Where to Find a Cotton Vest

I was going to buy a vest the other day. It was a long, soft sweater vest with a nice stripe pattern. I saw it on the hanger looking all drapey and sort of shapeless and hung it up in fear of what it would look like on me. If it looked that bad on the hanger, I doubted it would look any better on me.

The sweater vest is something you see more and more in the stores, but you don't see too many real people on the street wearing it. Perhaps for the same reason I just pointed out above. But the look is actually flattering once you find the right vest for you.

Here are some suggestions on where to find a cotton vest.

Fluxus: I love the look of this sweater. First off, it has a plunging neckline making it a good look with a tank top or spaghetti strap shirt. Plus, I like the bold colors, such as red and blue. The other detail that is nice is that this vest has a banded bottom meaning it doesn't just fall to a straight-edge hem, so it provides a more fitted look - rather than being boxy. This is by Fluxus and is called the "Papa" vest. At $65, it's a little pricey. If you have the money to spend, by all means, this is a good pick. But if you're a little short on cash, you can definitely find a knock-off elsewhere.

Price: $65

Where: singer22.com

Colors: grey, white, blue, purple

Dare to Dream: Well, let's just start off with the fact that this is $264. Yes, it's pricey, but it's so nice. This is a cable knit vest with a tie at the waste and a hood. Plus, it has two small, droopy pockets on the front and looks great with jeans. It's a little bit of a dressier version of the sweater vest.

Price: $264

Where: shopgoldyn.com

Color: Taupe

Retro: This knit vest is light and airy with its loose knit design and one-button closure detail. This would look great over a floral dress. Plus, you can't beat the price. The good thing about this is that it is somewhat fitted and sits on your body sort of snugly (probably because it's junior sizes), but this way you avoid the baggy, saggy look.

Price: $24.99

Where: charlotte-russe.com

Color: coffee brown

Prepster: This cable knit sweater from Heritage 1981 (Forever 21's more grown-up brand), has a crest detail and two-tone color scheme making it look like something right out of a school uniform catalogue. This has a banded bottom for a more fitted look and would look nice with a white tank top or Hanes undershirt tee. Avoid pairing with a white button-down shirt - you want to avoid the "I'm going to a private school" look. The vest comes in two different color schemes. I personally like the grey/navy color, because it has a punchy coral in it that makes it look more appropriate for the street rather than classroom.

Price: $19.90

Where: forever21.com/heritage1981

Color: cream/navy, grey/navy.

Structured: Although, this is a knit vest, it does have a little more structure than the softer, draping styles of most knit vests. What's cool is that the back is shorter than the front, and the back is woven. The front is made of a soft cotton - almost like a twill. There are front pockets with rouching detail on the shoulders. The bold "cherry" color would look good for spring and summer.

Price: $19.95

Where: freepeople.com

Color: cherry, silver

DIY: Into doing things yourselves? Then go to a fabric store like JoAnn, and grab a pattern to make your own vest in your own color and pattern.

Where: joann.com

Reuse: Urban Outfitters' Urban Renewal line took vintage shetland sweaters and converted them into vests with a shawl collar and ribbed bottom detail. This looks good with a dress, and if you're into buying recycled clothing - well, here's one take on that. No vest is exactly the same as the colors vary slightly.

Price: $58

Where: urbanoutfitters.com

Color: Brown