Reclaiming My Style: Saying NO to Winter Frump

So since we didn’t really get much of a fall in NYC (it felt like summer for most of it) AND I didn’t find the right shiny piece to fulfill my dreams of channeling the fashions in the Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems video, I have to push all my fashion fun into the winter season. I mean, it’s still fall but you know late November/early December plays many games. Shoot, it was below freezing one morning just last week.

And you know what, to be quite honest although winter is my most detested season, it IS a great time for fashion. Sheesh, seriously I can’t even believe I’ve lasted 36 winters here in the Big Apple. Like, why must we be subjected to things like black ice, any degree below 32, snowstorms, and wind chill factor?!?!?! WHYYYYY!?!?!? Anyway, back to the fashions.

So as I’m pulling out last winter’s accessories I realize like “yooooo, I have some really fun pieces!” And I’m not tooting my own horn because it’s not like I made those things, but I did have the right sense to buy them. Things like my fur trapper hat, fun faux fur fingerless gloves (which yeah, I can’t rock every day during the winter, but they’re still fun), countless beanies in an array of colors, blanket scarves, and all sorts of cool hats that I got from various men’s sections because I’ve got dome for days. And don’t get me started on how much I love coats—a few of my faves are kind of snug right now because I’ve gained weight but I still have quite a rotation of those that fit me well.

Layering is going to be my thing this winter. Ok, layering has ALWAYS been a thing every winter…lol. I learned the art of layering from my mama when she would dress me for school when I was a wee little thing and had to wear uniform skirts. She’d have me layered DOWN. But now as an adult who gets hot very easily and has no patience for waiting in line at stores that have the heat cranked up, layering is key. Also since I gained weight and a lot of things I own don’t fit as nicely as they did, layering is also going to be amazing because a lot of my skirts can accommodate the extra poundage but I’ll need to layer to keep warm. Plus I can take the layers off and still be dressed if it gets too hot. Boom!

So while this outfit pictured doesn’t include much layering (it was cold, but not THAT cold the day we shot these), picture it with either a pair of tights or leggings (or both) underneath and then a sweater over the top along with gloves and a scarf.

Photos Dadouchic

Outfit Details:

Coat
Top (old—see widget below for alternatives)
Skirt
Boots (old from JustFab—see widget below for alternatives)
Hat (eBay–see widget below for alternatives)
Sunglasses (find a more affordable alternative here)
Bag
Hair: Big Chop Hair Blown Straight (yup, same hair as the braid out hair I’ve been wearing but this time it was blow dried and then curled with a curling iron and then the curls fell…lol). Installed by Gabrielle Corney. Use code STYLE for 15% off.

Shop fun winter accessories in the widget below:

(don’t forget to use the arrow to scroll through as there is more than one page in the widget)