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Reinterpret… blazers.  The ideal garment for cooler climes, remix a preppy, collegiate aesthetic with a candy-coloured punk rock cocktail.  Blazers splashed with hues of fuchsia, royal blue or emerald green will look incredible with a short tartan skirt, black opaque stockings, platform boots with hidden wedges & stacks of noisy bracelets.  Tie a vivid scarf around your neck in personal homage to an updated version of Balenciaga’s iconic Fall 07 ready-to-wear collection.

Rethink… anoraks.  Instead, upgrade to a buttery-soft, well-fitted leather motorcycle jacket.  Ebay has an incredible selection, & if you’re vegan or leather’s outside your budget, chain stores like Forever 21 have a variety of almost-leather jackets complete with snaps, zippers, pockets & biker detailing.  A hooded leather jacket is the ultimate in winter chic, so if you find one, make it yours!

Rework… scarves.  Go on a vintage shopping expedition to pick up a bunch of good quality scarves with unique designs.  Wool, silk, cotton, cashmere, the list is endless.  Worn around your neck, over your hair or even around the handle of your tote, they add instant interest & contrast to a simple outfit.

Reexamine… gloves.  They’re this season’s “it” accessory, & you’ll be able to find them everywhere, ranging all the way from an elegant driving glove to an alterno-cool fingerless style.  Expert tip: The fingerless glove, while effortlessly Karl Lagerfeld-chic, do, however, present the problem of frozen digits, so paint on some rad polish to keep you distracted from your inevitable frostbite.

Review… nail polish.  On that note, as is almost always the case when the temperature drops, the nail polish hues deepen too.  From the neon yellows & shocking pink polishes of summer, we slide into a range of berries, plums & inky colors to balance the imminent black, navy blue & grey clothing we’ll be surrounded with.  Keep it fun: try black with holographic glitter over the top, a royal blue nail with a white French tip, or a beautiful raspberry is-it-pink-or-is-it-red? polish.

Revise… hats.  They have a new shape & beautiful peaks to propel us forward into the future.  It’s not all shapeless beanies & loose-fitting snoods any more!  Equestrian helmets, bowlers, cloches, turbans & ushankas can all be snapped up for a pittance & worn to great effect.  They’re wonderful for disguising a bad hair day, & somehow able to miraculously garner attention while at the same time diverting it away from your rain-soaked visage.  Don’t be afraid of this fabulous accessory.

Re-evaluate… umbrellas.  They’re essential after all, so why brandish one with a real estate logo when you could be meandering delightedly beneath something fabulous?  Get your hands on an umbrella in your favorite color, a brolley with an eye-popping pattern or something sleek & wonderful.  Carved wooden handles, pinstriped panels, & marvelously unconventional shapes (hearts!  Squares!) are all yours for the picking.

Words by Gala Darling

2.41 (17 votes)

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