Worth the InVESTment?

By glancing at photos of my middle school years, it is clear that this gal has never said no to a good vest. Aside from the fact that a very fetching maroon knit vest that accompanied my school uniform, every fall meant purchasing a brand new puffer vest for the cooler months. 

Although this puffer vest fascination waned throughout my formative years (although never fully disappeared), the next vest purchases were during my college years and were an army cargo vest, a leather moto vest (something I may not have worn as much as anticipated), and what girl didn't dabble in the faux-fur vest trend?

However, an emerging trend this fall has been of the more formal and longer length vest varieties. As I laid eyes upon these amazing structures of wool and leather, my vest obsession (obvestssion?) came hurdling back into view. 

...and also Olivia Palermo (aka my queen) rocked the heck out of an orange version which is reason enough to try it out.

DailyMail

Although initially, with my views of the traditional puffer vest fresh in my mind, these new silhouettes seemed more like sleeveless coats as opposed to vests, a distinction I realized that was only important in my own personal repertoire, really. 

With much help from an article on my favorite website (dare I say, of all time?), Refinery29, I have compiled a list of some of my favorites – from the affordable to the take-out-a-loan-dare-to-dream variety. 

Madewell

Ann Taylor

Topshop

Club Monaco

Mango

Urban Outfitters

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Summer Wish List

Making lists is somewhat of a passion of mine. To put it in perspective, I think I came out of the womb and probably checked "take first breath" off my mental to-do list. It's my most notable (and endearing? annoying?) Type-A quality.

This list-making fascination has come in quite handy when juggling classes, internships, a social life, and finances (a.k.a how exactly how many trips to the Whole Foods salad bar I can make in between paychecks). 

I have now started to make lists at the start of each season of what would ideally make its way into my closet sometime in the coming months. This keeps me focused and also helps me refrain from purchasing items purely out of impulse or because Olivia Palermo was wearing it in InStyle this week.
(The girl's got serious style, what can I say?)

For this summer, my list may not be extensive, but it is specific. It is as follows:

1. A light, draped trench coat

1 Rachel Zoe via Shopbop // 2 Haute Hippie via Shopbop // 3 NastyGal

Aside from the obvious aesthetic reasons I may wish to procure this item, I also think it will be my first step in owning a real-life grown up trench coat now that I am a post-grad. 

2. Metallic Pumps

1 Manolo Blahnik via Barneys // 2 Club Monaco // 3 J.Crew

Truth be told, these have been on my wish list for a couple of months, and only a few weeks ago did I finally bite the bullet and buy the J.Crew version, pictured as #3 here. I have only had them in my possession for about two weeks, but they are already one of my more used summer heels. 

3. High-Waisted Dark(ish) Denim

1 Levi's // 2 H&M // 3 H&M

For whatever reason, I don't own a pair of these suckers. I know this isn't the most summer-themed item, but I think that high-waisted denim is the perfect complement to any summer top for a night out. The days may be sweltering, but I somehow always feel the chill enough to wish I had worn pants out. 

4. LWD (Little White Dress)

1 Dolce Vita via Bloomingdales // 2 Zara // 3 Urban Outfitters

This is the item on my list I am a little less specific about. To be honest, I'm not sure what kind of LWD  I am after, although it seems I have a sleeveless theme here.

5. Floral Skirt

1 Givenchy via Selfridges // 2 ASOS // 3. Jealous Tomato via Piperlime

Floral skirts such as these remind me of Joan in Mad Men, only instead of strutting around an office, I hope to don one of them to a day at the Saratoga Race Track sometime this summer. The print will also distract everyone from my obviously bleak expression when I lose all of my money whilst there!

So that's my wish list, it is ever-growing and ever-edited depending on my mood and the day. I will plan on doing one of these before every season. 

(sort of doing this in the throws of summer, but you can't win them all!)

What's on your list?! What am I missing from mine!?

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