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winter style

9 Essential Layering Clothes For Autumn and Winter

Layering garments is the best way to transition your outfits from warmer to cooler months, as you can easily use trans-seasonal pieces to create stylish outfits. If you’re unsure which wardrobe elements you could add without compromising your style, check out this list of what I find to be my essential layering clothes for autumn and winter.

Early Autumn is the optimal time to invest in these pieces to prepare for the months ahead as you can find the best range of styles and colours.

Layer with a Camisole

You may already own cotton knit camis and tanks that can easily be used as a layering piece and may add a touch of colour to an outfit as they peek out the neckline of your V-neck tops.

Layer with Body Fitting Thermal Tops

Lightweight, half-sleeve or long-sleeve thermal tops are handy base layers to wear under your regular clothes. They should fit close to your body with no gaps around the arms, neck and waist (to keep the heat in).

Layer with Longline Cardigans

A longline cardigan is such a versatile layering piece. Wear yours with jeans and a tee for a relaxed, casual look, or team it with a dress and heeled boots for a dressier vibe. Remember: bulky knits add bulk, and finer knits are slimming.

Tip: If you have a defined waist, use a belt (either on top of or underneath your cardi) to flatter your figure.

Layer with a Blazer or Jacket

 Own at least one stylish blazer or jacket in a solid colour in one of your best neutrals so it mixes and matches with everything in your wardrobe. Choose a timeless, classic style for longevity. A blazer or jacket is an excellent staple to have in your wardrobe and can be worn all year round. You might choose a denim or moto style jacket or one of the current blazer styles depending on your style preferences.

Layer with Fine Wool Jumpers/Sweaters

Fitted jumpers. ‘Sweater weather’ is widely used in America to describe cold days. Jumpers made from soft, lightweight wool, luxurious cashmere, or a blend of materials like 70% wool, 20% acrylic and 10% cashmere are excellent layering items.

Wear a simple tee, cami, or thermal as an underlayer. Or, elevate the look by teaming your sweater with a button-up shirt underneath or wear it under your blazer when it’s chilly.

Fine knits are very versatile. Wear them with a longline cardigan and a scarf for colder days for extra warmth and cosiness.

Layer with Scarves

Scarves protect your neck from cold weather. They keep the air around your neck where it is. Your body warms the air around your neck, and a quality scarf will keep the air there, keeping your neck warm. Choose from natural fibres: cashmere, fleece, wool, and silk.

Plus, scarves are a great way to add colour, texture, and interest to your outfit.

Tip: If it’s really cold, wrap your scarf over your head and ears for extra warmth.

Layer with Hosiery

Tights and socks are great layered under dresses, skirts, and pants. They’re useful under dresses and skirts to protect your legs from cold air. Keep it simple with opaque neutral tones like black, grey, and brown. Or, liven things up with fun, bold hues or patterned tights.

A women is standing in a garden. She is wearing various layering clothes for the cool autumn day. These items include a leather jacket, teal coloured hosiery and a woollen scarf.

Fun layering clothes for Autumn: colourful tights.

Layering Clothes for Autumn: Trench Coat

The classic trench coat is timeless, as they are always in fashion. Choose styles without overly fashion-forward features, such as oversized collars, and ensure it is a comfortable weight and drape for you, so it doesn’t feel heavy or stiff.

Layer with a Leather jacket

It can be either genuine or faux leather. Either way, leather-style jackets are an ideal wardrobe staple for the cooler months, mainly if they are lined.

Choose from the blazer, biker or motto style jackets depending on the look you want to achieve.

Five leather jackets suitable for women. The colours are tan, black, maroon, off-white and apricot.

Click the image or here to shop the leather jackets.

Styling Tip: If your upper body looks bulky due to wearing many layers, keep your lower half more streamlined to create visual balance. This concept is called the ‘Principles of Volume’, which you can learn more about here.

If you’d like a ‘style best friend’ to help you select the perfect layering pieces for your Autumn/Winter wardrobe, so you’re sure the items you buy are ideal for you and will last for years, a Personal Shopping Trip is a fun, hands-on experience that will elevate your style and save you time, money and stress. Be your best stylish self today!

