Cold Weather Wear

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Well wow, everyone! I think that it is officially Winter here in Syracuse. Goodbye PSL's and hello to Gingerbread and Peppermint Mocha's. Aside from all of my favorite warm winter beverages, Winter is one of my favorite seasons to dress for, despite my continued dislike for the cold weather--it's the Texan in me, I guess. Anyway, we just had our first real snowfall this past weekend and I'm officially in bundle mode. Over the years of attending college in one of the snowiest cities in America, I have found that accessories really are key to keeping warm and are also a great and easy way to add extra patterns and textures to your overall look. I put together a few of my necessities for once the weather cools down:

1. A statement faux fur coat: I have learned that having a few statement coats in your closet in addition to your go-to basics really is ideal when it comes to colder weather. Since there is a good chance that you will be wearing a coat everyday for the next four-five months, having a few that feel fun instead of just warm will make getting ready to brave the cold a little more stylish. I think I'm at the point to where I have a rainbow collection of faux fur (...oops), but this Topshop daisy one sure did catch my attention. 

2. A beanie / hat: This is the area that I need to improve on. Hats make such a difference when it comes to not having the heat escape your body. I for one, don't think that beanies look the best on me, but I saw this chunky H&M style this past weekend (after my ears were freezing) and am determined to start trying to pull them off even if it's just a warmth issue.

3. Fun mittens / gloves: If you're anything like me, keeping the same pair of mittens over the course of the winter season (forget the year) is quite the struggle. Like socks, I always end up with one of them and have misplaced the mate. Because of this, I try to have a few different styles always stocked up and in different places from my book bag, my car, and my room for whenever the cold hits. Inexpensive styles like these cute Old Navy ones keep me smiling even when I'm cold. 

4. Over-the-Knee boots: Boots are one of the best winter investments in my opinion. I have quite the collection of ankle boots in my shoe closet, but have yet to add a pair of over-the-knee ones. The Stuart Weitzman 50/50 is one that is on my 'winter wish list' year after year, but these Zara ones come in pretty close, too. How fabulous is the patent cap toe part?!

What are your must-haves for the Winter season? I'm also a huge fan of infinity scarves. They make all the difference in my opinion.

Winter Scarves

/ 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 /

I never really understood the importance of a good scarf until I went to school in upstate New York. While jackets and heavy sweaters are definitely an important factor to winter dressing, scarves are surely the needed finishing touch. Aside from winter and a heavy chunky grey scarf that I wear almost daily in the winter months at Syracuse, I was never one to have a collection of scarves. I met up with a couple of friends from high school yesterday who were both wearing scarves (one, a lilac-y purple, and the other a darker floral). It got me thinking that when we live in colder climates with so many pieces that are worn daily (heavy boots, down coat, scarves, mittens...) why not have a few different colors of the smaller things like the mittens and scarves to keep the long season a little brighter and not as drab as typical blacks and grays--as much as we love those.  In the image above, I have gathered five varying styles that I would love to tuck underneath my jacket to keep warm while not jeopardizing in the style department, as well. Fun fact, the Zara piece (4) has chain running through it!

Do you use scarves in the winter? What's your go-to style?