Baby... It's Cold Outside!

The Winter Blues

The fall “sweater weather” season has come to an end and we are officially in the coldest time of the year… winter!  I don’t know about you, but I definitely struggle with a bit of seasonal depression because the colder temperatures and less sunlight during the day doesn’t make me want to go ANYWHERE.  Something that has helped with this is continuing to add excitement into my outfits when I am getting ready during the winter season.  Winter fashion really only means more clothes!  Although fashion is not a cure for seasonal depression, it has definitely motivated me to get excited to experiment with winter fashion/styles.

Warm Versus “Cute” 

Growing up in New York has not only taught me so much about fashion, but also how to dress fashionably during the winter seasons. When I was a teenager, for whatever reason, it was not “cool” to cover your cute outfits with warm winter gear during the cold seasons.  My high school was filled with girls still wearing crop tops in 25 degree weather, and guys wearing their new fancy sneakers in the snow.  As an adult and learning so much about fashion since then, I could not imagine doing that now.  Accessories are one of the most exciting aspects of an outfit, and definitely come in handy during the winter months.  My favorite accessories to add to a warm, cozy, winter outfit are hats and scarves.  There are so many different textures, colors, and ways to wear them that could bring so much more personality to your outfits… all while keeping you warm!

Layers, Layers…and More Layers!

As a kid, my mom would put so many layers of clothes under my jacket and pants, that I would be sweating!  I have learned so much about layering since then, and how to do it in a way that keeps you both warm and comfortable.  The most important aspect of layering in a fashionable way is wearing multiple layers of clothing that you can either take off or put back on comfortably, without ruining a perfectly good outfit.  When traveling to and from work, I always make sure to have all my layers on.  However, throughout the day,  I am able to take off some of my layers and still feel confident in my outfit to feel cute and comfortable.  

A typical combination of layers can consist of starting with:

1. a short sleeved shirt

2. with a long sleeve thermal shirt over it

3. With a cardigan/sweater over that 

4. And finishing it off with the jacket of your choice.

Layering has become a game changer for me when I discovered heat technology.  A couple years ago, I was shopping at a store called Uniqlo and found their collection of heat tech that consisted of leggings, turtlenecks and long sleeve shirts.  It was advertised as ultra thin clothing that can keep you warm in weather as cold as -4 degrees.  I know that sounds impossible, but honestly…my life has completely changed ever since! I have never been warmer during winter seasons and I now always start my outfits with heat tech as my base.

Step 1: Heat Tech

Step 2: Warm Sweater & Pants

Step 3: Jacket of Choice

Step 4: Accessorize with Warm Gear

Comfort is Key!

Through every season, the most important part of an outfit is comfortability.  Always remember how important comfort is in fashion when feeling confident and being your authentic self.  Don’t let clothes define you… and instead bring clothes to life by adding your unique style and personality.  Hopefully these tips help you create some amazing outfits this winter season!

Wearing versus Styling: A Growing Debate

Can you relate?

As much as I hate to admit it, I have a shopping addiction.  Now if you’re anything like me, you definitely always find a reason to buy something you like.  Even if it’s not something you would necessarily wear ALL the time, you find a reason to buy something that is just too cute to leave behind.  If you can relate to this then, yes, we are on the same page here.  

I really love all different types of clothes, and selfishly, always think they belong in my closet.  However, I have bought so many clothes that are either never worn or only worn once or twice.  Sometimes they just could never go with anything else I own.  Whenever I would go on social media sites and see people wearing those exact same pieces of clothing, I always wonder what on Earth I’m doing wrong because I absolutely love the way they wear it.  Then I realized: it is the way they are styling these specific clothing.  I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “But isn’t styling just putting together clothes and making it look good?” The answer is yes and no.  Yes, because you are bringing together different clothes to make an outfit look good.  No, because it is not as simple as that.  

