Im a big believer in the transplant theory.

Its not necessarily where you were born that defines you, but the place that calls to you, the place you find yourself, that is truly ones home. Although I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I am a tried and true Florida girl. I moved to Gainesville, Florida in !!" for college and lost my heart to its balmy temperatures and night# blooming $asmine. I also lost my scholarship and ended up right bac% where I started, but thats a story for another day. &he point is this, when I gave myself over to Florida, I committed to it. I decided that I was going to live there for the rest of my life, so I slowly but surely trimmed off the remnants of my former life. Coats, hats, boots, scarves and gloves were all sacrificed on the altar of self discovery. I had traded mittens for minis%irts, and there was no going bac%, or so I thought. 'ife, as it often does, had alternate plans. &hrough a series of unfortunate and odd events I found myself living in Cleveland, Ohio during one of the coldest winters I have ever seen. (hile I have no idea where my life is headed, one thing is certain) its time to go shopping. *y sense of style has always leaned slightly towards the scandalous, but I have enough of my conservative grandmother in me to wal% the fine line between sultry and slutty. (hen building a winter wardrobe from scratch, there are a few must have pieces that %eep you loo%ing wonderful and feeling warm, and surprisingly, these items are pretty wallet#friendly as well. (hether youre relocating to a colder climate, or simply updating your winter wardrobe, pay close attention to this article. Im going to give you everything you need to loo% cool while staying warm+ Ajah Ds Top Ten Winter Wardrobe Essentials ,.- (ool Car Coat# this classic $ust gets better with age. .ic% a neutral color that compliments your comple/ion. 0ar%er s%in tones loo% chic in a tan or cream colored one, while a red or charcoal coat will pop against porcelain s%in. Avoid blac%. 1veryone has one so youll end up loo%ing li%e youre in uniform. 0iscount stores li%e 2ordstroms 3ac% and Filenes 4asement will always have this seasons incantation of the winter staple, but the best place to get a coat li%e this for cheap is your local consignment shop or thrift store. &he older versions of car coats have thic%er linings, so a gently used version is your best bet. .- 15uestrian 4oots# &he tric% to riding boots is finding a pair with the right heel and the right height. A good e5uestrian boot comes up to the bottom of your %nee or one inch below. &he heel should be no higher than ,6 inches and almost as wide as the heel of your foot. 15uestrian boots are great to pair with s%irts and dresses, and loo% fabulous and a little %in%y with s%inny $eans tuc%ed into them. 4lac% or 4rown only+ 7ou may li%e that adorable grey pair when youre !, but youll hate them when youre 8!. ".- An%le 4oots# this is the one area I actually splurge on. An%le boots are the wor%horse of your winter shoe wardrobe. Invest in a well made pair in blac% or brown leather. &ry to avoid patchwor% or anything too trendy, as it probably wont wor% for you ne/t year. If you really want to splurge, go nuts with a purple pair. 9uede an%le boots are great as long as you dont live anywhere that it actually snows, so resist the urge to buy that adorable :essica 9impson dove grey pair. Opt for a sturdy an%le bootie by 2ine (est or 4anana 3epublic. 8.- &ights# Im an eighties baby, so I cant get enough+ &ights by ;ue and 0<27 both hold up really well and can be purchased on the cheap at stores li%e &: *a// and *arshalls. Go for a variety of colors and te/tures, but be sure to include blac%, red, purple, navy, and cream. 1/tra points for leopard.

=.- Gloves# 7ou need at least two pair. *y favorites are the cheap#o Old 2avy fleece ones. &hey come in a full spectrum of colors, and are warm against the wind. For you classy girls, opt for a fleece or fau/ fur lined pair in blac% leather# available in all fine department stores. .lease save yourself the nightmare of gloves with buttons or accents on them, they tend to tear up 5uic%ly. >.- 9carves# 1very woman should have a red one. *erino wool or cashmere are the warmest, and can e found at a reasonable price at 1/press or 'imited. For daily wear, pic% up some snuggly fleece scarves at your local Old 2avy store. A few large sil% scarves wouldnt be a bad idea either. A heavy sil% scarf, tied a la Ingrid 4ergman, is a great way to protect your hair from wind and snow without getting hat#head. ?.- 9weater dresses# Opt for a shorter style that can be worn with tights and leggings, or thrown over a slim fitting pair of $eans. I recommend the 'imited or 2ew 7or% and Company for their superior selection and low prices, but my friends have found great ones at *acys, ;@*, and &arget as well. If youre not fashion forward, be sure to stic% with solid color dresses. 4lac%, navy, and Grey are standbys you cant go wrong in. A $ewel tone in red, purple, emerald, or tur5uoise will loo% trendy but not trite, and cream is a standby for olive or dar% s%in tones. A.- :eans# &his should be a no brainer. 'ight denim is only cute in the summertime. :eans should be dar% and heavy in the wintertime. ," oB denim with , to C spande/ will be the warmest and fit the best. I personally prefer luc%y $eans in the Little Maggie fit for night, Sundown fit for day. 'uc%y $eans are e/pensive, but places li%e .latos Closet and 4uc%le will have them for D"! or less. 0o not, under any circumstance, buy $eans from (al#*art or &arget. &hats $ust wrong. E.- 'eggings or yoga pants# Chances are, you already have a few pair of these left over from the summer. (orn alone or over tights, these pants are comfy, cute, and most importantly, warm. 'eggings and yoga pants should be tuc%ed into tall boots, 2O& worn with shoes or an%le boots. ,!.-4elts# &his may seem li%e a strange addition to a winter wardrobe list, but one should never underestimate the power of a well placed accessory. (ide belts are best for chun%y sweaters and slim sweater dresses. &hey also loo% great with mens o/fords and leggings. 9%inny belts are out this season, but the smaller ones loo% great wrapped around your ribcage or worn over a coat. 9o there you have it+ 1verything you need to %eep you loo%ing cool and feeling warm this winter.