Look Cute, Stay Warm
Look cute, stay warm! That's my simple objective to dressing for winter weather. It's not easy, especially when it's -10 and wearing heels is out of the question. Instead, I turn to my cold weather staples - the coats and accessories that I can't live without once the temperature starts to drop!Today I'm sharing five different outfits that incorporate these items: 
When you have an important meeting, a date, or if you just need to look like you have your sh*t together, I recommend pairing a statement coat with stand out accessories. I believe that a warm (i.e. wool, lined) statement coat is a wonderful investment - there's nothing cute about arriving to a job interview in your North Face parka. This Soia & Kyo coat was a few hundred dollars, but I've had it for years and I'm confident that it will never go out of style. The houndstooth print is classic, and the clean cut lines of the silhouette are beautiful.The black and white canvas made it easy to pair with hot pink accessories. I opted for patent leather booties, but if it's a snowy day then your basic black winter boot would work just fine! 
A camel coat is perfect for almost any occasion. The one I've chosen is a military cut, which automatically makes any outfit more dressy. All I did was add a cool hat, and a patterned scarf to really make the outfit stand out! What I'm wearing underneath is pretty boring (black jeans, sweater), but by choosing well-cut garments and special accessories I'm comfortable and look put together.I love these boots by DÄV. They're water-repellent, fleece-lined, and are shiny enough to resemble patent leather. I cannot stress enough how awesome it is to have fleece-lined boots! My feet stay totally warm, and I can wear them on even the slushiest days without worrying about salt stains or the cold. 
Duffle coats are perfect for weekend wear! I dressed mine down by adding an adorable headband (knitted by my mom!!), and my favourite pair of blue jeans. I love the way the bright red coat pairs with the denim and caramel-coloured boots. I'll be the first to admit that leather boots are not practical in the snow, but they work well on a cold, dry day if paired with thick socks.It can be hard to find accessories to match brightly coloured coats, but I think these olive-toned gloves go with almost anything! I've worn them with black, grey, pink, grey, brown, and now red - and they haven't let me down yet! 
When I left on a study abroad for six months, I only had room to pack ONE warm coat. This classic navy peacoat was my first choice. The basic colour ensures that it can be worn in a variety of situations, and the hip-length cut is both flattering and versatile. This peacoat has travelled to most of Europe, and it's seen a lot of Canada too!In this outfit I paired it with cute Hunter boots, and a classic plaid scarf. I kept the rest of the outfit grey and muted - the stand out piece is my "Sutherland" clan brooch that I pinned to my lapel :) it's all in the details! 
I think I could nickname this outfit "Winter in the Six", because every girl in Toronto dons some version of this between December and March. It's cold. Freezing. Cold. When I get my butt out of bed at 6am and it's still dark outside, I really don't care whether my coat matches my gloves or boots. I want to stay as warm as possible, and blend in with the rest of the TTC crowd. I swear I'm a morning person - just not in winter :)This coat is by Atelier Noir, a division of Rudsak. I got it at Costco of all places (thanks to my BFF for finding it for me!), and I absolutely love it. I've owned both a Canada Goose and a Moose Knuckles, and I find that this jacket keeps me just as warm. If not warmer! I also like the subtle branding, and big comfy hood. I hope you enjoyed these outfit snapshots! Let me know if you have any winter staples that you can't live without!
- Coat - Soia & Kyo / Hat - Kate Spade / Gloves - Ted Baker / Booties - J.Crew / Pants - Citizens of Humanity
- Coat - H&M / Hat - J.Crew / Scarf - J.Crew / Pants - Citizens of Humanity / Boots - DÄV
- Coat - Burberry / Headband - handmade (by my mom) / Gloves - Banana Republic / Denim - J.Crew / Boots - Michael Kors
- Coat - J.Crew / Skirt - J.Crew / Scarf - Burberry / Boot liners - handmade (also by my mom) / Boots - Hunter / Brooch - Gift
- Coat - Atelier Noir / Gloves - Aeon Attire / Pants - Citizens of Humanity / Boots - DÄV