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ROAD TEST
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STYLEUPGRADE
Wear a statement necklace and stackedheel boots so your Saturday look can segue from afternoon to night.
HOWTO WEAR
1 2 3
NICE EXTRA
A soft knit fabric offers extra warmth (helpful if you’re going sleeveless).
fashion
FIT TIP
Stick with a slim top to offset the volume of the vest and the pants.
LONG VESTS
With fabric for days, these dramatic cuts may feel intimidating, butthey’re actuallyvery figure-forgiving, because they skim over the tummy, the hips, and the thighs. “Pear shapes can add a belt to accentuate a smallerwaist,” says Randi Packard, a NewYork City–based fashion market editor.
HOWTO WEAR THEM
1 CASUAL A structured black vest gets a laidback, 70s vibe when it’s worn over a breezy tunic dress and flared jeans. Babaton for Aritzia vest, $245, aritzia.com. Zara dress. Gap pants. White House Black Market necklace. Joie boots. 2 DRESSY Be bold yet elegant in a classic plaid. Sure, you could stick with all black underneath, but icy pink and navy adds artsy flair. Vest, $118, bcbgeneration.com. Tory Burch top. Harvey Faircloth pants. Morning Lavender necklace. Skagen bag. Andrew Kayla heels. 3 WORK A cream vest is the perfect gateway item to transition from winter to spring. For now, pair it with neutral basics; save colorful florals for warm days. Vest, $119, anntaylor. com. By Malene Birger top. Nautica pants. By Tory Burch bag. Chico’s bracelet. Rockport flats.
TO BUY, OUTFIT NO.1: DRESS, $30, ZARA.COM. PANTS, $70, GAP.COM. NECKLACE, $55, WHBM.COM. BOOTS, $385, JOIE.COM . OUTFIT NO.2: TOP, $195, TORYBURCH.COM. HARVEY FAIRCLOTH PANTS, $495, RONHERMAN.COM. NECKLACE, $35, MORNINGLAVENDER.COM. BAG, $265, SKAGEN.COM. HEELS, $350, ANDREWKAYLA.COM. OUTFIT NO.3: BY MALENE BIRGER TOP, $695, KATIABOUTIQUE.COM. PANTS, $128, NAUTICA.COM. BRACELET, $49, CHICOS.COM. BAG, $495, TORYBURCH.COM. ROCKPORT FLATS, $110, NORDSTROM.COM.
HOWTO WEAR
STYLEUPGRADE
Mirror the length of the vest by opting for a long necklace. 1 2 3 FIT TIP To help mask the midsection, pick a longish top, so its hem meets the vest’s.
fashion
NICE EXTRA
These pockets are roomy enough for a smartphone, keys, and cash (yes, all at once).
MIDLENGTH VESTS
Not too long and not too short, these justright silhouettesoffer tons of outfitversatility. Butskip midcuts ifyou’re heavier on the bottom—the fabricwill “pool” and emphasizeyour rear,warns Monica Barnett, the chief image curator of the blog Blueprint forStyle and the authorof the stylebook Without Saying aWord.
HOWTO WEAR THEM
1 DRESSY For a chic dinner-party look, layer creatively: a silk shell and a cropped brocade waistcoat under a vest. Vest, $100, zara.com. Zara waistcoat. Eileen Fisher blouse. Banana Republic pants. Sequin earrings. Steve Madden heels. 2 CASUAL A vest can also keep an outfit from looking too prim. See how it chills out a buttondown/tweed-skirt combo? Vest, $194, 525 america. com. 7 For All Mankind shirt. Clear by Kai Milla skirt. Lulu Frost necklace. Poverty Flats by Rian bag. Klub Nico flats. 3 WORK Bring some serious structure to a swingy, springy dresswith this army-inspired style. Heeled sandals and gold accents keep it ladylike. Vest, $285, brooke atwood.com. The Limited dress. R.J. Graziano bracelet.StuartWeitzman heels. Karen Walker bag.
TO BUY, OUTFIT NO.1: WAISTCOAT, $129, ZARA.COM. BLOUSE, $138, EILEENFISHER.COM. PANTS, $110, BANANAREPUBLIC.COM. EARRINGS, $198, SEQUIN-NYC.COM. HEELS, $110, STEVEMADDEN.COM. OUTFIT NO.2: SHIRT, $179, 7FORALLMANKIND.COM. SKIRT, $545, CLEARBYKAIMILLA.COM. NECKLACE, $395, LULUFROST.COM. BAG, $68, POVERTYFLATSBYRIAN.COM. KLUB NICO FLATS, $146, SOFTSURROUNDINGS.COM. OUTFIT NO.3: DRESS, $110, THELIMITED.COM. BRACELET, $45, RJGRAZIANO.COM. BAG, $297, KARENWALKER.COM. HEELS, $425, STUART WEITZMAN, 312-649-0090.
FIT TIP
The vest’s open front adds volume and shape to a straight frame.
STYLEUPGRADE
Balance a cropped vest with a slightly longer top underneath.
2 1 3
NICE FEATURE
The rich navy leather is an upscale update to basic black.
SHORT VESTS
Longer lengths may be the trend du jour, but these abbreviated cutswill have the strongest style longevity of the bunch,says Chicago-based stylist Noelle Cellini,the founder of theStyleAcademy, an online style school. Because ofwhere the hem hits, though, thosewith a largebust or tummy maywant to avoid this silhouette.
HOWTO WEAR THEM
1 DRESSY The luxurious (faux!) shearling brings a modern edginess to a sophisticated, bodygrazing sheath dress. Vest, $89, urbanoutfitters. com. O’2nd dress. Chloe & Isabel necklace. L.K. Bennett clutch. Dolce Vita heels. 2 CASUAL Here’s how you take your jeans look to the next level. The scarf’s watercolor print makes the pink vest pop. Vest, $450, rebecca taylor.com. Karen Kane top. Earl Jean pants. Simply Vera Vera Wang scarf. Poverty Flats by Rian bag. Rockport flats. 3 WORK Offset the vest’s boxy shape and sleek zippers by layering slim-fit, conservative work staples underneath. The sweater’s high neckline keeps the look from being too busy. Lauren Ralph Lauren vest, $498, bloomingdales. com. G-Star sweater. Odeeh skirt. Aldo heels.
TO BUY, OUTFIT NO.1: O’2ND DRESS, $525, ELEMENTS, 214-987-0837. NECKLACE, $88, CHLOEANDISABEL.COM. CLUTCH, $345, LKBENNETT.COM. HEELS, $120, DOLCEVITA.COM. OUTFIT NO.2: KAREN KANE TOP, $89, BLOOMINGDALE’S, 800-777-0000. EARL JEAN PANTS, $54, MACYS.COM. SIMPLY VERA VE RA WANG SCARF, $32, KOHLS.COM. BAG, $88, POVERTYFLATSBYRIAN.COM. ROCKPORT FLATS, $110, ZAPPOS.COM. OUTFIT NO.3: SWEATER, $160, G-STAR.COM. ODEEH SKIRT, $525, ESTI’S, 516-374-1054. HEELS, $90, ALDO.COM.
