Winter Dressing Tips

Mr. Mickey picked me up to take me out to dinner just as it started to snow.

I apologize for the indoor pictures again. The lighting is dismal.

I wore a necklace I made using rose quartz and a chunky silver chain tied like a scarf. I like to wear it to give me a V neckline in winter with warm tops with a higher neck. Since I have a round face, I like to wear a V whenever possible to elongate it. 

My outfit's base includes a column of black in a Chico's tee with Talbots side zip pants from last year. If you cannot wear black near your face, try navy, dark brown, or dark gray, which also work as great bases. The boots are by Nine West. 

Now on to the jacket! I was thrilled to find this one on the sale rack at Chico's for about a fourth of its original price. Score! The knit material is almost like a burnout velvet in a deep sapphire blue and black. It has a swing style with a waterfall front that works so well over a simple slim base. When I tried it on in the store, the lady who helped me looked at it as if she had never seen it before. I read between the lines, "Why didn't I see that?" I love it when I try something on, and I know immediately that it is me. 

I am sure you have noticed a pattern in my cold-weather dressing. I start with a slim fitting solid color top and bottom, then add an interesting jacket, scarf, or another accessory to give it a little pizzazz. This base is slim-fitting or body-skimming because I never want to add bulk underneath the jacket, but a slim fitting first layer also helps keep me warm.

Wearing a top and bottom in the same color with a contrasting color or patterned jacket is known as column dressing. It helps you to look taller and thinner for several reasons. There is no horizontal break on your body. The vertical breaks from an open jacket show only a portion of your body, making you look longer and leaner.