A hooded down vests as outerwear are a big trend this fall/winter season. Read what to wear with a hooded puffer vest, which type of thermal vest hoodie to choose, and how to stay in thermal comfort despite the lack of sleeves.
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Which Type of Puffer Vest Hoodie Is Best for You?
Tailored styles are best for every woman. Look for a piece where the hems don’t fall at your widest points. Pear-shape, apple-shape and hourglass-shape women are best off with mid-thigh length or longer. Inverted triangles may try a cropped version.
Only buy the down vest filling that is recommended for your climate region to avoid sweating. Furthermore, the insulation add weight both literally and illusion-wise. More on on how to identify the best down attire for your climate zone.
Recall that dark colors give the illusion of being slimmer than you actually are. Bright colors like hot pink or red and pastels “add pounds”. Therefore, stir away from these colors when you want to avoid to look heavier than you are. More on how to wear a puffer vest and not look fat.
What to Wear with a Hooded Puffer Vest?
This garment is casual outerwear. Therefore, it is best to style it in a casual way, posh casual, preppy feminine style. The look is easiest to wear with jeans or sleek trousers. Here some hooded puffer vest outfit ideas to try:
- Wear it with a pair of jeans, a cable-knit sweater, pom-pom hat, gloves and lace-up booties.
- Try a monochromatic slim look with dark color wool dress trousers, cable-knit sweater, beret, gloves and Chelsea’s. Note this combination looks posh in winter-white, but adds weight. More on monochromatic looks.
- A hooded puffer vest looks great over an Irish sweater with jeans, booties, mitten and a pom-pom hat.
- Go for a British Classic style look with a turtleneck sweater under a plaid blazer with corduroy pants, riding boots, and a drivers cap.
- When you live in a climate region with mild winters, try a California Casual Style with a striped sweat-shirt or a plaid flannel shirt underneath your hoodie down vest. Add jeans.
- Layer a plaid or gingham button-down shirt under an about two inch shorter solid color sweater. Add straight jeans and flat boots or booties.
- Wear a hooded puffer vest with a shacket, riding boots, knee-high wool socks, distressed jeans, and a pom-pom hat. More on the shacket trend.
Stylist tip: Make sure that the hem line of your top is either about 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) longer or shorter than the hem of the vest except your vest is mid-thigh length or longer.
Can You Wear a Hooded Puffer Vest with a Dress or Skirt?
It depends on the style of the dress and your vest’s length. A thigh-long or above-the-knee long hoodie down vest may look great with a casual, loose midi knit-dress. Belt the dress for shape.
A straight jean, tweed, corduroy or plaid skirt may look great with a heavy wool sweater under your hip-length hoodie thermal vest.
How To Stay in Thermal Comfort in the Hooded Down Vest Trend
On cold days, long thermal undershirts are a Must. If it is windy, go for tops with very tight weaves (denim, flannel, loden). On humid winter days, wool sweaters are best. They can take up a lot of humidity before feeling moist.
Expert advice: On rainy days or days with rain in the forecast, don’t wear a down coat or down vest hoodie as outerwear.
What to Wear with a Hooded Puffer Vest in a Nutshell
Casual top with pants and sturdy shoes combinations are best. Because the hooded thermal vest is outerwear it looks best when styled with a casual hat, scarf and/or gloves. More on styling outerwear.
Watch where the hemlines fall with respect to your body for a slim look, and with respect to each other for balanced proportions. Because the piece is bulky the bottom part of the look has to be sleek to look stylish.
Photos of me: G. Kramm
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