Idiosyncratic Style

Lately, sequins are shining all over the place. If you’re not ready to unleash your inner showgirl, but want to play around with a little sparkle, try adding a dash of razzle-dazzle to your winter outerwear with this DIY project.

Supplies:
Winter hat
Pack of individual sequins
Thread that matches your sequins
Sewing needle

Instructions:
Place a sequin face up on the top side of the fabric.
Start with your needle on the back side of the fabric and come up through the hole in the center of the sequin.
Make sure to leave a tail on thread on the underside.
Put your needle back into the fabric just above the top of the sequin.
Double knot the two ends of fabric tightly at the back and cut off the excess thread.
Sew the sequins on uniformly or scattered randomly, it’s up to you.

If you plan to cover the entire hat, understand that it will take a while, so be patient and have fun with it or line up a great movie marathon to keep you entertained. If you don’t have the time or patience, be sure to choose only a small portion of the hat to cover, just focus on the trim or create an easy design to realize.

Wear your new sparkling topper with your regular winter coat to help you shine your brightest on even the gloomiest winter day.

Depending on where you live, winter can present serious fashion dilemmas by stressing a need for warmth. Residing in frost bitten Canada, these are my best ‘below zero’ tested ways to beat the chill in style.

Sweater by Banana Republic, Socks by Falke, Silks by Hanro, Toque by Forever 21 and Jackets by Canada Goose

Take it from the top
It doesn’t take brains to figure out that you need to cover your head in order to maintain a comfortable temperature. A knit toque is a time-tested way to keep your brain from freezing, but stylish options are endless. Toasty toppers can range from the neo-snood to the come-back of the Russian fur hat, so finding one that suits your idiosyncratic style should be easier than shoveling the driveway.

Winter Hats by Michael Kors and Nobis

Get your piggies in a blanket
On certain days of the year, industrial winter boots (such as Sorels) are a must, but if you don’t want your podiatric style to suffer, simply slip into ski socks. The warmth they add to your fair weather boots will make all the difference. If you live in a really cold climate, it would be worthwhile to buy your favorite fall foot trends a half-size up to allow extra room for even the really thick ski socks.

Ski Socks (clockwise) by Bridgedale, Marks & Spencer and Thorlo

Cash in on cashmere
Even the lightest weight cashmere will go miles in it’s abiity to keep your core temperature from dropping. Cashmere is now available at so many different price points and in such a wide variety of styles that there simply isn’t any excuse not to own this classic closet staple, wherever you live.

Sweaters by J Crew

Slink into a second skin
Just like zipping in a lining to your fall coat, adding a thermal layer will winterize all your fall faves. Afraid of adding too much bulk? Invest in 100% silk long underwear, they are ultra-thin without losing the power of heat retention. Still worried about bulk? Use the oldest trick in the book and layer nylons underneath your jeans.

Thermals by (top) Kari Traa & (bottom) Ginch Gonch

Go for the golden egg
If you are the type of person who can never be too warm or if it’s just so cold that all else fails, invest in the best, The Canada Goose. These parkas are on par with getting a full body hug from the fluffiest, friendliest polar bear! Seriously, explorers wear them on arctic expeditions, a-listers wear them shooting in deep-freeze locations and anyone I know that finds Canadian winters just a little too cold for comfort embraces even the coldest snowstorm in a Canada Goose coat.

Jackets by Canada Goose

How do you keep your marshmallows toasted and rumps roasted all winter long?