Sequins and sunlight

(Priorities vest, Alice + Olivia sequin dress, J.Crew belt, Kenneth Cole boots, F21 glasses)

From that sharp bob cut she rocked in her "Umbrella" music video to the crimson corkscrew curls she sports today, Rihanna remains one of my all-time favorite celebrities who's constantly pushing the envelope, reinventing herself, taking risks. In the April 2011 issue of Vogue, she said,

"When I am putting looks together, I dare myself to make something work. I always look for the most interesting silhouette or something that’s a little off, but I have to figure it out. I have to make it me. I think that’s the thrill in fashion."

Rihanna has cobbled together looks that are inspiring and wildly creative, ones that make me think she's a kind of fashion genius. And then there are outfits that have left me confused or disappointed. But while another starlet strutting down the red carpet in a pretty LBD may look perfectly polished, Rihanna's never bored me with predictable style. So when I threw on this crazy ensemble - sequin mini dress, combat boots, a skinny fluorescent orange belt - I made sure to keep RiRi's words of wisdom in mind, daring myself to try and make it work!

America's Most Stylish Blogger Week #1: The boyfriend vest

Usually a boyfriend shirt or blazer or, in this case, vest translates into a laidback “I-just-grabbed-this-on-my-way-out-of-the-bf’s-apartment” vibe, but when I lifted the Priorities navy boyfriend vest out of the Bluefly.com box, I knew I wanted to dress it up. Los Angeles’s slightly cool fall weather called for a mustard yellow tweed skirt, ankle lace-up boots and just one extra delicious, over the top detail—a cascade of silk organza ivory ruffles.

The menswear-inspired Priorities vest is an incredibly versatile layering piece. Made of stretch gabardine, its lightweight enough for the warmer months, but perfect right now for pairing with fall-friendly fabrics. I added vintage pins on the lapel for a bit of sparkle, then tossed on a skinny belt for ladylike flair. The finishing touch? A pair of geek chic frames! An avid reader since the age of four, I used to wear thick glasses everywhere (very likely a result of reading under the covers way past my bedtime), but I’ve avoided them since the introduction of contact lenses. However, I wanted to embrace my inner bookworm with this look. Because hey, even four-eyed brainiacs can be geniuses in style, too!

Visit StyleList.com and Bluefly.com to vote for this bookworm as America’s Most Stylish Blogger!

And as a bonus for my dear blog readers, I had so much fun playing with this vest that I tossed it together with a few other outfits. I just couldn't help myself! Take a peek and tell me which one you liked best!