It’s official, mes chéries. Thanks to good old Punxsutawney Phil, we have no idea what to think about the weather. He predicted six more weeks, but Mother Nature is switching the game up between sending a full-blown blizzard and sprouting green leaves on trees. Regardless, there is still time in the winter season for layers and berry tones. Believe me when I say I’m planning on milking every last bit of the winter fashion season till spring break arrives. With that, I’ve compiled six of my favorite looks from this winter season for you.
THE DOWNTOWN DOLL
Who says you have to avoid the gloomier shades of the color spectrum just because the sky is gray season-long? After suffering seasonal depression from Pittsburgh’s long and dreadful winters, I threw my middle finger up towards the sky and dove headfirst into the gray tones between white and black. This is one of my favorite go-to winter outfits because it’s so warm and simple. If I become overheated indoors, I can always take off my wool-cashmere-warmshit blend sweater and simply stay in my blank tank top underneath. If I need a little breathing room, the ripped jeans filter in some icy air. And if I’m not sure where I’m heading after my set plans, the heels on the over-the-knee boots dress it up for whatever comes my way, even if it’s just heading to a rooftop bar after exploring a city.
Sweater: Madewell
Jeans: Missguided.com
Boots: Steve Madden Gorgeous OTK Boot
Blanket Scarf: H&M
Jewelry: Urban Outfitters (necklace), H&M (silver midi rings)
Purse: Michael Kors
Makeup: Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Times Square, Smashbox Cover Shot Eye Palette in Ablaze
PREPPY IN THE PARK
Every now and then, you just need to go for a walk alone in the park. If the weather is nice, you could even go for a jog. Either way, there is something so beautiful and peaceful about just being with yourself, your thoughts, and secluded nature. It’s particularly therapeutic if you live a city or urban environment. In the valleys below my campus is a small oasis of nature. I often disappear here between classes to think or not think, which inspired this look. This park holds a lot of memories of my four years in college from some of the best to ones I can barely remember. What I love about the park is that every time I visit it, I find something new about it. With the start of my last semester well on its way, I paid it my last first visit. While bittersweet, I was able to see the changes in the earth over time, reminding me of how I’ve been shaped by my own environment and outside forces these years. I felt a happiness, a peaceful within, despite the hypothermia settling in my body from the weather being sub-twenty degrees Fahrenheit.
Sweater: Gap (cashmere blend)
Shirt: Uniqlo
Pants: J.Crew Pixie Pant
Shoes: Madden Girl Fantasya Block Heel Booties
Jewelry: Liz Claiborne (necklace), Forever21 (gold midi rings)
Makeup: Morphe 35N Eyeshadow Palette, Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Blackberry Sorbet
A LITTLE OR A LATTE
My friend stumbled upon a cute coffee shop in a neighborhood a relatively good distance away from our campus last year. She brought me to this little garden oasis in the middle of what is deemed as our city’s “Little Italy.” Since then, I’ve been in love with all that it is. The coffee shop has no wifi, promoting the true art of coffee & tea consumption: pairing a warm beverage with the natural scents of fresh flowers and a good read. The coffee shop also sells little trinkets, incense, coffee beans, specialty teas, candles, and so forth. I often describe the aesthetic of the shop as rustic country meets modern design meets Anthropologie. Every now and then I stop by for a seasonal latte, a quiet moment, and art. As you can see, there is a pattern spread across the wall in front of me in the photo. Every month or so, the shop owners swap out this wallpaper for a different local artist’s murals or prints. It’s a wonderful refreshing feeling to walk into the shop and see something new every visit. Inspired by the comfort, simplicity, and timelessness of this shop’s character, I put together a simple outfit for those days where you’re exhausted. While clean and plain, you look put together enough for your reflection to serve as a little pick-me-up throughout your busy day.
