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The Tweener-Season Vest

Demetri Martin, says that life vests protect you from drowning, bulletproof vests protect you from getting shot, and sweater vests protect you from pretty girls. I'm not advocating sweater vests here. But there are a few weeks at the beginning of winter and again mid-spring where a vest is the perfect pre and post-workout companion. You don't want to throw on a full coat. But you don't want to shiver as you walk home, either. And if you're walking, running, or biking outdoors, a vest spares you from overdressing and overheating — an easy mistakes early in the season when 50 degrees seems scary. 

Here, four appealing options....

• Nau's Down Vest. The company has a strict human rights and environmental code, so no kids went blind stitching your vest hem, and most of the materials the clothes are made from are recycled. Nice. But I tried on a bunch of items from the collection yesterday, and what's also nice is how legitimately cool the clothes make you feel. Funky lines, uniquely textured fabrics, you feel like you should be hiking but with a copy of Derrida in your pocket. 
• Athleta's Cascada Vest. Universally flattering dark teal color, curved lines and an actual waist. Cute. $59.
• Patagonia's Synchilla Fleece Vest. $75. Totally basic. But gives you that tomboy college look that's actually kinda appealing. And just the right weight for cool but not cold days.
• TKA Samantha 100 Vest. $50. Sleek, lightweight, and the fit is genuinely sexy. Okay, sexy with a fleece discount. But that's still saying a lot.

And a few I think are silly but include for your consideration nonetheless:

• The Huff N Puff from Lululemon. Transforms your body into a Stay Puff marshmallow. My theory: If you need that much padding, you need a coat. $148.
• Old Navy Shiny Frost Free Quilted Vest. Love the price. But it looks a little too much like a sleeping bag. Still, $29.50. 
• J. Crew's Sherpa Puffer Vest. Looks cute on the model with a skinny yellow belt wrapped around it, but have you ever actually worn a removable belt around outerwear? I have, and undoing the belt makes you feel like you're stripping in public. Awkward. $118.