Winter Wardrobe essentials

Style – 2 April 2013

With winter fast approaching, it’s time to rework your wardrobe. Put away the singlets and sandals and prepare to rug-up.

This week I caught up with Melbourne Stylist and Personal Shopper Nadine Armstrong to get my wardrobe ready for winter. Nadine is a real woman with drive – a successful writer, proud mother, fashionista and unashamed Porsche fan.

Here she shares with us her five winter must-haves. To ensure your winter wardrobe is well stocked, Nadine suggests we combine some absolute staples and a few on-trend accessories to achieve a versatile wardrobe that is modern and fresh. Nadine, over to you …

The Scarf

The hands-down hero of the winter wardrobe; a true fashion staple. A good, big woollen scarf can literally double as a cardigan; loop it around your neck twice and knot it at the front for complete warmth. Or choose a lighter scarf to add interest to your look and extra protection from the elements. A scarf is also a great way to create a more modern look, incorporating on-trend colours or prints in a not-so-bold way; think Aztec patterns, colours and animal print. Be sure to learn how to wrap it in different ways to achieve different looks.

Three stores that offer a variety of scarf options are Country Road, Witchery and Sass & Bide.

Leather Pants

Leather remains a strong trend for winter. Leather pants are a brilliant addition to your wardrobe, and they’re suitable for day or night. Pair with a white t-shirt and flats (boots, ballet flats, Converse) for the day, or a lace top and heels for nights; leather can be worked in so many ways. If you can’t face a full leather pant, try a semi-leather/panelled option that delivers a similar look, but with a different feel and far lower price point. JBrand is a personal favourite, as is Saba. And you can always fake it; Witchery offer some great faux-leather pieces.

Denim

Denim knows no rules these days. Wear it day or night, and pair it with pretty much anything you want, really! Our beloved jeans are the most common form of denim and there’s a cut to suit pretty much every body-shape.

My advice is to invest in a good (expensive) pair. Yes, they cost more, but you will undoubtedly find a better cut and a lasting fit. With any costly purchase, I apply the ‘cost per wear’ rule. It makes the purchase price seem a whole lot more reasonable (sensible even) when you think about it that way.

I love to pair my ripped Zara jeans with a white t-shirt and a full sequin jacket – then add some killer heels. I can wear those same jeans with an oversized GAP jumper and silver Converse for a casual daytime look.

Some great brands for denim are Paige, True Religion, Lee and Zara, or for something more edgy, try Ksubi or Sass & Bide. For a great fitting jean on a more mature figure, try NYDJ.

On-trend Khaki

Think military-style camouflage with a dash of feminine embellishment. It’s everywhere – khaki pants and tops, camouflage t-shirts with leather accents, camo-print jeans. Wear it however you like, but limit your look to one military element. Apply the same rules as for jeans and leather; the rules are vague and forgiving. A classic basic look is khaki pants, a white t-shirt, a winter jacket and scarf. If you’re scared of loosing your femininity in camouflage, team it with a pair of ballet flats to add instant softness to the look. Camilla and Marc are doing a fabulous camo-print jean. Country Road, Sportsgirl, Witchery and Elizabeth and James are other great options for this winter trend.

Boots

Where do I begin? Flats, heels, ankle boots, biker boots, knee-highs… there are so many options. And while a full length, knee-high boot may be limited to the winter months, ankle boots can easily be worn all year-round; so my money this season is with the ankle boot. Take your pick from a slender heeled variety, to a more casual flat boot. Wear it with pants, skirts or dresses! To get you started, look for Mimco, Nude, Anthology, Husk and Tony Bianco.

With this in mind, may you be warm, comfortable, confident and fabulous. Visit: Nadinearmstrong.com