Winter Warmers - My Problem With Coats

Navy Blue Zip Coat by New Look - £44.99

I really suck at buying appropriate seasonal clothes... I love layering, so when I'm shopping I tend to buy things that are adaptable enough to be layered in the winter and worn alone in the summer. I live in cardigans of various states of thickness and warmness and own a limited number of coats - a rain mac (which does nothing to keep you warm), a leather jacket (which does nothing to keep you warm), a cropped military style jacket (which does nothing to keep you warm) and a black button-up coat, which does keep me warm but is at least 7 years old and falling apart.

Coats are particularly expensive, which I think is another reason why I tend not to look at them when I'm shopping. I think darker button up style jackets are pieces you can spend a few extra pounds on and will last for years to come but to spend £50-80 on one piece of clothing on the high street can seem outrageous. Buying a classically styled coat would help me with this as I could know it would never go out of fashion - I especially think this is true for darker blues and blacks which always look smart. Timeless pieces are probably worth the investment.

So, I figured this is the perfect time to see what's on offer across the high street and see if its time to replace my one winter coat (or perhaps add a few more!).

Wool Coat by Crafted at Republic - £60.00

Short Hooded Swing Coat by Topshop - £75.00

Navy Hooded Duffle Coat by River Island - £80.00

Fall Wardrobe Staple: Berry Toned Nail Polishes

It's officially autumn - the chilly weather has set in full force this week and its time to pull out those winter warmers and snuggle in front of a roaring fire, instead of bask in the last of the sun. Autumn is my favourite time of year for fashion - layering, scarves, boots, coats and those fab berry shades which I love to rock all year around.

Nails are a great way to express your fall fashion loves - they subtlety add life to an outfit, can draw a whole outfit of different colours together in one go and can add a pop of colour to the darker winter days. So here are my top four favourite berry toned nail polishes for Autumn 2012!

From left:

Essie Nail Polish in Angora Cardi 

A deep, dusty plum tone - a subtle colour with great coverage but at the high end of the nail polish market. Check out my full review of the polish HERE.

Essie Nail Polish in Size Matters  

A bold deep red shade - leaves a shiny manicured effect finish but again at the high end of the nail polish market. Check out my full review of the polish HERE.

Barry M Nail Paint in Raspberry 

Different in every light but a plum, red and deep pink mixture. Only £2.99 with great staying power and finish. Check out my full review of the polish HERE.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Black Cherries

A very deep purple, almost black shade with hints of red in different lights. Very unique colour with glitter highlights. Check out my full review of the polish HERE.

What are your favourite berry toned nail polishes for fall - let me know in the comments as I'd love to try them out!

Outfit Of The Day: Olivia Palermo on October 22nd

I'm really loving Olivia Palermo's style at the moment - she mixes skinny jeans and leggings with oversized tops which are perfect for fall and her outfits feature basics that can easily be replicated by style-savvy fans.

On October 22nd, Olivia was spotted walking her dog in New York city rocking the Hudson 'Leeloo' Super Skinny Cropped jeans in a beautiful purple shade, an oversized black high necked sweater, simple black flats and a pair of Westward sunglasses.

The gorgeous berry tone of the jeans are perfectly on trend for fall and winter - I especially like the black stripe down the side which pulls the shades of the whole outfit together. Incredibly pairing the super skinny jeans with the hugely oversized jumper still looks sleek, flattering and chic too! I'm really loving her style at the moment and can't wait to see what kinds of looks she wears next!

The Power of a Cute Sweater (Designer Edition)

Wildfox Couture's Sweaters from left: Sparkle Heart Baggy Beach Jumper , Seeing Stars Lennon Sweater and Love Me Baggy Beach Jumper

Whether its a hoodie, a light casual sweater,a zip up or a winter warmer, hoodies and cute sweaters are a great edition to your wardrobe. They're not just great for covering up after a workout or hanging around at home in, I think they can give everyday outfits a bit of spark and style! You can brighten up a pair of jeans and add a pair of loafers for a winter warmer, or rock it with some leggings and add some boots for some street style!

