When the alarm goes off on a cold day, the down comforter on my bed seems to contain a siren like allure…so do my sweats. My bedroom is just so cozy at this time of year, that getting up to start my day is always so much harder. Also, we have recently had our furnace repaired and I cannot tell you how much warmer it has made our house. Before getting our furnace fixed I had no idea how warm our house was supposed to be. It just goes to show how important getting your heating system in order is I suppose. You can learn more about dealing with a faulty furnace here: www.burichvac.com/ashton-heating-furnace/. Anyway, without fail, every winter, the inner battle between style and comfort rages on. Let’s face it Easy Street is not always the road to travel. In fact, whether it be the gorgeous guy behind me at Starbucks, or a fellow compadre dressed to the nines–I usually regret my decision to dress ‘casual’ (aka. ‘sloppy’) before the clock even has a chance to strike 9am. To avoid these awkward moments, I developed a few helpful habits to strike the perfect balance between casually comfortable & effortlessly chic without the sweats.

1. Eliminate the Guesswork: On the night before a busy day, I like to select a few outfit options ahead of time to make sure I am spending my morning enjoying coffee while getting ready and not tearing my closet apart looking for something to wear.

2. Layer Wisely: Layering is a stylish way to both keep warm and show your ability to pile it on. I love pairing skinny jeans or leggings with OTK boots and looser tops or oversized knits. If I feel like my top is too flowy I’ll bring it in with a more fitted jacket. When layering, the goal is to add a streamlined dimension to your look without adding too much girth. Mixing fabric textures and lengths can be a great way to achieve this without looking like a walking pile of laundry.

3. Buy the Boots Made for Walkin’: I cannot stress this enough…buy shoes that you will WEAR. Yes…Stuart Weitzman suede thigh-high stiletto boots manage to look both fabulous and practical on Gisele…but lets just be real…everything looks fabulous and practical on Gisele, she’s Gisele. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy thigh high boots, just make sure that the footwear you purchase is actually practical for your day to day life. Nothing is worse than having a beautiful closet of shoes that you can’t wear. From heel heights and fabrications to coordinating with your day to day essentials, make sure you consider these factors when buying footwear.

4. Tights are NOT Pants: To quote the volunteer coordinator from my first year at NYFW… “Don’t make the same mistake Lindsay Lohan did…tights are not pants–only pants are pants!” Leggings are meant to be used as a layering tool under longer sweaters, dresses etc. Period.

5. But Still Wear Tights Tho: Speaking of tights, they are a fashion savvy way to keep warm while rocking your fave frocks from the Summer you simply cannot part with. Also, you have the option to play with patterns and colors which are are great way to add just the right amount of flavor to any outfit.

6. Invest in Outerwear: A good coat can make you look/feel like a million dollars, DO NOT skimp on this item!!! Camel is universally flattering with every skin tone, and goes with pretty much everything, so I would tend to start either there, or with a black leather jacket–but that’s just me.

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