diff --git a/examples/openmnnd.html b/examples/openmnnd.html
index 63c702c23d..30a0c17ec6 100644
--- a/examples/openmnnd.html
+++ b/examples/openmnnd.html
@@ -29,15 +29,42 @@
             map.addLayer(wms);
             
             wfs = new OpenLayers.Layer.WFS("Minnesota Streams (WFS)", wfs_url, {'typename':'streams'}, {ratio:1.25, minZoomLevel:4});
-            wfs.onFeatureInsert= function(feature) { feature.style.strokeWidth="3"; feature.style.strokeColor="blue"; feature.layer.renderer.drawGeometry(feature.geometry,feature.style); $('stream_features').innerHTML = feature.layer.features.length;}
+            
+            // preFeatureInsert can be used to set style before the feature is drawn 
+            wfs.preFeatureInsert= function(feature) { feature.style.strokeWidth="3"; feature.style.strokeColor="blue";  
+            }
+            wfs.onFeatureInsert = function() {
+              $('stream_features').innerHTML = feature.layer.features.length;
+            }  
             map.addLayer(wfs);
             
-            pwfs = new OpenLayers.Layer.WFS("Minnesota Plat (WFS)", wfs_url, {'typename':'plat'}, {ratio:1.25, minZoomLevel:8, extractAttributes: true});
-            pwfs.onFeatureInsert= function(feature) { feature.style.fillColor="green"; feature.layer.renderer.drawGeometry(feature.geometry,feature.style); $('plat_features').innerHTML = feature.layer.features.length;}
+            // Or a style can be set on the layer.
+            pwfsstyle = OpenLayers.Util.extend({}, OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.style['default']);
+            OpenLayers.Util.extend(pwfsstyle, {'fillColor': 'green'}); 
+            
+            pwfs = new OpenLayers.Layer.WFS("Minnesota Plat (WFS)", wfs_url, 
+              {'typename':'plat'}, 
+              {
+               ratio:1.25, 
+               minZoomLevel:8, 
+               extractAttributes: true, 
+               style: pwfsstyle
+              });
+            
+            pwfs.onFeatureInsert= function(feature) { 
+              $('plat_features').innerHTML = feature.layer.features.length;
+            }
             map.addLayer(pwfs); 
             
-            rwfs = new OpenLayers.Layer.WFS("Minnesota Roads (WFS)", wfs_url, {'typename':'roads'}, {ratio:1.25, minZoomLevel:7, extractAttributes: true});
-            rwfs.onFeatureInsert= function(feature) { feature.style.strokeColor="white"; feature.style.strokeWidth="4"; feature.layer.renderer.drawGeometry(feature.geometry,feature.style); $('road_features').innerHTML = feature.layer.features.length; }
+            rstyle = OpenLayers.Util.extend({}, OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.style['default']);
+            OpenLayers.Util.extend(rstyle, {'strokeColor': 'white', strokeWIdth: "4"}); 
+            rwfs = new OpenLayers.Layer.WFS("Minnesota Roads (WFS)", wfs_url, {'typename':'roads'}, 
+              {ratio:1.25, minZoomLevel:7, extractAttributes: true, style:rstyle});
+            
+            rwfs.onFeatureInsert= function(feature) {  
+              $('road_features').innerHTML = feature.layer.features.length; 
+            }
+            
             map.addLayer(rwfs); 
             
             map.events.register('moveend', null, function() { 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js
index 386591596c..5bf186eb7f 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.prototype =
         if (data) {
             OpenLayers.Util.extend(this.attributes, data);
         }    
-        this.style = style ? style : OpenLayers.Util.extend({}, OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.style['default']);
+        this.style = style ? style : null; 
     },
     
         
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js
index 829e427c0d..484b7bbe83 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.prototype =
     /** @type {Boolean} */
     reportError: true, 
 
+    /** @type {Object} */
+    style: null,
+
     /**
      * List of supported Renderer classes. Add to this list to
      * add support for additional renderers. This list is ordered:
@@ -224,6 +227,16 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.prototype =
             //give feature reference to its layer
             feature.layer = this;
 
+            if (!feature.style) {
+                if (this.style) {
+                    feature.style = OpenLayers.Util.extend({}, this.style);
+                } else {
+                    feature.style = OpenLayers.Util.extend({}, OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.style['default']);
+                }    
+            }
+
+            this.preFeatureInsert(feature);
+
             if (this.drawn) {
                 this.renderer.drawGeometry(feature.geometry, feature.style);
             }
@@ -315,6 +328,17 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.prototype =
      */
     onFeatureInsert: function(feature) {
     },
+    
+    /**
+     * method called before a feature is inserted.
+     * Does nothing by default. Override this if you
+     * need to do something when features are first added to the
+     * layer, but before they are drawn, such as adjust the style.
+     * 
+     * @param {OpenLayers.Feature.Vector} feature
+     */
+    preFeatureInsert: function(feature) {
+    },
 
     /** @final @type String */
     CLASS_NAME: "OpenLayers.Layer.Vector"
diff --git a/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html b/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html
index ecc4b4ad41..32ebd938ff 100644
--- a/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html
+++ b/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html
@@ -44,6 +44,17 @@
         
         t.ok(layer.features.length == 1, "OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.removeFeatures removes a feature from the features array");
     }
+    
+    function test_Layer_Vector_addsStyle (t) {
+        t.plan(2);    
+        layer = new OpenLayers.Layer.Vector(name);
+        var map = new OpenLayers.Map('map');
+        map.addLayer(layer);
+        f = new OpenLayers.Feature.Vector();
+        t.eq( f.style,  null, "Feature style is null by default.");
+        layer.addFeatures(f);
+        t.ok( f.style != null, "Feature style is set by layer.");
+    }
 
     function test_99_Layer_Vector_destroy (t) {
         t.plan(1);