Love it or hate it, winter is just around the corner. If you are a winter sports enthusiast, congratulations as I suspect your heart is racing with anticipation. If you are like most (ie: those who survive New England winters by whiling away the hours perusing beach houses on homeaway.com) then it can be an unbearably long season.
Being an optimist at heart, I prefer to look at the silver lining of the impending chilly temperatures and use it as an excuse to add a few new key items to my closet, items that while being practical enough to keep my body warm, also serve to get my own heart racing with the anticipation of wearing them.
A Quilted Jacket or Vest. Pass on the knee-length down-filled puffy coat that has you looking like an oversized marshmallow. With today’s technology, upscale fabrics, and contoured fit, you can look city sleek while hitting the slopes or snowshoeing cross-country. Brighten up the gray days of winter by opting for bold color – hot pink anyone? Boston based, global brand M.Miller does it best.
The Camel Coat The forever-classic camel coat exudes confidence and style. Stick with traditional buttoned models with strong peak lapels and a tie belt for enduring appeal. Accessorize with scarves, hats, lapel pins, and/ or wide belts to give it your own personal signature. Already own this winter staple? Perfect! Now is the time to get it to the dry cleaners pronto so it will be ready when the first frost is upon us.
Scarf. My favorite scarf is a new scarf! Scarves, available at every price point, give you the opportunity to let your fashion flag wave. Coordinate colors, contrast colors, bulky knits, soft pashminas – so many options the winter might seem too short to try them all!
I have personally bought two already from one of my favorite Winchester stores, Hidden Treasures, on Church Street.
Gloves. Sure, the go-to practical style is a soft as silk black or brown leather preferably lined in fur or cashmere, but feel free to live life loud and grab a pair of those same leathers in purple, red or hot pink! I was swooning over such items recently in Elisha Daniels Accessory Boutique located at 116 Newbury Street, Boston. Talk about a quick pick me up for the winter doldrums!
Hats. As we all know, we lose most of our body heat through our heads, giving us the perfect excuse to cover it up! We might as well turn the practical into the fashionable and use it as an opportunity to stay stylin’. Goorin Brothers on Newbury Street has a terrific selection for both the ladies and the gents. Another local shop worth checking out is the whimsical world of Marie Galvin at Galvinized Headwear in the SOWA district of Boston. In addition to fascinators and hats worthy of a royal wedding, Marie’s winter hats will keep a smile on your face while keeping jack frost off of your ears (and give you a reason to buy a ticket for the Kentucky Derby 2012).
Boots. My current winter boots are a pair of leather Uggs that, although they keep my toes toasty, have me looking like a state trooper. Time for an upgrade STAT! Let’s face it, living in New England we do need to be practical what with the snow, ice, cobblestones and hilly terrain. Once again I will defer to M.Miller for a perfect collaboration of the practical with the fashionable. The Wedge boot gives just enough lift (without causing a treacherous situation) and comes in traditional shades of black and brown as well as punchy colors (to match your quilted coat?). Their suede boot, made in Italy is fully lined with a high shaft that looks great on the legs. My favorite for fun and shoveling (first time ever I used those two words together!) is the Igloo, a classic looking rabbit fur boot with suede trim. Is it snowing yet????
Fur or Faux. Aaahh, the king of all controversies. To fur or not to fur? These days, the faux looks so real this conundrum should only be determined by your pocketbooks or politics. One thing we cannot argue about, fur looks fantastic and keeps you warm! If you have an inherited fur in your attic (as do I) local furriers such as William H. Harris Furs, located in the Taj Hotel in Boston, will restyle to update your coat to a look that is more “you” and less Grandma.
Knitwear. Cashmere cardigans, shetland pullovers, chunky sweater dresses….no matter how many you own, you can never have enough! Layer over T-shirts or wear alone. Sweaters in basic blacks, blues and grays will never look dated and can always be perked up via colorful scarves or edgy jewelry. High suede boots add sex appeal to your sweater dresses. Stay away from fabrics with too much itchy wool content, as the uncomfortable nature of the material will relegate these sweaters to the forgotten back corners of your closet. Trust me…I know!
Thights. You can’t really get away with bare legs in the winter. Dry flakey skin and goose bumps don’t add much in the way of showing off your yoga sculpted stems. Fortunately opaque tights are available in a variety of colors and patterns giving you an opportunity to cover up while making a fashion statement.
Thermal Underwear. I saved this item for last as I wasn’t sure I even wanted to include it on my list. But alas, I can live in denial no longer…. If we are spending extended periods of time in the great outdoors during the season of snow and shorter days, then thermal underwear is an important part of our “ensemble”. Thermal’s saving grace for me is that it is now available in silk making it softer and less bulky than that of my childhood.
