I used to have a particular navy vest (or tank top, or sleeveless sweater, depending on where you are) that I wore all the time in my late twenties. It was the perfect thing to put on when I got home, replacing the suit jacket or blazer that I then hung up. 

Pleasingly, it was equally nice with an oxford shirt and jeans at the weekend, and unusually it was something my wife thought very flattering. It seemed to me look both broader and taller. 

Spurred by the appearance of such pieces in shop windows last year, I thought it would be a nice piece to recreate. Like most high-street menswear, the ones I saw weren’t very thoughtfully designed. They had a very high ‘V’ at the neck, were small in the shoulders, and looked almost round in the body. 

I think a deeper V is more flattering. Not necessarily as deep as a Rubato one, but rather deeper than average – so it follows the lines of an open-necked shirt, rather than cutting it short; and so a tie has room to breathe if you want to wear one. 

I also prefer a wider shoulder. There is a practical argument for a narrow one, in that it’s a little easier under a tailored jacket (like a waistcoat). But once tailoring is more casual the difference fades, and this piece is something I think readers will wear just as much, if not more, with a casual jacket or on its own. 

So the cut of our cashmere vest is deliberately wide in the shoulder, with ribbing just overlapping the ends. It’s fairly wide and comfortable in the chest, and then has a normal taper into the waist, so it sits nicely on the waistband. 

The result is flattering shape I think, more akin to that of a shawl-collared cardigan or even a tailored jacket in terms of what it’s look.

We made our version in a mid-weight cashmere in Scotland, with a lovely soft finish. There’s fine ribbing on the neckline, and then a thicker one at the shoulders and the waist. 

The cashmere has a natural stretch to it, which is great for a piece like this as it’s something that should fit fairly close to the body, but then give and soften where it needs to.

In terms of sizing this means going for your normal size, even if the measurements look a bit small. I’m wearing a medium here, but that only measures 40 inches in the chest, one inch more than my actual chest. I could size up to large and it wouldn’t look wrong, just more relaxed, but this size works well on me.

Anyone who’s worn a vest or sleeveless sweater knows how practical something like this is. It’s a light layer of warmth on the body when you don’t want to climb into a full long-sleeved sweater; the Scottish mills call the style a ‘slipover’ for that reason.

It’s also good as a layering piece, under a blazer (I’ll do some shots/video of that later) and under a casual jacket (like the jungle jacket pictured higher up). It folds easily into a bag (like the Finest Crewneck in that way) but is warm enough to keep off the chill of an airplane cabin. 

I also think a fair few office workers among the readership will find it useful. Many wear gilets as it is, and prioritise ease and simplicity. This has both of those qualities – and even shades of that old old PS idea, the logical waistcoat theory. 

In the images here, as ever I’ve shown it with a smart and a casual option – smart with tailored high-twist trousers and black loafers, and casual with an oxford shirt and jeans at a weekend cafe. That was also it I was wearing in the shoot for the Wool Walker (above). 

I’ve been wearing my vest in just the same way as my old (lower quality) piece many years ago, to much satisfaction. It came with me to Zurich (where these pictures were taken) and then to Scotland. It’ll be great seeing readers try it on at the London and New York pop-ups in the coming weeks. 

The cashmere vest is both luxurious and practical – something PS products always strive for – and I think more stylish than most vests/slipovers/tank tops – which is what most pieces like this usually lack. 

I hope you like it. It’s available on the PS Shop now, and will be at:

• The London pop-up, 37 Harley Street, October 2-4
• The New York pop-up, 14 Christopher Street, October 16-18

Product details:

• Pure cashmere vest, knitted and hand-linked in Scotland
• Two-ply cashmere yarn with a soft finish
• Slightly extended shoulders and V-neck

Sizing:

• Simon is wearing a medium. He has a 39-inch chest
• Take your usual size, knit will stretch a little to fit
• Though between sizes, take the size up
• Measurements below are flat widths and lengths
• Chest measured from bottom of armhole, shoulder between seams, not including rib
• Depth of V-neck is 26cm throughout (measured from top of ribbing to bottom of ribbing)

Size chart: