1 Vest, 10 Styles
Participants: Leila Bakilana-Ritz, Giuliana Ferrigno, EJ Del Rosario, Emme Serafino, Delaney Gruver, Sadie Patterson, Willie McCullough, Lex Gorman, Ellie Engleka, Abel Teclemariam
Are you easygoing? Shy? Imaginative? Energetic? Chances are, it comes across in the way that you dress yourself. Personality shines through fashion, and individual style should be celebrated and encouraged. Fashion is an incredibly versatile medium, so the options are virtually limitless when it comes to styling one singular garment. To showcase this diverse yet personal side of fashion, I pulled an article of clothing from my closet and asked 10 people to style it in their own distinct way.
The article of clothing in question is a Wilson’s black leather vest that I purchased for $2 from the men’s sale section of a thrift store 4 years ago. Neutral in color but bold in texture, this vest is unisex and size-adjustable, with a classic grunge yet adaptable feel. The styling options for any article of clothing are vast, but a vest has particularly endless possibilities – it can be worn open, buttoned, cinched in at the back, and layered over or under a variety of garments.
I gave 10 individuals complete freedom to craft an outfit with this same vest according to their personal style – this is what they came up with.
Leila
“The components outside of clothing matter a lot to me. I would separate it into makeup, accessories, and hair because hair is such an integral part of my identity and looks. My hair determines what I’m going to wear that day a lot of the time.”
Pulling from the Y2K-inspired, maximalist, highly feminine aspects of her style, Leila embraces the versatility of the vest by pairing its grunge undertones with a delicate pair of kitten heels and leg warmers. Referencing 70s stars like Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin and “popstar and R&B influences from Y2K,” she further crafts her look through timeless makeup and refined silver accessories.
Giuliana
“I feel like I switch up my style depending on what I’m in phase-wise, like what movie I’m specifically watching, what type of music I’m listening to at that time...I have a lot of statement pieces, so I think that that conveys that I am outgoing and loud, bubbly, I guess.”
Giuliana’s styling of the vest is grounded in her love of statement pieces, including “witchy influences” and significant inspiration from the '70s. With a variety of patterns, textures, and layering, her eclectic look blends nostalgic references with modern notes, capturing the lively, charismatic side of her style and personality.
EJ
“My philosophy for the way I dress comes from Maison Margiela...They have an emphasis on wearing their clothes and showing the wear in them to tell stories about a person. So in terms of my clothes, I like to wear the fuck out of them.”
“Morning brunch in Paris” is the vibe that EJ intends to convey through this layered outfit. His versatile style is influenced by his travels and the aesthetic values of his favorite brands and designers, including Maison Margiela, Issey Miyake, and Missoni, all of which he is wearing in this look.
Emme
“Honestly, I am a follower of what’s being forecasted to be trending, simply just being a FIM student…my academics influence what I wear. Especially color and texture. Working in retail, I see what’s trending so much.”
Emme describes her style as consistently girly, in line with trends, and deeply informed by her love for accessories, particularly jewelry and handbags. Bringing a fresh, feminine silhouette and a symphony of textures to her look, she blends sophistication and playfulness in a way that feels both on-trend and original.
Delaney
“People always compare my style to Hannah Montana a lot. Paris Hilton, I definitely look at for inspiration; I love her.”
Sequins, Paris Hilton, “Rockstar Girlfriend.” These are all words that Delaney associates with her heavily feminine and Y2K-inspired style. Wearing the vest with a sparkly top in her favorite color, teal blue, and a coordinating pair of leather mini-shorts, she seamlessly integrates a grungy, biker edge into her glittery look.
Willie
“I like very stylish but comfortable clothes. I kind of gravitate towards a lot of streetwear… baggy tees, baggy jeans, simple shoes, and then I go all out with jewelry usually.”
Inspired by the fashion of the early to mid- '90s and early 2000s, Willie references NSYNC and Bratz boys as influences on his wardrobe. With this look, he channels an “office siren” touch to his neutral-toned streetwear style, using the vest to create a shaped silhouette.
Ellie
“I think subconsciously, growing up, I did always admire the sort of ‘businesswoman’ look. I do think that that’s kind of influenced part of what I like to wear.”
Structured pieces, texture-mixing, and “dark, autumn-y colors” are all key parts of Ellie’s style. Citing Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes as inspiration, she layers the vest in a professional yet youthful way, bringing a funky edge to an otherwise business casual-forward look.
Sadie
“I take a lot of inspiration from 90s media, but it’ll always end up being very modern whatever I put together. I like dark colors and metals and stuff like that, but I don’t really have a specific word to describe my style...Definitely Buffy the Vampire Slayer for overall style and aesthetic.”
Sadie’s style, characterized by dark colors, chunky metal accessories, and a nod to '90s aesthetics, takes on a modernized Western flair with this look. Strategically layering form-fitting garments with oversized, draped pieces, she crafts a creatively balanced mix of proportions.
Lex
“I like to draw a line between masculine and feminine outfits. I feel like it really just depends on how I’m feeling that day. I think most of my wardrobe is made up of basics I consistently wear and then a few fun, eclectic pieces.”
With a style built on basics, comfort, and androgyny, Lex’s look is relaxed and simple yet tailored. Taking inspiration from the vest's punk, leather, and masculine elements, she spices it up with silver jewelry and her signature oversized sunglasses.
Abel
Describes his style as “Baggy as fuck. I pay attention to color theory a lot, so I guess that kind of comes through in the styling. I've been making a lot of clothes, so I've been wearing a lot of the stuff that I've been making.”
Comfort, texture, bagginess, and a keen focus on cut and color are key aspects of Abel’s approach to fashion. Pairing the vest with a coordinated leather bag, shoes, and a shirt that he designed and created himself, his subtle creativity and style synchronization shine through in this look.