Sticky
March 22, 2023

10 Easy, Chic Ways To Style Your Winter Knits

These 10 easy, chic ways to style your winter knits will have you looking up-to-date for every occasion. Jumpers (‘sweaters’ in America, ‘pullovers’ in Europe) and short and long-line cardigans keep you warm and cosy on chilly days. They are versatile investment pieces for your winter wardrobe – perfect for layering when the temperature plummets. Mostly, I choose knits made from natural fibres like merino, alpaca, and cotton – not just to keep the cold out but because they are soft, comfortable, and breathable.

You can find my favourites in the shoppable boards and video below. Some of these styles come in other colours. My picks are based on cool and warm colours. If you have already had a colour analysis with me, you will know your best colour palette (whether you are warm or cool). You can wear all of these knits to create stylish outfits like the suggestions listed below.

 

Watch the video to see why I have selected these cosy winter knits.

10 Easy, Chic Ways To Style Your Winter Knits

  1. Jeans, ankle boots, jacket or long-long cardigan. Swap the ankle boots for sneakers.
  2. Team your knit with a skirt. Half tuck or belt your knit to show your shape.
  3. Add a textured vest over the top for extra warmth—for example, faux fur or quilted styles.
  4. Ankle boots, slim-fit jeans, and a long jumper with a long necklace.
  5. Wear a collared shirt underneath your knit. Allow the collar and hem of the shirt to peek out at either end.

 

  1. Skinny jeans or Ponte pants with long boots and a long scarf.
  2. A straight skirt, tights, ankle boots and an oversized winter knit.
  3. If your winter jumper is oversized and long enough, wear it like a dress with tights and long boots.
  4. Wear your oversize V-neck or boatneck knits off the shoulder with jeans, pants or a skirt and long boots.
  5. For a chic evening look, pair your light to medium weight jumpers with your darkest denim jeans or culottes and high heeled boots or pumps.

Have fun creating some of these easy ways to style your winter knits.

Sticky
July 24, 2021

7 Key Colours to Wear With Navy

What are your favourite colours to wear with navy?

Navy is a deep blue and a great staple to have in your wardrobe. It works well for all seasons and is a timeless, classic neutral. You can wear navy at work to relay a reliable and dependable vibe (think police uniforms). Or, for casual wear, navy jeans always look smart. And, who doesn’t love a navy blazer over jeans and a tee?

There are so many different colours you can wear with navy. Honestly, the list goes on and on! So I’m just going to give you 7 examples for inspiration.

There are so many ways to wear navy

Navy always looks fabulous with other variations of blue. Creating a monochromatic scheme with shades of blue creates a sophisticated look.

Woman sitting in a chair wears an outfit in various shades of blue

Navy and orange sit opposite on the colour wheel. This colour combination creates a high impact, dramatic effect.

Woman wearing an orange suit and blue top stands near a garden.

Here I’ve created a more subdued look by teaming navy with two neutrals: ivory and grey. The classic ivory blouse is from Zara and the very comfortable navy skirt is from Cadarra. Other neutrals that work well with navy are white (always crisp and fresh), soft khaki, beige and taupe.

Woman wears a ivory coloured Zara blouse with navy Betty Barclay jeans.

Two neutrals such as the navy and grey in this outfit can look very chic and stylish.

Another eye catching colour that works well with navy is red. If this is too bold for you then choose its lighter version – pink. And, yet another option is to wear burgundy, a rich shade of red.

Woman stands on a balcony wearing a red blouse and shoes, and navy pants and jacket.

Blue, in all of its shades, sits next to green on the colour wheel. This mint green knitted top works harmoniously with my navy culottes. Other greens that would work just as well are lime, viridian, and teal.

Blue and green sit next to each other on the colour wheel. The combination of mint and navy create a harmonious looking outfit.

 

If you decide to wear a few colours with navy make sure that only one colour dominates and the others play a supporting role. Remember the 60/30/10 rule of design. In this outfit the navy top and jeans make up 60% of the outfit. The coral jacket makes up 30% and the small pops of colour in the scarf make up the remaining 10%.

Women wears deep blue top and jeans, coral jacket and multi-coloured scarf.

 

And as always, make sure that when you wear any colour close to your face that it’s undertone blends with your unique colour palette so that you always look healthy and vibrant.

 

I’d love to hear about your favourite ways to wear navy.

