Cute & Cozy - So Down With That!

One of my favorite ways to block out chilly weather is with down! It’s the warmest material I’ve ever found for outerwear  and wonderfully lightweight. It’s the perfect topper to wear when you don’t want to do forty pieces below to feel warm. A short jacket has a sporty vibe. I love using one in a bright color; it’s a total mood-lifter! Try magenta, coral, warm blush, turquoise or lime over a neutral look. Use it in the same way you would a bomber and toss it over your outfit open, or wear it half-zipped. Play up the athleisure feel with track pants below and a chunky cropped sweater or refined sweatshirt. The crucial styling trick is to make sure you define your waist somehow, either via the cropped piece, a blouson silhouette or a half-tuck. Pair with bright sneakers, or elevate this casual look with pointy-toe ankle booties. So easy, so unconcernedly cool! Alternatively, go for a sleeker jacket silhouette: a parka or car-coat length piece. Many designs include princess seams or a self-belt for shape, which creates extra polish. Stay toasty but unencumbered below with a button-down tunic (plaids are fabulous this time of year! The multitude of colors creates so many possibilities for pairings) and leggings. Rock the shorter-layer-on-top look by adding a pullover sweater or sweatshirt above. You’re looking for a piece that hits anywhere between your natural waist and an inch or two above the tunic hem. Choose a coordinating color above (don’t be afraid to pull out one of the more obscure shades in the plaid) or use a bridge shade that’s between two of the colors in the plaid. For example, if your plaid is burgundy and blue, try a purple piece. If your tunic is a solid, add a(nother :)) bright shade.  Experiment with it and have fun!). A laidback look like this is a great place to try exuberant color schemes because you don’t need the formality or sophistication neutral or dark tones provide. Complete the look with flat or low-heeled hiking boots (higher heels are fine too, just make sure the styling is a less formal type – hikers, moto, combat silhouettes). PS I’ve gone with neutral boots here, but if you have, say, burgundy velvet hikers or blue suede combat boots, def feel free to break those out :). Happy cozy styling!