This post has been in my head for a few weeks now, but life seems to get in the way. Now that I am finally getting around to writing it, the temperature is in the 70's in the first week of February. Don't worry though, I know it will get cold again. When it does you can refer to this post to do some fun online shopping!
My favorite time to shop for clothes and shoes is when the seasons change. I like to think of my shopping as a three step process. First, do I have all the closet staples covered? I try to find out if there are any new fun closest staple ideas from fashion magazines and I do an essential run through of my closet to see if I need to replace any of my old staples for that particular season. Next, once I have all my staples covered I try to pick out a couple of fun trends for that season. I purchase a couple of trendy pieces, preferably pieces that are trendy yet versatile that I can wear with different things or in different ways. Last, but not least, if I am not already broke... I like to fill in with accessories.
You know what Clairee from Steel Magnolias always said, "The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize." Ya'll… I consider myself more of a rule breaker, but this is one fashion rule that I always follow. I feel naked without any accessories. Accessories can take outfits to so many different levels and looks and accessories can take the same two articles of clothing from spring to winter. Hence, if you are on a budget look for items that are solid colors and basic staples. If you have solid color items, you can focus spending more of your money on accessories to change your look. I am listing some closet staple ideas below for winter outfits and also linking up with some pictures to give you ladies ideas for your winter closet. I am not linking each individual picture, because I am not that fancy. I am also not getting paid for any of these purchases. I found all these pieces on Amazon, Target, Nordstrom or Old Navy. The pictures show the item name and website where they were found. I hope some of you all find something useful here for your future winter wardrobe. As always, I love putting outfits together or helping people with shopping so feel free to message me with any questions!
Winter Wardrobe Checklist:
- Comfy flat boots - (Look for a tall cute brown and black pair that have flat heels in case you get caught in an ice or snow storm.)
- Sassy Booties - I like to make sure I have one black pair and one brown pair. Look for styles that have heels which are comfortable, but can still be worn dressy or casual. You want to find a pair that you can wear with tights under a dress to work or with jeans and a cute tope on the weekend.
- Tights - Did I mention that I am a rule breaker? Many women will tell you that if you are over a certain age you should not wear tights. My advise, if it is warm and you feel comfortable in it, then wear what you want! When I say tights, I am not talking about pink tights. I am talking about a pair of basic thick black tights and you will also probably want to pick up a brown or grey pair. If you are feeling really sassy you can look for some that have patterns and that is a fun way to add flair to your outfit. Do a little mixed pattern between your dress and your tights. If you feel that you cannot pull off tights, then get a good nice pair of black leggings. If you follow me on Instagram then you know I love the Spanx leggings and they are uber warm for winter weather.
- Skinny Jeans - Old Navy actually has some great skinny jeans that are really comfortable and warm. They are called the Rockstar Super Skinny.
- Wide leg jeans - this is more on the trendy side because wide leg pants seem to be making a comeback this year. However, this trend always comes and goes so invest in a pair that is high quality and will last because you may not wear them one season, but maybe they will be in style the next season. NYDJ is a brand that I really love and are made for older female body types. They also come in petite or regular.
- Sweaters - I like to have a couple of long tunic sweaters that I can wear with leggings or skinny jeans. A tight fitted turtleneck sweater to wear under jackets and vest is also a must. Then just have a couple of sweaters that you can throw on with jeans for the weekend or a black skirt for a work day.
- Sweater Dress - This dress is always a winner. You can wear it with or without leggings depending on the weather. The key to a great sweater dress is the fit. I like them to be not too long or not too short. It is also hard to find one that is not too boxy or too tight. When you find the perfect fit, it will be your favorite winter dress.
- Blazers/Jackets - Of course everyone needs a basic navy or black blazer. Blazers are great because you can wear them for work or even a night out with jeans over a fitted shirt. If you have extra room in your budget a long cardigan is also a good idea as it can be worn over a sleeveless dress to winterize the outfit with some booties or you can wear it as casual weekend attire with jeans/leggings. An awesome leather jacket is also a great investment. You can instantly look edgy by wearing it over a casual dress.
- Vest - When fur vest first became a fashion statement I honestly thought they would be a fad. I am now convinced they are here to stay. I am very happy about this because I think I have one in every basic color and style. I think everyone needs a cropped fur vest and a long fur vest. You can wear them interchangeably with dresses, leggings and jeans. You can totally change the look of one basic dress by wearing a long fur vest with booties or a cropped fur vest with tall boots. Try it, you will be surprised.
- Coats - I like to have one super casual coat that is my go-to coat for really cold weather or a blizzard type situation. Then of course it is always nice to have a coat that you can wear over a nice dress or business casual clothing for work.
- Add-ons - If you have room in your budget and you have secured all your staple items listed above here are some ideas to spice up your basics.
1.) A fun patterned, funky fabric or sequin booties.
2.) A leopard print clutch or leopard print booties.
3.) Bright colored or wildly printed scarves. I personally like the unity scarves because they are easy to wear
and you can wear them long in a big loop or wrap them around twice if something shorter looks better.
4.) Statement necklaces. Statement necklaces can also totally change the look of an outfit.
For additional info, check out some of the cute basic pieces that I recently found online. Most of these were still available a couple of days ago, but some were on sale so if you see anything you like you should probably act fast. Thanks for reading and happy shopping!
Once again, you have covered all the bases. Thanks for doing everyone's research for them.