle and striped mixed in to the motley options. Sweater vests are comfortable and simple. They can dress up any plain outfit consisting of a button down shirt and slacks. They are timeless, in that the vintage ones are often just as interesting and fashionable as the ones that have just come out in the newly released lines. And depending on the style of the sweater vest, like many other pieces of clothing, the look can be studious, hipster, or just plain dorky. Luckily, all of these are good things.
As I’ve already briefed you on, my sweater vest fashion often consists of a tie. My love of ties started around the same time as my sweater vest fixation. You take a plain pair of slacks and a button down. You first add that sweater vest, which might contribute a new pattern or different color to the outfit. Then you add the tie, and schizam, you have a completely new look. The tie works much like the sweater vest does, adding the flavor of another pattern or color to the arrangement. Much like the sweater vest, as well, the style brings one step closer to designating your style as hipster or nerd.
You may think that a sweater vest and tie combo is simply a sweater vest and tie combo, and that it is impossible to change up the style for different events. I once thought this, too. But, alas, aha…these combinations can be quite versatile to reflect personalities and accommodate different occasions. One (not referring to myself specifically of course) might wear a plain colored button down with a solid color sweater vest and a striped tie for a day event. Then, this elusive person can then change up their style for a party, still sticking to the sweater vest and tie combo, and wear a black striped shirt, patterned sweater vest, and shiny tie. This could be you, too. It’s that easy.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
David Sedaris said in one of his books, “A bow tie announces to the world that you are no longer capable of getting an erection.” I discussed this theory with one of my friends, concerned that this newfound love of bow ties to wear with my sweater vests might have some impact on my romantic affairs. We came to the conclusion that the theory is only true for older men who are going bald and feel the need to do that hair comb over thing to convince the world that they do indeed have more hair than they actually do. For the rest of us, bowties are completely acceptable, and typically make us seem impotent in no way whatsoever. Dorky, perhaps. But not incapable of having sex. Instead, for most of society, it symbolizes that gray area where cool and dorky overlap just a little, and that the person might actually be comfortable embracing that coolish-dork-dom. And who am I kidding, even if we had found Sedaris’ theory true, I’d continue to wear bow ties anyway.
I can be found clad in a sweater vest and tie at least a couple days out of any week throughout the year. Through my love of the sweater vest and tie combination, and recently the bow tie, I embrace my dork-dom. Even better, I love that the crisp fall air is settling in for the primary reason that the weather will allow me to wear them every day if I so choose. And, I just might.
