Keep Warm And Carry On

By Sharmin Musca, Personal Stylist on July 18, 2013 in Other

The temperature may be plummeting but that’s no excuse for hiding indoors in uggies and trackies… or, worse still, venturing out in them. With a small amount of effort you can easily look stylish this winter. And when you feel good about the way you look, you’ll get out there and avoid winding up with the winter blues. Here are a few tips for creating looks that’ll make you feel confident, happy and warm this season:

Buy a hat – It’ll keep you warm (a lot of heat escapes through the head) while making a statement. Choose wisely; the stiffness of the fabric, the pinch in the crown, and the generosity of the brim all work to alter a hat’s mood. Look for ‘70s inspired bohemian, floppy styles (loved by Nicole Richie), more structured, elegant, woollen pieces (worn by the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley,) or go for the off-duty celebrity fave: a slouchy beanie.

Keep it short and sweet – Who said you can’t wear a dress, skirt or shorts in winter? Simply ward off the cold with two layers of tights. For lighter dresses, throw on a fine merino wool singlet underneath (I’m not talking about the thermals your grandma gets around in!).

Play with colour in your outerwear – Pick a blazer or coat in chartreuse or cobalt to turn heads or stand out in winter white.

Start with skinny jeans – When layering, start with skinny jeans to create a sleeker profile. Wear them with ballet flats for running errands or pointed-toe heels for a night out. With these as your base you’ll have a more streamlined winter silhouette.

Invest in a cashmere sweater – This is a must-have layering piece. For an off-duty preppy look go for a crewneck version worn over a buttoned down shirt and combine with Oxfords to complete the look. Not your cup of tea? This wardrobe mainstay also goes with everything from skirts and printed trousers to leather pants and shorts.

Look for a tuxedo blazer – Less masculine than a boyfriend blazer and more polished than a leather jacket, the versatile tuxedo jacket can be layered over a dress, worn with a blouse and shorts, or paired with matching pants to make a killer suit.

Layer with consideration so you look as good indoors as out in the cold. Once you take off your stylish outerwear and statement scarf, does your outfit still look rocking? Keep warm and carry on.

On the streets I found:

Name: Maddy
Occupation: Sales assistant
Lives: Coogee
Street Style: Maddy looks stylish in a print top and ankle boots by Bondi label Samvara, shorts from Sportsgirl, sunglasses by Karen Walker and bag by Sass & Bide.
Fave Item This Season: Boyfriend jeans by Ksubi.

Name: Lani
Occupation: Accessories designer
Lives: Rose Bay
Street Style: Lani wears her pieces with flair combining a Rubi hat, Zara jumper, Cotton On jeans and Country Road boots with a ring by Mezi and her own By Ilana Welch bag.
Fave Item This Season: Grey turkey feather vest from Bali.