Cheryl Shops

I have been searching high and low for the perfect fur vest for years. I thought I wanted a longer one in a lighter color, but that just made me look like a polar bear. Then I tried black and drapey, but that made me look strangely...well, like a black bear. In true Goldilocks fashion, the third vest I bought was just right, and now that I have it, I find myself wearing it constantly. It's like a nice, warm hug. And god knows I could use one this dark, cold, wet time of year. Here's one of my favorite ways to wear a fur vest.



When I was formulating this outfit, I hadn't intended to wear a coat, however it was in the 40s when we shot these, so a coat was kind of necessary. That said, I liked what my plaid coat (you last saw it here) brought to this look: the menswear tailoring and longer length are a nice contrast to the soft drape of the vest and tunic. This coat was one of the best purchases I made this season, so if you can still snag one—what's left is on major sale—it's worth it, for either this year or next.




And now, the vest. Full disclosure: this is a real rabbit fur vest. I am an animal lover but also a carnivore and personally find little distinction between wearing leather and fur. Also, for the most part, real fur is way better for the environment than faux, but to be fair, the best choice is upcycled or second-hand fur. Either way, wearing fur is a personal choice, and I don't begrudge you yours—I just wanted to get that out of the way. That said, this vest is knitted rabbit fur, which makes it much less bulky than your typical fur vest, and I found that this length—which hits right at the top of my hip—was the most flattering. It's so warm, it almost doesn't matter what I wear underneath, but I love the contrast of this longer tunic-style top (last seen on Black Friday). I'm in a size small in both the vest and top, for reference.



Because of the longer back length, the tunic I'm wearing actually works really well with leggings, but I wanted to contrast its drapiness with something a little more rigid, so I went with jeans. These Frame trousers (last seen in October) were a Nordstrom sale score, and they're one of my go-to pairs of denim. Because of the pockets, they feel just a little more dressed up than your average jean, but the fabric is so soft and comfortable (but thick enough to hold you in), I end up wearing them on the weekend too. They run true to size—I'm in a 28 for reference.



I bought this scarf after seeing it on several bloggers' Instagrams, and while it looked somewhat dramatic on them, the thing is HUGE in real life. (It's very "editorial" as we'd say in the biz.) Figuring how to drape it without looking like Bigfoot can be a challenge, but once you master it, it's super cozy. As for my shoes, I went with my trusty Golden Goose sneakers, which I wear nonstop IRL (you last saw them in wine country), and even though I said I'd take a break from my A.P.C. bag (you last saw it with leggings), well, I lied. We're going steady, and we're as strong as ever.



We shot these photos at Horse & Plow winery near Sebastapol, California, and while I can't say that you can expect to learn much about the wines (or ciders) there, it's a great place to grab a glass at the end of the day and just hang out, which is exactly what we did. My Russian River travel diary is coming soon, so stay posted!




OUTFIT DETAILS: Avec les Filles coat (also here) | 525 America fur vest | Cuddl Duds tunic (c/o) | Frame Parisian jeans | Free People Jaden scarf (also here) | A.P.C. Sac demi-lune | Golden Goose Superstar sneakers