A little silk with my cashmere sweater, fur trimmed quilted jacket and high suede boots? Winter just got a bit more fashionable and thus palatable for me.
The Big Chill
Being an optimist at heart, I prefer to look at the silver lining of the impending chilly temperatures and use it as an excuse to add a few new key items to my closet, items that while being practical enough to keep my body warm, also serve to get my own heart racing with the anticipation of wearing them.
A Quilted Jacket or Vest. Pass on the knee-length down-filled puffy coat that has you looking like an oversized marshmallow. With today’s technology, upscale fabrics, and contoured fit, you can look city sleek while hitting the slopes or snowshoeing cross-country. Brighten up the gray days of winter by opting for bold color – hot pink anyone? Boston based, global brand M.Miller does it best.
The Camel Coat The forever-classic camel coat exudes confidence and style. Stick with traditional buttoned models with strong peak lapels and a tie belt for enduring appeal. Accessorize with scarves, hats, lapel pins, and/ or wide belts to give it your own personal signature. Already own this winter staple? Perfect! Now is the time to get it to the dry cleaners pronto so it will be ready when the first frost is upon us.
Scarf. My favorite scarf is a new scarf! Scarves, available at every price point, give you the opportunity to let your fashion flag wave. Coordinate colors, contrast colors, bulky knits, soft pashminas – so many options the winter might seem too short to try them all!
I have personally bought two already from one of my favorite Winchester stores, Hidden Treasures, on Church Street.
Gloves. Sure, the go-to practical style is a soft as silk black or brown leather preferably lined in fur or cashmere, but feel free to live life loud and grab a pair of those same leathers in purple, red or hot pink! I was swooning over such items recently in Elisha Daniels Accessory Boutique located at 116 Newbury Street, Boston. Talk about a quick pick me up for the winter doldrums!
Hats. As we all know, we lose most of our body heat through our heads, giving us the perfect excuse to cover it up! We might as well turn the practical into the fashionable and use it as an opportunity to stay stylin’. Goorin Brothers on Newbury Street has a terrific selection for both the ladies and the gents. Another local shop worth checking out is the whimsical world of Marie Galvin at Galvinized Headwear in the SOWA district of Boston. In addition to fascinators and hats worthy of a royal wedding, Marie’s winter hats will keep a smile on your face while keeping jack frost off of your ears (and give you a reason to buy a ticket for the Kentucky Derby 2012).
Boots. My current winter boots are a pair of leather Uggs that, although they keep my toes toasty, have me looking like a state trooper. Time for an upgrade STAT! Let’s face it, living in New England we do need to be practical what with the snow, ice, cobblestones and hilly terrain. Once again I will defer to M.Miller for a perfect collaboration of the practical with the fashionable. The Wedge boot gives just enough lift (without causing a treacherous situation) and comes in traditional shades of black and brown as well as punchy colors (to match your quilted coat?). Their suede boot, made in Italy is fully lined with a high shaft that looks great on the legs. My favorite for fun and shoveling (first time ever I used those two words together!) is the Igloo, a classic looking rabbit fur boot with suede trim. Is it snowing yet????
Fur or Faux. Aaahh, the king of all controversies. To fur or not to fur? These days, the faux looks so real this conundrum should only be determined by your pocketbooks or politics. One thing we cannot argue about, fur looks fantastic and keeps you warm! If you have an inherited fur in your attic (as do I) local furriers such as William H. Harris Furs, located in the Taj Hotel in Boston, will restyle to update your coat to a look that is more “you” and less Grandma.
Knitwear. Cashmere cardigans, shetland pullovers, chunky sweater dresses….no matter how many you own, you can never have enough! Layer over T-shirts or wear alone. Sweaters in basic blacks, blues and grays will never look dated and can always be perked up via colorful scarves or edgy jewelry. High suede boots add sex appeal to your sweater dresses. Stay away from fabrics with too much itchy wool content, as the uncomfortable nature of the material will relegate these sweaters to the forgotten back corners of your closet. Trust me…I know!
Thights. You can’t really get away with bare legs in the winter. Dry flakey skin and goose bumps don’t add much in the way of showing off your yoga sculpted stems. Fortunately opaque tights are available in a variety of colors and patterns giving you an opportunity to cover up while making a fashion statement.
Thermal Underwear. I saved this item for last as I wasn’t sure I even wanted to include it on my list. But alas, I can live in denial no longer…. If we are spending extended periods of time in the great outdoors during the season of snow and shorter days, then thermal underwear is an important part of our “ensemble”. Thermal’s saving grace for me is that it is now available in silk making it softer and less bulky than that of my childhood.
A little silk with my cashmere sweater, fur trimmed quilted jacket and high suede boots? Winter just got a bit more fashionable and thus palatable for me.