You can really see where the inspiration for the high street alternatives come from by looking at the designer pieces that are produced each season. Wildfox is one of my favourite for cute tees, sweaters and pullovers but there are lots of great brands whom produce great quality, wearable pieces for a more high end price. Check out my rundown of great sweater brands below and my full rundown of high street alternatives HERE!

Which is your favourite and have you seen any copies on the high street? Let me know in the comments below!

Haute Hippie's Sweaters from left: Navajo Fairisle Cropped Sweater, Embellished Aran Sweater in Nude and Chain Cable Pullover

Markus Lupfer's sweaters from left: Sequin Star Jumper in Charcoal, Tinsel Star Intarsia Jumper in Beetroot and the Totes Amaze Jumper

Planet Blue's Sweaters from left: 

The Power of a Cute Sweater (High Street Edition)

Republic's sweaters from left: Crafted Azted Cross Jumper, Soul Cal Deluxe Striped Jumper and the Crafted Rebel Jumper

Whether its a hoodie, a light casual sweater,a zip up or a winter warmer, hoodies and cute sweaters are a great edition to your wardrobe. They're not just great for covering up after a workout or hanging around at home in, I think they can give everyday outfits a bit of spark and style! You can brighten up a pair of jeans and add a pair of loafers for a winter warmer, or rock it with some leggings and add some boots for some street style!

All of the best High Street stores have got a great collection for Autumn/Winter this year, plus, if you've got a little extra to spend on fall fashion there are the rather fab designer ones too! These are some of my favourite sweaters from this season from Republic, Topshop, New Look and River Island and be sure to check back soon to see my favourite designer ones too!

Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!

River Island's Sweaters From Left: Black Sequin Grid Stitch Jumper, Black Rose Print Jacquard Chelsea Girl Jumper and the Bright Coral Jumper

Topshop's Jumpers From Left: Knitted Shimmer Star Jumper, Oversized Heart Jumper by Love and the Knitted Stud Sheer Jumper

New Look's Jumpers from Left: Cameo Rose Cream Skull Printed Oversized Jumper, Dark Red Twist Knit Heart Jumper and the Cream Fluro Printed Yoke Knitted Jumper

Smart Fall Transition Outfit Guide

Transitioning from summer to autumn is SO much fun! Its one of my favourite times of the year fashionwise because you can wear a lot of your summer stuff still, just by adding layers to keep warmer! Blazers and scarves and boots are fun for winter but mixing them with summer gear is when people can be most stylish I think! Berry, blacks and bronzes are perfect for the season too - I know there's one shade of purple that I love to rock in the autumn and own so many pieces of that hue (I'm sure I'll blog about it soon!).

So... here's a smart fall transition outfit that can be worn when its chilly in the morning and when its warm in the afternoon just by adding or removing the blazer! 

Outfit

Topshop Aubergine Structured Blazer <3

Topshop Cream Lace Back Vest

New Look Black Skinny Jeans

Accessories

Sam Edelman Gwyneth Sandals in Black <3

Accessorize Brushed Heart Pendant

Nali Flower Ring

Whistles Seed Bead Ring

Free People Wingate Satchel <3

Essie Nail Polish in Case Study

Animal Tima Mittens [Review]

The weather in the UK has suddenly gone from a warm autumn to a freezing winter in a matter of weeks, so I figured it was time to look at purchasing something to keep my fingers warm this holiday season. The big problem with gloves is that they are SO easy to lose but when I saw these mittens, I couldn't resist purchasing them.

They are handmade and the tag even features the line "Handmade and Ever So Slightly Individual". The gloves themselves are so soft and feature a fleece lining inside to keep your fingers warm in the coldest of conditions. The pattern of the weaved snowflake is adorable too and individual also.

I chose a pair in the colour 'White Swan' as I loved the contrast of the blue and white hues with the button detailing. I actually brought a pair to give to my sister for Christmas and a pair for myself (that I've given to my Mum to give to me for Christmas!).

What kind of gloves are you rocking this winter? Let me know in the comments below!