The Sweater Vest

- Sarah

The sweater vest: Poutine and Prada

The piece I wanted but didn’t buy

For about a year and a half I’ve been wanting to add a knit tank top (sweater vest? sleeveless sweater?) to my wardrobe. I’d taken note of a few I like, most of them from Aritzia. Something like this was what I had in mind. I never pulled the trigger for a few different reasons. I like Artizia’s clothes but I think they are ridiculously over priced, sometimes I have trouble with the sizing (big boob problems, le sigh), and most recently, they are not ethical.

The piece I didn’t want but bought

Last Friday I wore a gorgeous silky top I bought secondhand in Vancouver and managed to get salad dressing on it. Not a great look. One of my colleagues and I like to browse the consignment stores in town on our lunch break once a week or so and that was how I spent my lunch hour that day. I bought this sleeveless sweater on a bit of a whim because I wanted to change into something that was not accessorized with salad dressing. I was wearing black skinny jeans and flats. The top looked fine. The outfit was fine. A bit boring, but fine.

The Challenge – Sweater Vest Outfits

When I got home and hung my new-to-me top in my closet I was annoyed at myself for buying it. I don’t like having pieces in my wardrobe that I don’t wear. It makes me feel…. panicked and guilty. I thought that this top would be one of those unworn garments and still be haunting me a year or so down the line. How annoying. So I decided to challenge myself to find different ways of wearing it and create outfits that I like. The fruits of my labour are below.

The sweater vest: outfit #1

The sweater vest: outfit #2

One another semi-related note, I have never, ever liked an outfit photo, or any photo for that matter, of myself. I don’t like my mirror selfies, I don’t like the pictures the endlessly patient Mr. P&P takes of me, etc. It’s why I don’t post more. I am hideously unphotogenic. I am working on getting over that because I want to show you my outfits. So bear with me ok?

The sweater vest: outfit #3

Do you think I’ve successfully made this top a piece that has a useful spot in my wardrobe? Do you struggle with feelings of guilt about things you don’t wear? I’d love to know.

18 thoughts on “The Sweater Vest”

  1. 1. don’t be that harsh on yourself! You look great in those pictures!
    2. I love this top both on you and by itself! I would love having something like this but my lack of waist plus big boobs make it a no-no πŸ™ I think it’s one of those pieces that you can use in a lot of ways and dress up or down depending on the occasion
    3. I don’t like not wearing my clothes either.. my luck is that my moods change drastically over time so something I dislike / not like anymore right now may become my utmost favorite piece ever in a few months or in a year – I don’t dress/ shop according to the trends so my outfits are never out of fashion haha

    1. Thank you:) I agree that’s it’s pretty versatilve. You could try something like this with a belt to cinch you in at the waist, or tucked into a high waisted-skirt. I totally get the big boob struggles. It can be incredibly frustrating!

  4. First of all, your body is incredible!! I want to share the second pic of your in the black skirt on my account SheIconic (https://www.instagram.com/sheiconic/), which promotes body positivity by celebrating all stylish women! You look so classy and sexy at the same time!

    Second, I can think of numerous times where I truly liked clothing items but never bought them. I’m still wishing I purchased this sleek red kimono by J.lo I saw in Kohls…

    Natonya | https://justnatonya.wordpress.com/

    1. Thank you Natonya. I’m trying to practice what I preach and feel confident but it’s a process:)

      I’d love it if you shared my photo! That is so lovely! Thank you!

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