Sweater Vests: Rick Santorum's Style Is A Movie & TV Staple (PHOTOS)

Rick Santorum's unlikely success in Iowa last week was very bad news for fellow GOP presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, as it stole their spotlight in the race to be the social conservative candidate. Santorum's victory, however very good news for fans of the sweater vest; it put the national heat lamp squarely on the chest-hugging fashion choice long beloved by dads and people who hate shopping.

The wool, sleeveless garment has become Santorum's sartorial trademark, the center of his bible study style. A solid, paternal choice for his Focus on the Family-approved campaign, the former Senator has made jokes on the campaign trail about his vest, and brave news reporters have focused intently on his rotating collection of form-fitting fuzzies (it even has its own Twitter feed). But in the interest of accuracy, the clear goal of all presidential election coverage, it should be noted that Santorum is less a trailblazer than he is a trend follower when it comes to the sweater vest.

Hollywood has long relied on the sweater vest to outfit some of its most outlandish characters. From the down home dad (Bill Cosby) to the nerd (Rick Moranis in "Little Shop of Horrors") to even the cool guy (Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry, Brad Pitt in "Inglorious Basterds"), the silver and small screens are a bastion for sweater vest aficionados.

In the spirit of both award season and election season, we've gone back and chosen some of the greatest TV and film sweater vests of the past forty years. Vote for your favorite, or suggest your own in the comments.

Comments

[jsgaetano]

02:25 AM on 01/12/2012

Rick Santorum seems much to "in the log cabin" to be a regular Republican.

[adougie21]

09:42 AM on 01/12/2012

He gets his outfits from Jim Tressell aka " the Sweater Vest"

[Nick Berggren]

01:03 AM on 01/12/2012

Sweater vests with sweater shorts, too matchy-matchy?

[Wookiee1972]

08:38 PM on 01/11/2012

Where the heck is Dean Venture?

[jsgaetano]

02:26 AM on 01/12/2012

Doesn't he wear a onesie now?

[jsgaetano]

02:27 AM on 01/12/2012

Actually, maybe that's the solution- give Santorum a "Speed Suit".

[rockysparks]

01:52 PM on 01/11/2012

Here is the video that Herr Santorum listens to when he gets up in the morning and gets ready for work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp3Txy0dA6Y

[gerryjim]

12:51 PM on 01/11/2012

The sweater vest gives Santorum the look of a decent and appealing man. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact he is a bigoted homophobic man, and a danger to civil rights.

[yolo112]

12:02 PM on 01/11/2012

We should all wear sweater vests. Like 'No pants on the subway day' lets adopt a day and wear our best sweater vest...yeah?

[jsgaetano]

02:28 AM on 01/12/2012

Yyyyeeee.... no.

[yolo112]

11:44 AM on 01/12/2012

Awww, man...so no Sweater Vest Sundays?? *sigh* ..my day is ruined..

[RenoSage]

11:24 AM on 01/11/2012

Benign appearance is trumped by vicious verbiage.

[jsgaetano]

02:28 AM on 01/12/2012

It's the banality of evil. Look at Tucker Carlson, for example.

[frant52]

11:23 AM on 01/11/2012

Sweater vests pop up every few decades, but they've not been cool since the 30's. Santorum on the other hand has never been cool, but rather a narrow-minded spiteful and judgemental little person. Why is he being taken seriously?

[Dragline]

11:23 AM on 01/11/2012

That didn't look like an Arrested Development clip.

[intelsec]

11:18 AM on 01/11/2012

santorum is yesterdays news.

[Bob McEntyre]

10:30 AM on 01/11/2012

Sweater vests are a 1970s look,which tells you where Rick mentality is still stuck,this guy is so out of touch with the 21th Century.But there are alot of suckers out there willing to folk out 100.00 for a sweater vests,only to think that they are cool.Rick using these vests as a prop to make people think he really the man for the office of the White House.Its just another costume like GW Bush and his cowboy outfit.And stupid Americans who have nothing else to do with there wealth are buying into this garbage.

[ReadMyLipstick1]

10:02 AM on 01/11/2012

It is going to take more than a sweater vest and a look of peacefulness to solve this problem. Mr. Ricky will gather votes from the group of people who share his beliefs but I still believe there are more really good people who know what values Mr. Ricky lacks.

[BabylonDon]

09:24 AM on 01/11/2012

There is only one sweater vest that's ever been okay, and it belonged to Mike Ditka.
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nfl_experts__4/ept_sports_nfl_experts-108797505-1216921945.jpg?ym2_WrADRlPgdYtD

[Pennsylvanianne]

09:20 AM on 01/11/2012

IMHO, Santorum adopted the sweater vest as a variation of the most famous sweater-wearing Pittsburgher of all, the late Mr. Rogers. Santorum, who lived in the Pgh. area for awhile, is trying to look as gentle and caring as Fred Rogers always was, but I'm afraid his policies are not as gentle and caring as the inimitable Mr. Rogers.

[ReadMyLipstick1]

09:57 AM on 01/11/2012

I think you're really on to something. No question but what Mr. Rick needs a really good image, but I totally agree, a nice sweater vest cannot obscure his true values. (Nice to comment again, sorry unable to re-fan!)

[jsgaetano]

09:05 AM on 01/11/2012

I remember John McCain's statements about "gay sweaters". No wonder he bit his tongue and endorsed Robamney.