Chic Geek: Planning Your Winter “Looks”

Nov 05, 2008 20 Comments by

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A blogumn by Delia Hauser


There was a single winter chill in Los Angeles this past week.  One teeny tiny nippy breeze and I thought, “YES! I can write my chic geek holiday decoration article this week!”  But, after a sobering 80 degree afternoon I realized it just might be too soon after all.  For me, nothing is as exciting as the holiday season except maybe LAYERING.   Ah layering!  How I love you so!  But, like most things in this world, I have some beef with how people approach their winter look.  Mostly, they don’t approach it AT ALL; it is purely functional.  I say, why choose warmth over style when you can have both?!

When most people buy their winter coats, they choose something neutral to go with more things in their closet.  Frankly, I think this is the where everything goes very wrong.  Once you’re all bundled up in a hat, scarf and gloves, your outfit is covered up, so why do you care if your coat matches it?  I think we should approach our bundled look as a separate outfit.  It is our protective shell, but it’s also what everyone sees when we are outside or coming into work or a restaurant, so why not make it really good?  Hell, it’s our chance to have a legitimate costume change during the day!

I suggest having two or three winter looks to switch up depending on the day or occasion.  Buy coats you are happy to put on!  Bulkier doesn’t mean you’ll be warmer.  If you wear a hat with a tailored coat, you’ll be just as warm as your friend in the down puffer coat.  I promise.  If you’re strapped for cash right now, you can still have more than one coat.  Buy vintage on Etsy, ebay or from your local vintage shops.  Once you have a few that you love, buy a scarf, hat, gloves and rain boots to complete each look.  Scarves are taking on new and exciting forms these days.  If you have a coat that buttons higher up, you can pair it with a scarflette that won’t add a ton of bulk around your neck or under your coat. Luxuriate in a pair of opera length leather gloves or warm handmade mittens.  Rain boots are super cute these days too.  Shop around before you buy the standard.  Though all of my examples come from Zappos, even Target sometimes carries adorable striped or polka dotted wellies.

Winter looks don’t have to be mismatched concoctions thrown together at the last second anymore.  Plan yours out.  Buy cozy, but buy chic!

Everything you need to get you fashionably through the winter after the jump:

Hats

a. Anthropologieclick link for price
b. Aspasia – $29
c. Tomoka Tahara – $45
d. S Loves C - $38
e. Maribel – $30
f. Urban Outfitters – $42
g. Anthropologieclick link for price
h. Liza Rietz – $42
i. Paula Deer – $45
j. Piper & Paisley – $32

Scarves

a. Beebun – $20
b. Carmelita Marie – $50
c. Perpetual Downpour – $30
d. Tijusai – $60
e. Spratters & Jayne – $85
f. Just Vic – $39
g. Rosetung – $58
h. Tortoiseshell Bunny – $56
i. PhylPhil – $25
j. Tickled Pink Knits – $74

Coats

a. Marc Jacobsclick link for price
b. Little Houses – $260
c. Nothing.Everything – $136
d. Marc Jacobs  – click link for price
e. Sumomosuki – $79
f. Leifsdotterclick link for price
g. Odd Mollyclick link for price
h. Flock – $160
i. Emily Katzclick link for price
j. Marc Jacobsclick link for price
k. Lady Melbourne’s Vintage Emporium – $69
l. 13threads – $320
m. Alexandra Anderson – $90
n. 13threads – $460

Boots and Gloves

a. Urban Outfitters – $20
b. Urban Outfitters – $20
c. Sperryclick link for price
d. Look Around – $54
e. Tretornclick link for price
f. Anthropologieclick link for price
g. Look Around – $44
h. J. Crew – $75
i. Hunterclick link for price
j. Millyclick link for price
k. Red Phoenix Designs – $89.95
l. Hunterclick link for price
m. 3.1 Phillip Limclick link for price
n. Shellysclick link for price
o. J. Crew – $130

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*No top 5, Delia Hauser, Fierce and Nerdy

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  • CH

    What should I get etc for xmas?

