Do you ever feel like you can’t pull something off? Have trendy pieces in your closet that you would never have the courage to actually wear out? Well take those pieces out, shake off the dust, and continue reading!

In this series, I will choose a different piece that can be difficult to incorporate into an outfit and give you ideas on how to wear it. If there’s anything you would like to read about in the future, please leave a comment!

One of my favorite layering pieces this fall is the sweater vest. It’s so versatile - you can wear it with practically anything and anywhere. Sweater vests should no longer be associated with something your grandpa would wear, because this fall they will be everywhere, in all shapes, lengths, colors, and patterns. With so many options available, it gets confusing to pick out the perfect items to pair with your vest.

1. To work: When you head to your job/internship, you can rock a sweater vest the traditional way. Layer a collared blouse underneath and throw on a pair of dress pants. To avoid being boring and librarian-esque, think about playing around with colors too; the under shirt doesn’t have to be white! Here are some sweater vests that are perfect for work (1. Old Navy, 2. Forever 21).

2. When you’re going to class or out shopping for the day, you can get a little more trendy with the sweater vest. Try a cropped style over a basic white top with jeans, or a longer cardigan style vest with leggings. There aren’t really any specific rules on how to wear this look - almost anything will work. The one guideline you should follow is this: if your vest makes a statement on its own (i.e. with an argyle pattern or oversized buttons), keep the layer underneath it simple. If the vest is plain, feel free to pair it with something a little more interesting (like the plaid shirt the model is wearing with this Joie cashmere vest from Nordstrom.

If you don’t own a vest already, get one! There are so many options to choose from right now, so you are bound to find one that fits your personal style. Basic blacks and greys are great for sweater vests, but it’s also fun to add a little color to your outfit. Here are two really cute options from Robert Rodriguez on Bluefly.com (left), and Anthropologie (right).

And if you are on a budget (like me), here are two really cute cardigans from Target (left) and Forever 21 (right) which are both about $20.