Best Sweater Vests For Fall 2012

Sweater vests were once reserved for dads, stodgy prepsters, and Doug Funnie, but this season, they've taken on a whole new meaning. We're especially smitten with the recent crop of sleek, sophisticated sweater vests that are more modern hipster than Ivy League princess — brands like Theory, J.Crew, and Joseph are offering up vibrant, cozy pieces that perfectly fuse the classic silhouette with fresh fabrics and patterns. Of course, it's all about the styling with these: we love the look of a crisp white button-down topped with a colorful sweater vest, but it's also quite cool to mix it up by layering one with a fitted long-sleeved tee, and cinching it at the waist with a leopard-print belt. No matter how you wear it, the sweater vest is shaping up to be one of the coolest, easiest ways to show your preppy side without going too Blair Waldorf. We've rounded up eight pieces that will go with everything from boyfriend jeans to leather skirts — click through to shop them all now.