The Puffer Vest is not just a necessity for an extra layer to protect from the cold but a forward fashion statement. You can find them with fur, or lambs wool to wear with boots and jeans or something more dressy in black with gold accents. Its a fashion layering piece that is hot this year!

Puffer vests are generally overlooked and under-appreciated in many respects, earning a bad rap in the winter apparel arena for their shapeless (read: less than flattering) marshmallow-like silhouette and their ambiguous functionality that oftentimes elicit strong styling confusion: What about the arms?! Yet, there is a way to wear the padded piece in public without overheating or feeling under-dressed—and look good doing it. We took one quilted J. Crew puffer vest in deep riviera ($120; jcrew.com) and integrated it into four different looks that work for various occasions, from the office to the gym. No longer will your neglected puffer lurk in the depths of your closet. Here’s to giving the cushiony gilet a second chance (or in this case, four) when cold weather strikes. From layering it over knits and under coats, see all the different ways to style a vest.

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