Instead of looking to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Bryant Park, which was hosted from Sept. 10 to 17 in New York City, or the recent and more local Boston Fashion Week held from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, all the fashion insight you seek this fall may be right in front of your eyes. Whether it is on your way up the Rabb steps, in the Usdan Student Center for lunch or passing through the Shapiro Campus Center, fashionable students thrive at Brandeis. After purchasing a latte from Einstein Bros. Bagels and taking a seat, I was temporarily distracted from my newspaper by the plethora of vests on campus. Vests are traditionally worn in menswear; the three-piece suit consists of a jacket, vest and trousers. Prof. Tom King (ENG) and Jared Hite '10 embrace the traditional look, while Kanya Marcelin '10 looks chic in a menswear-inspired fashion statement sans jacket, which makes the vest a true statement piece. Jonathan Lopez '11 adds a casual spin on the once-serious attire with Converse sneakers and a cheerful attitude. Kasey Gieschen '10, however, feminizes her look with a denim miniskirt, while Ida Chelengar '12 adds a punk edge to a once conservative look. The sweater vest is exemplified in a bright purple ensemble on Nathan J. Robinson '11, while Ari Salinger '12 proves sweater vests can also look great in a neutral color scheme reminiscent of Meryl Streep's wardrobe collection in the 1985 film Out of Africa. Students and professors on campus are inventing unique ways to dress up and add dimension to their outfits with vests. Next time you go shopping, consider investing in a vest. Fashion is not always about function. Yes, your North Face jacket and sweatpants may be comfortable, but you may get some double takes when you roll up to class in a ballerina skirt, body-hugging long-sleeved shirt and vest. Not only will your confidence soar, but you may not be so inclined to fall asleep in class as when you're wearing those oversized garments you rolled out of bed in.