Vested Interest: 10 Real-Girl Ways to Style the Denim Vest

The denim jacket knows no style boundary. Work your true-blue topper with leather pants and ankle boots for an off-duty-rocker vibe, go girlie with a floral Summer dress, or double down with a chambray shirt. The possibilities appear to be endless — until Summer hits. When the temps climb to 92°F, with a pleasant 71 percent humidity, the last thing you want to do is wrap up in a bulky, nonbreathable fabric, but what's a denim-lover to do? That's easy — you turn to the denim jacket's cooler, literally and sartorially, younger sister: the denim vest.

I know what you're thinking: "Am I starring in a remake of The Dukes of Hazzard?" No, you're not — though we believe Jessica Simpson as Daisy Buchanan is solely responsible for the resurrection of Daisy Dukes. A denim vest is just as versatile, if not more, than a jean jacket. We are firm believers in the power of layering, and we can't think of a better way to beat the heat while remaining chic.

To prove our thesis, we propositioned 10 of our editors to fashion and illustrate a diverse collection of styles centered around the denim vest. Prepare to be inspired!Photos: Grace Hitchcock, Randy Miller