Dear J. Crew herringbone vest,

For over a year now, I have marveled at your beauty and style on Pinterest. I can't even tell you how many pins I have of outfits that are graced with your presence. Your shiny gold zipper and black seams give a crisp look to even the most lazy of outfits. Your black and white detail goes perfectly with any gray sweater, maroon shirt, or light blue oxford.

Then the day came when I searched for you on the J. Crew Factory website. $108?! How could something so cute be that expensive? It's sinful, really. But I did not let this discourage me from my pursuit of the ultimate prep's fashion staple. I had to figure out something (anything) to find you for a cheaper price.

Christmas 2014 rolled around and I had a gift card prepared to make the most important purchase I have ever made. I made my way to the "outerwear and blazers" section of the website and suddenly spotted the box that showed you perfectly zipped up on a mannequin. With great excitement, I eagerly clicked on the box and readied myself to make my purchase. Every size was sold out. How could this happen to me?

They say that patience is a virtue, so I waited until the next day to see if you came back in stock. I thought to myself, "I can squeeze into an extra-small, right? I can make a medium work, right?" I tried to reason out any size just so that I would be able to own the cutest vest I have ever laid my eyes on. I even considered somehow altering an extra-large. I was desperate, OK?

The next day, I went back to the website to (hopefully) find you sitting there waiting for me in a size small. Lo and behold, there you were, available in every size possible! I quickly grabbed my wallet and added a size small to my cart. I was sweating bullets as I entered my gift card number and my address. With a deep breath, I clicked "purchase." My screen came back with an error saying that you were no longer in my cart. I just did not understand. Maybe it was not in my destiny to have the most adorable vest ever.

A year passed by and I kept seeing countless pins on Pinterest with girls who had successfully purchased you and had come up with the cutest outfits. Let me tell you, it was pure torture. Waiting for the winter felt like forever.

Once again, I asked for another gift card to J. Crew in case my luck was better this time around. I hoped that I would not have the same experience as the year before with my items being snatched out of my cart before I get the chance to purchase them.

I went through the normal routine: J. Crew Factory website, click on "outerwear and blazers," look for that little box with the vest wrapped around a mannequin, and click on it. The first time I tried it, they only had you available in a small. Perfect. That's my size. I added you to my cart with a smirk on my face. I already had my address and gift card pre-programmed into the system, so I expected a speedy checkout. I clicked "purchase." Yet another error message. My vest had been taken out of my cart once more.

It's a good thing that I am very strong-willed because I kept checking back for you. You have no idea how many times I visited the J. Crew Factory website. Almost 99 percent of the time, however, you were not in stock whatsoever.

Then the fateful day came. My luck had not run out. I successfully added you to my cart, clicked "purchase," and got the email that my order had been received. The best part? You were half-off. For J. Crew, that is a steal.

In less than one week, you traveled from the warehouse to my hands, and I could not be happier. I earned you, and the work was well worth it.