Style vs Warmth

Given the chilly weather today, I got to thinking about dressing for this weather while still looking stylish. I'm not a fan of big heavy jumpers as they add bulk so my favourite winter essential is the gilet. 

Today, I wore a faux fur brown gilet from Monsoon, which I watched for weeks, as it was reduced very slowly down to a more affordable £24 (from £80). Now, the jury's out on how trendy furry gilets are but I don't care; there's something about the cosy fur that I am drawn to and it looks lovely layered under a coat.

I wore the gilet with a purple & brown striped top from Marks & Spencer. Love these longer length tops and managed to pick up two of them in the sale. My skinny jeans are from H&M and my boots are my trusty Hobbs Emily Elasticated boots bought 4 years ago (when I worked and only had one child!). Proof that if you buy good boots, they will stand the test of time. The Emily has been replaced by the Jamie Elasticated Boot - currently on sale in the Hobbs Outlet, though still a substantial investment.

Another great gilet is the North Face Nuptse...down filled and toasty warm. Christmas 08 and 09 saw me investing firstly in a black one and then a dark pink one. Again, I wear these all the time, layering over long jumpers and skinny jeans and the ever present scarf.

Finally, for trendy thermals, check out the Uniqlo Heattech Range. None of your granny's long johns here and they are on offer at the moment. My favourite is the scoop neck tops available in 6 different colours - perfect for layering. 

Keep warm...we'll be talking scarves tomorrow :)