Sleeveless Knits To Throw Over Every Dress

Occasionally an item comes along that makes such good wardrobe sense, you just can’t fathom how you ever got dressed without it. So I’m betting that if one of these knitted gems isn’t already dominating your weekly line up, then you are most probably on the cusp of committing and ‘adding to basket’. Because the new heroes of the knit world, sleeveless jumpers, aren’t going away anytime soon. Whether you call them sweater vests, sleeveless knits, tabards, knit tanks or pull-overs, there has been no escaping the popularity of this clever little piece over the last few months – and they’re here to stay.

 

These wondrous, multi-tasking jumpers are the winter>spring layering holy grail. Over dresses. Over shirts. Over tees. With denim. With lounge sets. With everything! They’re so versatile in fact, that many of the summer 2021 collections have placed sleeveless vests firmly in their high season squad. Just take a browse at the Zara and Arket New In’s and head over to Simone Rocha, who is embellishing her’s with pearls and Gucci, who would like to serve your summer tanks with plenty of stripes and a side-helping of argyle ‘GG’ initials.

Perfect for summer English gardens, crisp Cornish beaches, discovering a new woodland trail at dusk and lounging by the fire pit at the bottom of the garden… drinking a nice chilled pale rose, of course. They transcend our turbulent summertime weather and won’t bat an eyelid when married with many layers or simply bare-arms and a spritz of Iconic London’s Prep-Set-Glow (I love the Original, btw).

As fashion influencer and photographer Jessie Bush of @WeThePeopleStyle recently told Sheerluxe: “the Brits love to complain about the weather (I’m from New Zealand), but I personally love that you can wear knitwear year round here.” Jessie’s colour-riot collection hook-up with cult brand KITRI certainly shows how to take wow-knitwear into spring/summer seamlessly.

As for the one I currently have on repeat, I picked it up in H&M back in September and it’s still going strong. Ok, the bobble comb has been hard at work but there’s a reason it’s such an easy piece to wear (a ridiculously good neutral tone, longline and with a satisfying sturdy ribbed knit). It’s no wonder it keeps being restocked… and restocked. Now on site in three colours.

And while Brit label Molly Goddard brings the colour pop via burgundy and bright pink stripes, Danish brand Munthe lends a 90’s grunge feel with sugary rainbow flecks delicately peppering a natural stone knit. A firm favourite at expertly curated fashion boutique Studio B, swing by to be first to snag some of the more off-radar knitted vests on offer.

Take the sports luxe route by making yours the final layer on lounge co-ords or try a crisp boyfriend shirt under when you next reach for your raw hem jeans. Go simple and keep things clean and minimal by styling your knit with classic, slick shapes like tailored trousers, tees and silk. Finish with knotted leather sliders. While playing around with meadow-floral patterned dresses underneath and letting folksy lace collars peep out will bring that enviable Cottagecore romance to the table. Finally, lose the coat and let your vest keep you toasty instead. It’s time.

This way for my edit of more great spring/summer tops and basics perfect for layering.