January has a tendency to bring with it some of the coldest, most brutal weather of the year. It can be tempting to just throw fashion to the side in favor of cozy sweatpants and warm boots, but I always try my best to stay warm while keeping my fashion game strong.
I grew up in New Hampshire, and it primed me for staying chic during harsh winters. The easiest way to do so is to start with a coat you are completely obsessed with. When the fall 2014 ready-to-wear collections were coming out, I immediately latched on to an oversized, sweeping, dramatic silhouette with an oversized collar seen in collections from Hermès and Creatures of Comfort. It is a silhouette that is completely chic and incredibly comfortable, giving you an effortless vibe that is difficult to attain when you are running around frozen!
I found the perfect version for myself in the prettiest eggplant purple Sessùn coat. With an oversized collar and tailored, but still slightly oversized effect, it is at once cozy, refined and flattering. Finding a coat that works with everything you wear and also feels like a statement is such a wonderful way to feel confident and fashionable when the weather makes you feel anything but. My winter wardrobe tends to be a cozy, feminized take on menswear, with structured pieces combined with softer ones. I always think the easiest way to look great when all you would rather do is curl up in a ball with a cup of hot chocolate is to streamline and use color and accessories to your advantage. My purple coat helps add some soft and slightly unexpected color to all of my outfits, and it truly serves as the perfect topper.
Though Hermès and Creatures of Comfort went for incredibly luxurious looks, I styled my coat in a slightly different way. To make it feel casual for an everyday look, I paired it with a cropped sweater from Urban Outfitters, black jeans and my favorite Frye Chelsea boots. I chose colors very purposefully. The blue sweater compliments the coat in a really lovely way, and the lightness of the color keeps me from constantly defaulting to dark, wintery shades. I have developed an affinity for blanket scarves, and this plaid one from American Eagle Outfitters is the perfect accent for my coat with its soft neutrals. My all-purpose purse from Madewell, the softest fingerless mittens and some killer earrings finish off the look for a refined, youthful and effortless daytime look for the coldest days.
Get My Look: 1. An oversized coat in an unexpected color. 2. A cozy, plaid blanket scarf. 3. AÂ cropped sweater.