Top: Gap
Down Vest: Gap
Jeans: Lucky Brand Jeans Lolita Skinny
Boots: White Mountain Bethesda Stone Suede Boot
Jewelry: H&M (necklace), Lucky Brand Jeans (bangles)
Makeup: Morphe 35N Eyeshadow Palette, Bite Lipstick in Lychee
DAZED AND DECONSTRUCTED
You know that point in winter when you just about had it with the monotonous sky, mundane routines, and massive migraines that come in the form of work or sometimes even people? Then after dealing with all the bullshit, you come to a point where you just feel indifferent, dazed, and dangerously muddled with a consistent mood? Find your “Don’t Fuck With Me” uniform and fight it. Focus on things that you absolutely need to focus on. Cut the rest out, even if it means tuning out all the drama and he-said-she-said gossip. If someone doesn’t like you for who you are, screw them and be unapologetically you! Whoever has a problem with it can take it up with you if they dare. Otherwise, it’s your world, your life, your story to write. Everyone else is just background characters in the game.
Sweater: Gap
Jeans: Uniqlo
Jean Jacket: MaxStudio
Shoes: Timberland Women’s 6inch Premium Waterproof Boots
Accessories: H&M (leopard belt), custom jewelry (necklace)
Makeup: Morphe 35N Eyeshadow Palette, Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Limbo
BLAIR AND THE BOUTIQUES
I’m not even ashamed to admit that I’m on my fifth marathon of Gossip Girl. While I understand Blair Waldorf to a T and aspire to be all that she is, I also see how I can be quite the Serena despite the fact she drives me nuts towards the end of the series. But if I am truly a Serena, I end up with my first love and pretty limited personal growth… Not quite sure that’s the best idea for my life, so I’ll just pretend I am Blair and pray my Chuck Bass finds me. In the meantime, you can find me spending my afternoons strolling through neighborhood boutiques and enjoying a local juicery’s fantastic açaí bowls in a Waldorf inspired outfit with a van der Woodsen inspired hairdo.
Top: Uniqlo
Skirt: Charlotte Russe
Tights: Forever21
Shoes: Banana Republic Blyss Suede Heeled Sandal
Jewelry: Francesca’s (necklace), Forever21 (rings)
Purse: Forever21
Makeup: Smashbox Cover Shot Eye Palette in Ablaze, Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Times Square
FASHION FACTORY
There is nothing better than visiting the Strip District on a Sunday morning for brunch, fresh market fruit and meat, fresh flowers, and some old steel city vibes. I love the little vendors, cute local shops, Pittsburgh Popcorn, La Prima coffee, and of course Peace Love and Little Donuts doughnut shop. With the Strip being such a historical and classic piece of Pittsburgh, I opted for a timeless outfit with a down jacket. I chose denim, white, red, and leopard are trends that rarely go out of style. The next time you have a quiet morning to yourself, take a few hours to visit a local historic area. Soak in the unique traits of the area, buy some local snacks or products, and people watch as you stroll under sunshine. It’s quite relaxing and can help cleanse your mind of stressful thoughts as you prepare to enter a new week.
Top: Uniqlo
Skirt: Asos.com
Jacket: Michael Kors
Shoes: DSW
Accessories: H&M (leopard belt), street markets in Taipei (red scarf)
Bag: Calvin Klein
Makeup: Lorac Mega Pro 3 Palette, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella
There you have it, mes chéries! These are my six favorite looks of this winter season. Now I don’t know about where you are, but the weather here has gone from 19 degrees one day to 57 the next and back to 35 the day after. If the weather where you are living is also fluctuating immensely, feel free to accordingly layer on more or take off a layer in any look you aspire to create. You’ll all be happy to hear that February seems to be the last month of winter, so spring break is right around the corner. But until then, enjoy the rest of the brisk and fresh cold air, warm beverages, and spicy candles.
Happy Monday, mes chéries. See you all very soon in my next post.
-E.
Based in New York City, Erica Huang is the creator and voice behind Bouge & Rouge. This blog is a playground of her thoughts where she invites you to join her on her journey through her 20s. Erica shares her lifestyle, fashion and beauty tips, adventures, and personal thoughts with the goal of inspiring others to always persevere and be unapologetically yourself.