My new friend and I were discussing a local boutique we both frequented, when I confessed that I usually pass up the front-of-the-store, age-appropriate stuff and head straight to the back where the contemporary goods are stashed.

She agreed that she, too, often bypassed stuff she "should" be wearing because "The last thing I want to do is look frumpy."

Somewhere along the line, from young adulthood to middle age, some of us lost the delicate art of layering.

Let me illustrate.

While the typical teen happily mixes and matches (a key component to layering correctly), the average middle-age woman feels much less confident about thinking outside the fashion box. Which is why you see so many 50-year-old women reach for a cardigan and call it layering.

Layering is a great way to stay warm. But it's also a way to really express your individuality and put a unique spin on whatever you are wearing.

I am officially over the cardigan.

A few weeks ago, on a particularly chilly day, I tried on dozens of cashmere cardigans and decided that I hated them all.

For starters, the traditional button-front cardigan doesn't go with anything I wear anymore. It's too short to look right over tunics, the sleeves are too slim to accommodate some of the fuller sleeve styles and well, it's a little boring to be quite honest.

The very first thing I bought myself to start off the fall season? Vests.

Vests are a great summer-into-fall look because they are so versatile. I plan on wearing my vests now with a short-sleeve tee, then switching to something long-sleeve when it cools off.

For us, the vest is more than just a fashion statement. It's also a great way to give that middle-age spread a little more coverage (an unbuttoned vest covers back fat and a wide waist.)

Here are some of the best new vests: