The vest is your friend–especially after the indulgent holidays. They say we have, “Friends for a reason, friends for a season, friends for a lifetime.” The vest may just be your Vest Friend Forever.
My connection with the vest began as a calculated move, steeped in, “What’s in it for me?” It didn’t grow out of a natural attraction, it began by using it to hide behind. I was originally drawn to that elongating center line, and the hip-hiding benefits. In the early days of the friendship–the discovery phase–I gushed to another friend, “It takes off 10 pounds!”
But it turns out that the vest is more, it’s a complex, interesting friend; one day it can be a hero, the next a great comfort, or it can be a completer.
These stunning, plumaged Sandra Mansour vests in the cover image, and below, are in the hero piece category; they’re the only one in the room, overshadowing everything else. It’s all about them, and there’s a lot of drama! They’re friends for a reason. But, think again before you put limits on the friendship. Hero pieces draw attention and interesting people to the group, because they are always on. Sometimes it’s nice to leave the gregarious personality to someone else, sit back and just be…be basic, like our friends Jeans & Button-down. The hero piece does the work, we get the benefit.
The faux fur vest is a high-functioning friend, providing comfort, plus warmth. It’s a relationship that exists just for the season. Is it because this one is a little complicated? Beneath the pile there’s luxury, style, something out of the ordinary. Never to be accused of being a fair weather friend, the affection is intense. But, by spring we’re ready to lighten up, have more freedom and we want the livin’ easy.
The lifelong friend, the VFF of the group is the one who’s always there for you, flexible in any situation. The structured, sleeveless blazer, or the novelty vest are both a completer piece that is a tried and true friend, that always has our back. It’s a go-getter when we need structure to pull together a professional look, or it can be mellow, hang out and be cool. Whatever the vibe, this style of vest completes outfits, brings everything together. It can work with maximal personalities, but pare back to the minimum when asked to. This well-rounded friend can shift as we need, but has visible limits and boundaries to keep the relationship consistent.
Finally, we keep coming back to the hero piece–drawn back to it again and again. It beckons, so enticing, so beautiful–tempting us to think it can adapt. But it’s us who need to change and risk. Remember, it’s a friend for a reason. It pushes us out of our comfort zone. We want to indulge, but we’re scared–it’s over the top. While knowing it won’t work in a day-to-day relationship, we can have an appreciation for what it is and enjoy it on occasion.
A variety of vests in our lives meet a desire to connect (pieces into outfits) and shine. Our relationship takes many forms, but through it all, the vest is our friend.