Wrap Up Warm on This Winter Night

A reader asked me what she should wear in the coldest, heaviest, most bitter winter weather and still look stylish. This is an issue that affects anyone who has to deal with bad winters, so I thought I would do a whole post for it. Now, this is easily something that I could devote an entire blog to, being from New England, but I have whittled it down to a few key suggestions.Let's start with the top half. I like the concept of light layers, because when it's really cold, one measly sweater isn't enough for braving the elements, and it's way too hot for the indoor heat. Start with a simple long sleeve thermal tee or even a whisper thin sweater. Then add a cardigan on top. These grey options, from Casch Copenhagen and Banana Republic are perfect, because they have design interest but are also very warm. Or, put on a cozy turtleneck, like the ivory one seen above, also by Banana Republic. You could also layer a short sleeved sweater over your tee, and then top it with a wool blazer, for a very Balenciaga look.

I think keeping things fairly neutral is the best way to mix and match. That way, you can begin with only a few key pieces, and re-wear them without wearing the exact same outfit. Two to three tees, four pullover sweaters, one cardigan, and perhaps one blazer should be enough for a solid foundation. A simple checked scarf (Banana again) and a colorful hat (both by Anthropologie) keep you warm and they add color to an otherwise neutral palette.

Now for the bottom. Wool trousers are great for warmth, but not so great if it's going to be wet, so go for a nice super skinny denim trouser instead. They'll keep you warm and they will dry better if snow or sleet happens to get on them. Wear nice thick socks and pull on some nice weatherproof boots over the jeans. If you want something a little more dressed up, and it's going to be a dry day, go ahead and wear a skirt. This red one is cut a little long, and it's wool, so it will be warm, especially if you wear it with thick tights. Again, knee high boots are best. Pick ones with flat, rubber soles so you don't slip all over the place. Long coats will keep you warmest. One that is somewhat fitted on top and flares out a little on the bottom is best for fit and comfort. If you pick one that is too fitted all the way down you won't be able to move, but one that is too baggy won't keep you very warm.

Ciao Bella!

I was recently asked by a reader what she should wear to Milan Fashion Week. This is an important event, and clearly she wouldn't want to make a faux pas, or whatever the Italian equivalent of that is. To add to the gravity of the situation, she is a cash-strapped grad student. This is my attempt at saving her from an unfortunate fate. While not all of us are lucky enough to go to any kind of fashion week, let alone Milan, I think that the rest of you will find something useful here. These tips - I hope - will come in handy if you get invited to any sort of fashionable event. I tried to work around what may already be in your closet, so that you wouldn't have to go out and buy a lot. But I did keep all of my examples wallet friendly. The dresses (all Banana Republic) are under $150, the coats (both Nordstrom) are under $100, and most of the accessories are under $50. At fashion week, don't worry about being the best dressed. It's all about the attitude! Stay confident and people will really respond to that. Plus, I'm guessing that you won't be the center of attention, so an over-the-top designer ensemble is unnecessary. Leave that to the pros. A simple dress will work just fine, but make sure it's not too simple. Pick one with an eye catching color or a bold print for instant appeal. Even a black dress is fine, if you pair it with great accessories. By all means, make sure everything fits you perfectly and looks clean, pressed, and polished. Even the simplest outfit can be dazzling if the fit is impeccable. Don't be sloppy.

In terms of how you style the dress, be creative. I personally like how Banana Republic did it, with opaque black tights and black shoes. But if that's too trendy, do something different. A different color tight perhaps, or a metallic shoe. Throw on a pile of fake pearls with your all-black outfit and a really wild hat a la Isabella Blow. Just have fun with it - this is Fashion Week after all.

Since it's fall, a statement making coat will be the perfect finishing touch. Find one with really interesting details, like big buttons, or an optic print. Try a red pump for a pop of color, or go with simple black Louboutin look alikes. This pair from Zappos is budget-friendly, but has the designer look. People will probably be able to tell the difference, but having a shoe like this shows that you know your fashion. A hat is another easy way to add a little oomph to your look. This knit beret has a Marc Jacobs look, and again, it's trendy, but appropriate for Fashion Week, which is all about the trends.

My reader mentioned she has a lot of jeans. Jeans are fine to wear! If you have a particularly nice pair, one that has a good dark wash that fits you well, go with that. Then go glamorous with the shoes and accessories. If all else fails, wear a pair of really big, really dark sunglasses.

All it Takes...

I have already done this post, but upon retrospect I realized I didn't do it as well as I would have liked. So here it is again, but new and improved! A reader asked me to pick a few items, and then illustrate how to put them together in various and interesting ways. I hope this shows you that a great wardrobe does not require a ton of clothes. Use your creativity, and you can come up with a lot of fantastic outfits.I started with really basic pieces, to emphasize that you don't need a closet filled with unique, crazy, or expensive designer clothes to make stylish outfits. I only included shoes, because I thought other accessories would clutter up the images, so use your imagination on that front! Throw in a bold necklace, patterned scarf, or an artistic hat to give these looks more mileage and personality. For casual wear, easy basics like jeans and a jersey dress will get you through a lot of different events. This sweater is a good piece to own, because it looks like two tops layered but it's really just one. It adds a lot of interest, but it didn't take a lot off effort. Here, I paired it with jeans. But you could add the military blazer to dress it up a bit, or throw it over the dress to make a sweater/skirt combo. You could wear the blazer with the dress as well, and the red sweater would look great layered over or under the dress.

