Winter Wishlist

Its November. Where has the year gone? It’s that time of year now where Summer feels like a world away and the sun is nowhere to be seen. Autumn is on its way out and the Winter is in. The freezing cold mornings, seeing your breath as you walk, the leaves on the trees have only a trace of green left and its grey. Everything is grey; the sky, the dark mornings, and generally my outfit.

Which got me thinking, although Winter’s in England can get bitterly cold, the kind of mornings where Jack Frost is definitely nipping at your nose, and you look like Rudolf by the time you arrive at work, not the less, arrive anywhere, all things aside, there are so many things I love about Winter! Seasonal drinks (gingerbread latte, spiced apple anyone?) hats with bobbles on the size of my head, comfy boots, wearing a blanket scarf as an actual blanket (only because wearing PJ’s to work isn’t allowed), and most importantly to me, the knitwear. Give me all the knitwear! Being able to wear six million layers without feeling silly, I’m all for it.

So, with the influx of the cold weather and the shops now filling their stores with all manner of loveliness to covet, in the run up to Christmas (I’ll say again, where has the year gone?) I thought I would put together a wish list of the things that have caught my eye, and that I have been lusting over, since it dropped below 10 degrees C.

Wait a sec, to see more wish list items..    Everything with an asterisk ** is on my personal wishlist

Jumpers

One of the first things ( I lie, the first thing) I think about when the weather gets colder is new jumpers. Hands down, my favourite item of clothing when it comes to Winter, you can never have too many. I would live in jumpers if I could. I’m that person who takes a jumper on a summer holiday just in case, the one who packs a jumper for every eventuality when going for a weekend away, just because options. So, just like buying a new pencil case would get me all excited for the new school year, buying new jumpers to survive another cold English winter, gives me the same chills. (Pun absolutely intended.)

I think jumpers can really express personal style. Whether you go for a cropped one, thinner ones for layering under or opt for a more oversized fit like I love to do, you really can go all out. The high street has some really great options too so you don’t have to break the bank to get the look you want. I’ve picked some of my favourites below, and suggested some alternatives too, so if your struggling to find the perfect gift for your friend, sister or girlfriend or if you just want to treat yo self then have a browse, and I hope you find some inspiration.

**Funnel neck jumper – Topshop

Nude jumper – H&M

Oversized jumper – Zara

Grey jumper – H&M

Chunky knit – H&M

Boots

Another thing I love to wear in the winter is boots. Banish the sandals and the dolly shoes to a box in the bedroom for another year and bring on the boots! What I look for in a boot is pretty much the same year on year: black? check, slight heel? check, big enough to wear with woolly socks? check. But I guess with trends changing and new fashions coming in, its all in the details.

First off, I love a good studded boot. Givenchy dollar I ain’t got, so these studded boots from  Topshop are a perfect dupe for the Prue boots which could set you back up to £900! This year I’ve really been getting into the patent shoe trend, and these cut out patent boots  with gold hardware a la Balenciaga are also a real steal at just £20!

**Studded boots – Topshop

Carmen studded boot – Jessica Buurman

Kensington Flora Chelsea boots – ASOS

**Patent cut-out boots – River Island

Lewis biker boot – Jessica Buurman

Effie leather boots – ASOS

Coats and Jackets

The final piece to the puzzle for me, are coats. Whilst keeping you warm, I think a coat can make a real statement, and elevate your jeans-and-a-basic-tee #ootd to something instantly stylish and put together. Trends can come and go, but I always try and keep to my staples every year, so I can transition them through the season and into the next. I always like to have my staple 3 every year to switch up with the changing trends and temperatures: a leather jacket/biker, a structured coat and my third, something a bit more statement and fun.

Leather jacket

I don’t think you can go wrong with a leather jacket or a biker jacket. They’re easy, throw on pieces that can go with pretty much everything, and can be found for all tastes and budgets. Whether you want to keep it simple, or experiment with hardware, faux fur and studs you really have so much choice. A really versatile piece in my wardrobe, the leather jacket has seen many an outing and will continue to up until it’s literally too cold and I have to bring out the big guns.

