While the weather outside is frightful, your style can be so delightful! Layers are key to getting blissfully bundled and warding off that winter chill. And remember, layers don’t have to mean bulk. The secret to looking chic while feeling warm is choosing shapely silhouettes with a defined waist so your shape shows even though it’s layered up. Start with a thin long sleeved top in cashmere or lightweight wool, which will trap your body heat and keep you warm. Add a thin sweater or two, and finish with a fabulous coat - pea coats are a winter essential! For extremely cold conditions, wool leggings and silk long underwear are also surprisingly lightweight for the level of toastiness they provide. Top off the ensemble with your cozy chic accessories like cashmere socks, gloves, scarves, and hats that will keep key points of circulation warm by keeping your body heat close. Add whimsical winter wonderland flair with faux fur accents. And of course, the boots, oh, the boots! There are tons of functional and fashionable winter boots out there, so find your perfect pair and you’ll be well on your way to being a bundled up beauty!

*A tip on finding the perfect coat:
Make sure to try it on with your bulkiest sweater and your favorite shoulder bag to ensure it suits your style and needs. If the sweater looks lumpy under the coat, or the bag doesn’t fit (or stay) on your arm, it’s probably not the best coat for you. There are countless cute coats out there, so don’t settle for one that isn’t just right!

Faux fur is a fixture in fashion this season. It’s chic, it’s edgy, and all we take from our fury friends is inspiration, so you won’t have to dodge paint cans as you walk down the street. Rule number one for fur-ocious style: keep it simple! Avoid a throwback to caveman chic, and stick with one furry piece at a time. For a casual but stylish and pulled together look, pair a fur vest or fur trimmed coat with basic, easy pieces, and you’re ready to go. Add sophistication to boyfriend jeans with a fur collar. And for a more elegant evening look, add a fur shrug to a pencil skirt and silky blouse. Balance the proportion of the bulkier fur piece with more fitted or flowy pieces underneath.

Remember being a kid and hearing those glorious words, snow day? The overwhelming joy you felt in anticipation of steaming hot chocolate, playing all day, and of course, no school! True, as we venture into adulthood, those words don’t have the same allure. But it’s time to recapture that childhood delight and embrace the winter wonderful day. These fun snow day ideas for both indoor and out are sure to have you singing let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Outdoor:

• Build the ultimate snow fort, castle, or igloo.
• Make snow angels.
• Have a snowman or biggest snowball contest.
• Play touch football.
• Have sledding races.
• Make a snow zoo with snow animals!

Indoor:

• Make it a blockbuster day, complete with hot cocoa, popcorn, slippers, blankets, and of course, jammies!
• Have a soup or chili-making contest, with extra points for the most creative ingredient you can find in the pantry.
• Go camping indoors: set up a tent and sleeping bag by the fireplace and play games or tell stories.
• Make, decorate, and of course, eat cookies.
• Decorate windows with window-safe paint, foam or fake snow, or create your own with powdered tempera paint and dishwashing liquid.

What are your favorite snow day traditions?

Patti Pulver from Meadow Vista, California is the lucky winner of our Spring 2010 Lizard Tunic, and we think she looks just fabulous in it!