Winter Fashion

A lot of people don’t like winter. Fortunately, there’s one good thing about cold weather: winter fashion. It’s just fun, with all the layers and bold colours, not to mention the furry ugg boots.

This time of year, every glossy cover of Elle, Vogue, and Mademoiselle makes me dream of looking like one of those glam girls wrapped up in a delectable sweater and plush boots. Unfortunately, every time I try to mimic one of those magazine looks, everything goes astray.

Just this week I tried the tight jeans-bulky sweater-chunky boots look. It looked winter, but it didn’t work for winter. I fought with every jacket in my closet, trying to urge one to button over my new oversized turtleneck sweater. I was relieved when I finally got my pea coat to close, but the relief washed away when I bustled over to the mirror to see that I looked about 7 months pregnant.

After all the time I spent buying, planning, and putting on my new outfit, my sparkly chandelier earrings were the only thing that survived the morning. They were the least expensive part of my attire, and I got compliments on them all day. A little twinkle makes people feel good.

Like any smart woman, I resort to black in the wintertime despite what the houses of haute couture scream at us about wearing more colour. Black looks good day or night, and for a girl on the run, it doesn’t require much thought. The best thing about black is that it hides all types of flaws, like those caused by eating an entire cheesecake. But black is not only thinning; it’s an excellent palette for accessories.

This year, women have a lot of jewellery options. You can fall back on the old basic of diamonds. Or you can try this winter’s exciting new collections of coloured pearls and shells. They look fabulous with black, and they can be as dressy as a diamond necklace while offering more personality and flare. You can also highlight your eye colour with a similar coloured necklace. Nothing is more beautiful than a pair of sapphire blue eyes with a matching necklace.

Rhinestones are always a holiday favourite. This season, designers are using them with fibre optic glass and silver. It’s a new take on a jeweller’s staple. Red stones can highlight the flushed skin and rosy cheeks of winter. And the fibre optics in the glass makes the necklaces, earrings, and bracelets glow. The combination creates a look that no one will forget.

And something that will always go with black, blacker. Onyx is a gorgeous stone that when highlighted with silver can make some simple black sweater and slacks into a classic cosmopolitan look. Dangly onyx earrings are stunning with pulled back hair. Onyx is great because it can go with almost anything. It makes red more refined, pink more subdued, and white more exotic.

So don’t let grey skies and stale snow keep you from feeling beautiful. Next time you go to your closet and feel bummed out about having to squeeze your outfit under your jacket, toss on a gorgeous pair of earrings. Everyone will notice them, even with your jacket on. And unlike that oversized sweater, you can keep wearing them when the warm spring days finally return.