2016 ended with a much needed wardrobe decompression, as I am often guilty of buying clothes only for them to just sit in my closet and collect dust. So, 2017 starts me off with a cleaner, roomier closet with only my most worn pieces and essentials. Among these essentials are vests! If I could attach four keywords to my style as of late, they would definitely be vests, layering, booties, and beanies.

I was never a fan of any of those four words. Growing up, my style offered comfort and, well, embarrassment now that I look back at it. I would never be caught in a vest because then I would have to layer and find something to go under it, and why go through all this trouble when I can slip into a nice, easy baggy sweatshirt, right? Now as a more enlightened Fashionista, I don’t mind—in fact—I love putting in that extra effort and thought into creating a look with layers. Vests have been my absolute favorite piece to wear lately, and I am the proud owner of six. Whether it is a lighter vest paired over top a sweater or turtleneck or a heavier vest to layer over light jackets, I love the structured touch it adds to any outfit.

I love the flexibility of vests in their ability to complement any type of outfit. As someone who is all over the place when it comes to style, I appreciate a vest that can be worn over a relaxed, athleisure look one day and with a put together, layered look the next day. So on a day where I am simply out running errands in a pair of leggings, a light hoodie, and sneakers, I love throwing on a vest for extra warmth and flair. While on another day where I might be grabbing lunch with friends or out shopping, I love throwing on a vest over a button-down or flannel with some jeans and riding boots. The possibilities with this piece are seemingly endless and I love its versatility, which attributes to why they survived my big end-of-the-year closet clean out.

This look embodies how I usually style my vests. For this outfit, I paired a quilted vest with a beige cardigan and a simple button-down. To finish off the look, I added some lace-up booties and a vintage Gucci cross-body bag. The winter weather in New Jersey, while certainly nothing short of unpredictable, has had very harsh and cold phases. Another essential found in my closet are beanies, and I particularly love the oversize, slouchy style. This gray beanie adds not only warmth but makes the outfit cozier and more casual in contrast to the button-down shirt.

I hope you guys enjoyed this little inside scoop on my personal style, but enough about me. Stay tuned—I can’t wait to share with you guys the eye-catching outfits and styles that Rutgers has to offer!