Shop Talk is written by OM senior editor Dayanti Karunaratne and Sarah Fischer, OM account executive and fashion maven.

Sarah came across a beautiful faux fur vest while on vacation over Christmas — as soon as she put it on at the store, she was smitten. But also a bit confused.

“I have been wearing it around the house because I instantly feel more confident and sexy in my new statement piece. But, the more I thought about it I was at a loss for what to wear under it!”

Sarah called up our friend, stylist Erica Wark, for some advice — Erica is a big fan of faux fur, as you can see on her website.

“Faux fur is a great way to update any look,” says Erica. “Layering is such an important tool when it comes to the winter, so why not do it all while adding a luxurious feel to your outfit!”

She offered the following rules of thumb when putting together an outfit with a fur vest:

“If you’re adding faux fur, always make sure the items underneath are streamlined or of a softer texture. Otherwise you’ll be adding extra bulk to the body, and nobody wants that.”

Then Erica gave us three examples of outfits to help show us the versatility of a fur vest. I love how she paired her bright red cropped pants with neutrals — and added another pop of colour with her pumps! Her second look is perfect for the office, while the third makes for energetic evening ensemble. (Hint: If you are looking to sport your vest for a night on the town, add some leather!)