Cooler weather has officially fallen upon South Carolina, but due to the wide—and often times confusing—range of temperatures we endure throughout the day, Columbia’s fall/winter fashion scene can be a legitimate struggle. However, this Fashionista has conquered the challenge of successfully dressing for weather that entails 45 degrees at 9 a.m. and 75 degrees by noon. The secret to her success? Layering up!
The first detail of this Fashionista’s outfit that bring it from regular to rad in the blink of a perfectly mascara-clad eye is her cardigan. With exquisiteness in ease, “maxi sweaters” are one of this season’s most wearable trends that has made its way from the runway to the hallway. Because they create a long straight line down the body—making the wearer appear slimmer and taller—these über long cardigans are flattering on women of all shapes and sizes, and if that isn’t enough to persuade you to add one to your wardrobe, the fact that this piece is practically made for layering is sure to win you over.
Personally, I am in love with maxi sweaters because it is a simple statement piece that you can style your whole outfit around. Due to the extensive length, it is easy to play with the hemlines and lengths of the rest of your clothing/accessories to create the perfect visually appealing outfit. This Fashionista works the length levels, pairing her maxi sweater with a pair of distressed high rise skinnies, adding precisely detailed flair to her ensemble.
Because maxi sweaters make a serious style statement on their own, there’s no need to pile on a lot of excessive accessories. This Fashionista has mastered the cool weather layered look while keeping her ensemble from becoming too complicated. The simple black leather belt nicely ties in her black leather booties and black bow-accented tube top, while the wide-brim felt fedora hat and kate spade new york satchel enhance the trendy look.
If you take any accessorizing advice away from this Fashionista, I definitely suggest it be the bold scarf. In addition to the tartan pattern adding a pop of vibrant color (and a pop of life) to the otherwise relatively neutral outfit with the red, this scarf also ties in the blue of the denim as well as the black of the belt, booties and top—truly making the different pieces of the ensemble come together in perfectly orchestrated unison. But wait, it gets better! The scarf is actually reversible—bringing two of the season’s hottest patterns (plaid and houndstooth) together in one fun and functional fringed hem scarf!
If you, too, find yourself in unpredictable weather with extreme temperature changes throughout the day (or really just aren’t quite ready to fully accept the fact that winter has arrived), ease yourself into it gently via fun, fashionable and functional layered looks like this one.
