7 Tips to Creating Stylish Warm Winter Looks

Dahlings, the weather outside is truly frightful. And depending on where you live, it’s scary as hell. So how does one maintain a level of style when all you want to do is stay snuggled in your warm bed to stave off the cold weather outside? Well I can tell you that it’s an absolute must to maintain some level of style. And as I always rave about this time of year, the layering technique is great to achieve some visually interesting looks while still staying warm.I saw a multitude of layered looks today at my office party which inspired this post. One of the gals rocked a black sheath dress with pockets with a white blouse underneath. She added mustard colored tights to add a bit of color to what would have been a very simple and neutral color palette. Another gal wore a red printed v-neck empire dress, a tank top underneath, topped with a velvet blazer. Gray patterned tights and suede ankle boots continued the fun feel of the look. And everyone looked just smashing and kept the right proportions and silhouettes. How do you get the look yourself? check out my tips below.


1. Don’t over do it on the layers. Two- Three layers is probably ample.

2. Use a foundation piece with a silhouette. If your outfit foundation is a dress, choose a dress with a nice silhouette, well fitted but not tight around the breasts and hips, drawn in at the waist. For instance a sheath dress over a blouse works beautifully. Add some tights, boots and your good to go. But you shouldn’t shy away from a loose fitting dress which can be a great layering piece. But then you have to add layers to shape it like a fitted vest, sweater or a  fun sash or belt.

3. Chill on the chunky. Go easy on the fluffy and the puffy, the thick and the woolly. Rule of thumb: Don't add bulk around your bulk. For curvy women, the layered look is about adding color and warmth not bulk. One of the tricks that I use a lot is to wear a loose garment over a tight garment. Balanced achieved!

4. Select clothes made of different fabrics and textures: cotton, denim, corduroy, velvet, etc. to keep things interesting. I love layering wool with silk or rayon or chiffon with cotton. Fabrics that are opposite just add some great visual interest.

5. Balance layered tops with slim bottoms. If you choose to wear several layers on top, keep the bottom half of your outfit long and lean. Try skinny-cut, tapered, or bootcut pants or leggings or tights. Elongate your body by matching your shoes or boots to your pants, leggings, or tights.

6. Use the same shade of one color. I love layering with one variation of color. I’m really loving camel and creams lately. So for instance I have a gray brown stripped dress with a sheer neckline that I layer with a camel cardigan. It also works well with a gray blazer, which picks up the brownish gray in the dress. Mixing neutral colors, it’s just such an easy way to look instantly pulled together.

7. Wear simple jewelry and accessories. When wearing the layered look, stick with simple accessories like stud earrings, plain necklaces, and thin, light scarves. It's really enough to have a few layers going on.

So what are some key layering pieces? To create easy layered looks, these are some great items to have in your closet: Thin  turtle neck, cardigan ( long and hip length), vests ( sweater vests, rayon), long sleeved thin tees, black tights ( wool tights too), scarves ( thin, big, interesting fun scarves), and of course a classic blazer.

Layering  allows you to wear items you already own - even many of your summer pieces - which you can enliven when you wear them with pieces like scarves, cardigans, blazers and tights. You can also use layers to hide figure flaws and create the appearance of a proportioned body using some simple techniques. By adding a few inexpensive key pieces to your wardrobe, you can effortlessly create fashionable layered ensembles. And that is something to smile about Dahlings.

Crazy About Jewelry: Stella & Dot

I'm mad about jewelry!! I think I've starved myself for so long by not purchasing anything blingy and shiny for so long and now I'm truly obsessed. In my last post I featured jewelmint.com the membership jewelry site. Now thanks to a friend, I've now discovered Stella &Dot, a boutique style jewelry line sold exclusively through trained independent jewelry Stylists at in-home Trunk Shows and online. Last week I attended a trunk show at a private home with a Stella & Dot stylists and had a wonderful experience. About half the line is under $50, making it easy  to walk away with a fun piece. Of course there are those pricier drama-filled pieces to buy as well. There's also something for everyone: from delicate pieces to bold looks that will get you noticed. I think what is also really unique about Stella &Dot is that the company offers other women an opportunity to own a piece of the business by becoming stylists themselves and selling the line directly to other women. I look forward to hosting an event soon. But in the meantime, check out the pieces I nabbed: Stella Vintage Link Bracelet in Gold and the Jolie Cocktail Ring.  These are very bold pieces that I look forward to wearing with simple everyday looks or with a fun outfit for a night on the town. Now I just have to make sure my friend doesn't snatch the bracelet off my wrist when I wear it since we were both eyeing it! I did offer to share it with her but what kind of a deal is that?? Anyway give the site a look over. Some good gift possibilities as well.