Moto biker jacket – ASOS

Pile lined biker jacket  – H&M

Faux fur collar biker jacket – Warehouse

Leopard print collar jacket – New look

Structured coat

A structured coat can have different meanings and be in all different styles, depending on what you’re into. ‘Structured’ for me tends to lean more towards smart, tailored, either belted or buttoned, or cinched at the waist, and with lepels, although different to a trench. I buy these coats in muted colours generally keeping it neutral, in greys, camel or biscuit shades. I have loved my structured belted camel coat I got for my birthday last year and has definitely had its wear ths past Winter but this year, I’m thinking I want to change it up a little.

**Oversized wool coat  – H&M

Floral embroidered coat – River Island

Petite Meg Zip coat – Topshop

Wool blend coat – H&M

Grey faux fur trim coat – River Island

Statement coat

I suppose the name speaks for itself. A coat that might turn heads, a wild card if you will. Statement coats are great for when you want to keep your outfit clean and simple, but want to look like you’re polished, put together and you spent time getting dressed in the morning. When actually, having a statement coat takes away all the thinking and outfit planning, and you can afford those extra ten minutes in bed, as the coat does all the talking.

Coats can vary in length and detailing every year but the few constants with regard to trends, in my mind have to be: leopard print, faux fur and checks. In their various different incarnations these trends have returned to AW for a few years now and this year is no exception. I love to have a statement coat every year, just to add that pop of colour or texture into my wardrobe, and add a different touch to my existing pieces.

Pink faux fur coat – Topshop

**Faux shearling jacket – Zara

Black faux shearling biker jacket – Topshop

Teddy coat – Missguided

Faux shearling jacket – Monki via ASOS

Leopard print faux fur coat – Oasis via ASOS

Polar bear cocoon coat  –Topshop

Accessories

Accessories are key. Quality accessories can make an outfit. One accessory I like to switch up is my handbags. I’ll admit, when it comes to bags I may as well be Mary Poppins. In that, the bigger they are the more I fill them with things I don’t need…spoon full of sugar anyone? So, over the last year I have tried to make the conscious effort to down-side my bags and only put in them what I actually need. Which is great, as now I can really invest in key pieces that can really make a difference to an outfit. My favourite handbag of the moment has to be a cross-body. They can go anywhere from just popping to the shops, to carrying them on holiday, to holding your lipstick on a night out!

Cross-body bag with gold detail – Zara

Crossbody bag with leaf detail – I now can’t find the black version online (as pictured above) but you can still get the blue one here and the silver version here

Floral embroidered cross-body – Topshop

Studio collection Gold ring leather cross-body – River Island

Pom-pom mini satchel – Forever 21

**Wallet cross-body bag – Zara

Another accessory I swear by in winter are hats and scarves. Scarves are best the size of an actual blanket, cacooning myself like nanook of the north as my parents would say, all wrapped up, hidden away from the world. The same goes for hats. I love buying new hats as it gets colder. Always always I’ll gravitate to bobble hats more than anything, tending to go for the one with the most obnoxious bobble on, the size of my head, just because. This multi-coloured pom hat from Zara is an absolute gem! It comes in black too, win win! Much like jumpers, when its cold, I don’t think there is such a thing as having too many hats (my boyfriend may disagree with that however, my collection ever expanding…) but I just love them!

Fur pom beanie – Topshop

**Supersize knit pom hat – Zara

**Large scarf – H&M

Available in pink, powder pink, grey and beige this real-life blanket is a must!

Super soft scarf – Zara Also available in grey

Oversize scarf – Topshop

I hope this post gave you a little gift-guide inspiration for that special someone, or just a little sneak peek of what the high street has to offer without having to move from your sofa (your welcome!)

  So whether you’re going to treat yo self and update your winter wardrobe or buy that special gift for someone this Christmas, I hope you enjoyed!

Happy shopping!

blog-sig

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *