STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: The Little Vest That Could

Cutting to the chase: denim vests are perfection. They’re even better when they’re from Madewell. The icing on the cake? Finding this vest for $14 at a New York thrift store. Meet my red, white and blue Fashionista. She began her outfit with a chiffon red and white striped blouse. Pairing dark denim on the bottom with some high brown boots, this stylish undergrad is ready to conquer the day.

What caught my attention was that she didn’t stop there. While the striped chiffon and dark denim would have made a very classy outfit, she decided to be an over-achiever and turn this ensemble into A+ material. This Madewell denim vest is the ying to her chiffon’s yang. It is the perfect shade to be worn on top of eye-catching patterns. This Fashionista took a mainstream piece (the vest) and turned it into the ultimate accessory.

And she wasn't done yet. To complete the look, she added a chunky, bedazzled leaf necklace, which hangs on a beautifully vintage-colored chain. Viola! You cannot tell me she doesn’t look adorable. Classic pieces coming together to create a modernized feel will put a smile on any fashion-lover’s face.

To put this beautiful vest into perspective, you can buy one right now for $88, so this Fashionista’s thrifty find was kind of a big deal. Any chiffon shirt would work to create this look, but I like the idea of using patterns. Polyvore has creative chiffon patterns that aren’t overly busy. Dark denim is a must when flaunting a light denim vest. As for her brown boots, Charlotte Russe has a great boot selection (and usually some sort of BOGO deal or discount as well).

Snaps for Miss Patriotic. The pieces she wears would have been great standing on their own, but they come together to create a truly original outfit. For her success, I whole-heartedly believe she has that little denim vest to thank.