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York and attending a performing arts school brought so much excitement and creativity when it came to getting ready in the morning.  I loved incorporating tights, belts, sweat vests, and so many different additions to my outfits that would take a simple outfit, to something special and different.  I would always get so many compliments on my outfits, and people asking me how I thought of putting my outfit together in that way.  However, going to college in Delaware made me experience a whole different perspective.  Outfits were a lot more simple and to the point: a pair of jeans and a cute top.  Now don’t get me wrong, you can never go wrong with a pair of jeans and a cute top.  But I so desperately missed seeing fashion around me that seemed so unique to each person.  

But how do we do it?

Some ways of styling that I personally love to do is throwing on tights underneath a pair of shorts during the colder seasons, layering fancy leather jackets with a sweatsuit to give a more casual look, wearing scarves as belts, or simply wearing a collared shirt under a plain sweatshirt to dress it up.  There are so many different ways to get creative with styling so that your wardrobe never feels repetitive or boring.  For example, these TikTok videos from other creatives can help guide your style in ways you never thought was possible.

When wearing clothes, it is extremely easy to get comfortable with just throwing it on exactly how it was meant to be.  However, the fun part about fashion is: there aren’t any rules.  Styling clothing in a way that makes you feel the most confident, comfortable, and happy is the only way you should be wearing your clothes. As stated by the JD Institute of Fashion Technology, a psychologist once said, styling fashion can allow you to communicate with others and change people’s perception.  By styling your clothes, instead of simply wearing them, you are able to bring them life and continue telling your story.

Get Ready With Me...

Favorite part of the day

Picking an outfit has got to be one of my favorite and least favorite things to do.  Whenever going anywhere, we always ask ourselves… What on earth should I wear? Trust me, that’s me everyday of the week, whether I’m going to work or simply going out to hang with friends.  But the beauty in fashion is how fun and exciting it can be.  Instead of seeing it as a chore, I started to see getting ready as a way to express how I may be feeling that specific day and what makes me feel the most confident in my own skin, all while also thinking about the weather of course. 

Where it all started

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York means that I have been surrounded by various different types of fashion styles my entire life.  From vintage clothing to the various modern styles of that time, I always loved to incorporate bits and pieces of all of these different styles into one.  This is definitely one of my biggest blessings in life because it has ignited my love for fashion at such an early age.  My mom would always dress me up as if I was a little doll and looking back at old pictures helps me better understand why I am the way I am today.  Going to college in Delaware was definitely a culture shock when it comes to fashion styles and how what I was used to wearing, was not worn there.  Although it made me uncomfortable at first, I learned so much about embracing differences within culture, fashion, and diversity.  Moving back to New York after college made me so much more excited to continue expressing my growing love for fashion with people who had different styles than me.  

Step 1:

When I begin to pick an outfit, I always start with what bottoms I'd like to wear.  I usually always base my outfit around my bottoms because they are the biggest deciding factor when it comes to the weather.  Bottoms can vary by length, thickness, and details.  All of which, the weather plays a huge role.  After choosing my bottoms, I then decide which top would look best with it.  Now, I know, tops also can vary drastically from length, to sleeves, and to fabric.  But that honestly just makes this process even more exciting, in my opinion.

Step 2:

Now depending on the weather and which season it is, my favorite part about picking an outfit is choosing which jacket or coat to wear to put the cherry on top.  A coat or jacket definitely brings your whole entire outfit together and can completely change a basic, plain outfit into a trendy, exciting outfit.  I have way too many jackets, but I am truly obsessed with each one.  From furs, to trench coats, to various different types of leather jackets, jackets can always bring necessary details to an outfit.

Step 3

Lastly, one of the most important parts of putting together an outfit is the shoes and accessories.  Shoes also can vary drastically, but when I’m deciding which shoes look best with my outfits, I always tend to go the route that would make me feel the most comfortable.  COMFORT IS KEY when choosing an outfit because this will ultimately make you feel the most confident within yourself.  As far as accessories, this definitely varies person to person.  I personally love to keep it simple and tend to wear jewelry that holds special significance in my life.  However, I love seeing others express themselves with funky, colorful jewelry that really elevates an outfit in ways I didn’t even think was possible.  And that right there… is the beauty in fashion.