 

Sticky
June 27, 2019

Your Top 10 Winter Style Tips

These top 10 winter style tips will have you feeling cosy and looking fabulous all through the chilly months. It doesn’t matter how cold it gets in your neck of the woods, these tips work for mild, cooler weather right through to freezing cold temperatures.

A woman displays her winter style by wearing an elegant coat, scarf and gloves.

Layering adds an element of flexibility to your     winter style.

1. Embrace Layering

Layering adds an element of flexibility to your winter style. Use layers to create your outfits. Start with a light weight undergarment like a cami or singlet. Add a three quarter or long-sleeved top, maybe a light weight jumper (cashmere is my pick) or cardi, a jacket, scarf, hat and gloves. You can add or subtract pieces depending on the weather.

2. Get smart with scarves

Scarves add an element of interest to any outfit and will have you looking stylish with a minimum of effort.  They take up very little space in your wardrobe (or suitcase if travelling), and can be used as a source of inspiration for the hat and gloves colours you choose.

Winter style tips: pink beanie, sunglasses and watch with pink numbers go with the multi coloured scarf

Winter style tips: The golden colours in the scarf inspired gold loop earrings and tortoise shell sunglasses

 

3. Invest in a great pair of boots

Boots rate high in the winter style stakes. Not only do they keep your feet warm and dry, there are just so many to choose from: ankle boots to calf length, long to ending above the knee. Flat heels to stilettos – there is a boot to suit everyone.

4. A quality coat is essential

My personal favourite of my winter style tips is to search high and low for your perfect winter coat and when you find it be willing to pay the price – this item will be in your wardrobe for a long time, so quality is key. Find it in a colour that compliments your hair colour, that way it will be truly versatile. When trying on coats make sure there’s enough room to accommodate the layers you’ll have underneath.

Winter style tips: this wool blend coat will keep you warm

Trenery wool blend coat in dark plum

5. Slim fitting jeans

A pair of skinny or straight leg jeans (depending on the shape of your legs) will be a great way to keep your winter style current. With all of the bulk and volume you’ll be creating with your tops and jacket, the narrow fitting bottoms will create a slimmer silhouette.

Tuck jeans into your boots or have them hemmed to where they hit the upper foot area of the boot on the outside.

6. Love Leather

If you don’t already own one, put ‘leather jacket’ on the top of your winter style shopping list. They are versatile, durable, timeless and classic. Consider colour, fit of the jacket, texture of the leather and comfort factor when buying. This is another item that will last for years, so invest wisely.

Winter style tips: woman wearing a sand coloured leather jacket.

My favourite ‘go to’ leather jacket is a soft sand colour.

7. Stylish Sneakers

For running errands, comfy weekend wear and for travelling, a stylish pair of sneakers will give you a break from your boots and keep your feet warm and dry.

All leading high street shoes outlets stock stylish sneakers. Remember to take your socks when going to buy – depending on their thickness you might have to go up a size.

Winter style tips: 3 sneakers from Sam Edelman

8. A Slouchy Sweater

A loose-fitting jumper will tick the ‘warm’ and ‘comfy’ boxes as well as looking on trend. You can choose from the finest merino wool to more bulky cable knits. Add accessories such as a scarf to elevate the look.

9. Terrific Turtleneck

Also known as a roll neck or skivvy, these knitted gems are the epitome of style. Think Jackie O (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis), Marilyn Monroe or more recently Taylor Swift and Rihanna. They are great as a stand-alone garment or as a layering piece.

10. Stunning Statement Earrings

The last of our winter style tips is to complete your outfit with some statement earrings. They will be the centre of attention whether you’re wearing high necks, low necks, scarves or cover-up jackets and coats. Your outfit will look complete and you’ll be ready to brave the cold weather with panache!

There is often a sea of black, white and grey that dominates the clothing stores during winter. That’s great if you can wear these colours well, but what you if can’t? In winter when we are at our palest it is especially important to wear the colours that harmonise with our hair, skin and eyes so that we appear healthy and look our best. I offer personal colour consultations and small group Colour Your Life workshops so that you can discover the best colours for you. These sessions are great fun and are a ‘gift to self’ that lasts for years.

Are there any items you feel should be added to my top 10 winter style tips? Let me know in the comment box below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sticky
May 28, 2018
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