  • CH

    What should I get etc for xmas?

  • CH

    What should I get etc for xmas?

  • http://www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com Delia @ www.marketstoreshoppe

    CH- I hear you are great at meaningful gifts, so I’m sure you’ll have no problem figuring it out but I know etc loves frivolous things and suffers from a guilty complex about buying them right now…

    When I was little, my dad would write me a sick note for my birthday and take me to the mall for the whole day. We got a cake there and ate junk food and he told me that I was allowed to spend x amount of money and could use it to get anything I wanted. We carefully went through every store keeping tabs on the things I liked, made the final decisions and then went back to get the goods. This was the most amazing gift I was ever given. It made me feel like I had won a shopping spree.

    It was like a gift certificate, but so much more personal because of the experience. And knowing I had to decide that day made it so exciting. I’ve always wanted someone to give me an experience like that again- to take me to my favorite store and say “get any 5 things you want” or “you have $400…choose carefully” and then help me weed through everything and be just as excited about the process.

  • http://www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com Delia @ www.marketstoreshoppe

    CH- I hear you are great at meaningful gifts, so I’m sure you’ll have no problem figuring it out but I know etc loves frivolous things and suffers from a guilty complex about buying them right now…

    When I was little, my dad would write me a sick note for my birthday and take me to the mall for the whole day. We got a cake there and ate junk food and he told me that I was allowed to spend x amount of money and could use it to get anything I wanted. We carefully went through every store keeping tabs on the things I liked, made the final decisions and then went back to get the goods. This was the most amazing gift I was ever given. It made me feel like I had won a shopping spree.

    It was like a gift certificate, but so much more personal because of the experience. And knowing I had to decide that day made it so exciting. I’ve always wanted someone to give me an experience like that again- to take me to my favorite store and say “get any 5 things you want” or “you have $400…choose carefully” and then help me weed through everything and be just as excited about the process.

  • http://www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com Delia @ www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com

    CH- I hear you are great at meaningful gifts, so I’m sure you’ll have no problem figuring it out but I know etc loves frivolous things and suffers from a guilty complex about buying them right now…

    When I was little, my dad would write me a sick note for my birthday and take me to the mall for the whole day. We got a cake there and ate junk food and he told me that I was allowed to spend x amount of money and could use it to get anything I wanted. We carefully went through every store keeping tabs on the things I liked, made the final decisions and then went back to get the goods. This was the most amazing gift I was ever given. It made me feel like I had won a shopping spree.

    It was like a gift certificate, but so much more personal because of the experience. And knowing I had to decide that day made it so exciting. I’ve always wanted someone to give me an experience like that again- to take me to my favorite store and say “get any 5 things you want” or “you have $400…choose carefully” and then help me weed through everything and be just as excited about the process.

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  • Monique

    Delia, great article as always. But question, does it really get cold enough in LA to wear any of these things?

  • Monique

    Delia, great article as always. But question, does it really get cold enough in LA to wear any of these things?

  • Monique

    Delia, great article as always. But question, does it really get cold enough in LA to wear any of these things?

  • http://www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com Delia @ www.marketstoreshoppe

    Definitely. It can get pretty cold here even when its completely sunny!

  • http://www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com Delia @ www.marketstoreshoppe

    Definitely. It can get pretty cold here even when its completely sunny!

  • http://www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com Delia @ www.marketstoreshoppe.etsy.com

    Definitely. It can get pretty cold here even when its completely sunny!

  • http://www.jessicaglassberg.com Jessica Glassberg

    I always wish it would get chillier in LA to wear all of the layers… But thank you for the great suggestions (I do go back to NY a lot :))

  • http://www.jessicaglassberg.com Jessica Glassberg

    I always wish it would get chillier in LA to wear all of the layers… But thank you for the great suggestions (I do go back to NY a lot :))

  • http://www.jessicaglassberg.com Jessica Glassberg

    I always wish it would get chillier in LA to wear all of the layers… But thank you for the great suggestions (I do go back to NY a lot :))

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