Trousers and a nice wool skirt are perfect work basics. A little button down is ideal as well, and can be worn with the red sweater or the military blazer. Throw the blazer on over the sweater and skirt combo as well. Or wear the shirt under the sweater with the skirt for another look. I think you get the idea: a lot can be accomplished with simple layering! It's all the same stuff, but they take on a different feel when paired differently.

The workwear trousers and casual jeans make another appearance, but dressed up by bright satin and velvet! You can wear any of the tops with any of the bottoms for a variety of looks. The green shoes are fine for evening because of the flashy color and shiny gold buckle.

Finally, a few more outfits to get your juices flowing. Try the velvet blazer for day by pairing it with the tweed skirt and the chunky brown heels. The button down also helps to tone down the velvet. You could even wear the velvet jacket with the next outfit - the dress tucked into the pants ( = a top!) with the green flats. The military blazer would look good with this as well. As another example of how to take your eveningwear into the daytime, the military blazer and satin top are made casual with jeans.

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Connie of Pretty Legit offered this idea for a post: non-cliche things to wear to a party. This is especially important for the college students and twenty somethings out there, who inevitably end up wearing tight jeans, strappy sandals, and a sexy top. I know that Connie is the queen of theme parties, and I have not come up with outfits as great as hers, but for a regular, casual party, I think the following looks will suffice.If you want to do the denim thing, do it different! A slim, non-embellished pencil skirt with a very dark uniform wash is perfect. I think that cardigans can be very cool, like this one from Anthropologie. The color is bright and fun, and the shape is really flattering. Wear it over a silk camisole or even just a regular cotton tank. If you want something a bit more dressy, try a silk blouse, like this kimono top. It's more covered up than the usual boob-baring, filmy tank, but it's still sexy. It's subtle sexy, and it will give you the right kind of attention. For the accessories, go bold. A great pair of dangly earrings and gold pumps are evening appropriate and fun. I would even add some bangles, or a necklace, and a cool clutch or small shoulder bag if you need it.

For a less casual event, a silk tank will work. This one from J. Crew is not so low cut, and the billowy fabric doesn't reveal to much curves. The spare neckline shows off your collarbone and back with criss-cross straps. To tone it down a little, pair it with slim Bermuda shorts. I picked dark purple as an accent, for both the pumps and the necklace. It is a little matchy, but that can easily be fixed by adding a cropped cardigan in a complementary hue, like pale yellow, or even green. The chocolate brown dress has a fancy look, but it's actually jersey, which means comfy casual. I added a gold clutch for some interest.

In general, you want to think outside of the overtly sexy box. Be creative and fearless with your color combinations, shapes, and textures. Parties are supposed to be festive and fun! The outfits I put together are a little on the safe side, but this is just meant for inspiration. And there are a lot of different kinds of parties, so dress accordingly, but never settle for the expected!

What to Wear to a Texan Wedding: Hint, No Ten Gallon Hats

For the first of my reader requests, I'll tackle the question: What to wear to a Texas wedding in November? Since I don't know the specifics of the event, I've put together a couple of dressy looks, a couple of (semi)casual ones. All the dresses are under $150, and the accessories are mostly around $50, so they are budget friendly. And, you can wear everything again, for many different occasions, so it will be a good use of your cash!First, for a dressy wedding, I have picked two silk dresses. They are simple, but gorgeous, and since this is a fall wedding, I've kept the palette rich and jewel-toned. Bold chandelier earrings and silver pumps add fanciness. Since Texas is still pretty mild in November, I thought it was safe to go spare with the dresses, but because it can get chilly, I would suggest a lightweight pointelle shrug or a pashmina. A 3/4 length coat with bracelet sleeves would also work.

Because I am old-fashioned, I would step up the casual look for an event such as a wedding. Even if everyone else is dressed down. It's a special occasion no matter what, so you should look it. But there is no need to go over the top. I think a shirtdress is a good way to go. The Steve Madden dress is actually taffeta, but the shape and the pinstriping give it a different vibe. I like the mix of masculine and feminine. The low heeled pumps have sneaker-like perforations, but the material is a glittery gold, so that gives them a dressier feel. The red dress is jersey, so not only is it casual, it's also comfortable. If you need some warmth, with these kinds of dresses I would suggest a little cotton jacket with 3/4 length sleeves to tone everything down a little. A simple cardigan sweater would be great too.

I hope this helps! At the very least I hope I gave you some inspiration. And to everyone else who suggested something: I will get to your requests! Just give me a little time and be patient. If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please comment!