How to keep warm yet look stylish in autumn and winter?

[LazySusan11]

I see so many casually dressed ladies but have an air of 'expense' about them, able to carry off a t shirt and jeans effortlessly.

This is not me, this year I want to be a little more stylish come the colder months and I have no idea how to pull it off.

My current winter look is warm (very opaque) black leggings with leather knee high boots, a longish cashmere jumper and scarf then a knee length coat a bit like a duvet .

I want to look swishy and stylish like I've just thrown something on and still look classy.

I'm fairly large of nork tallish and not a bad figure..so how do I look good this winter and most importantly be comfortable and warm?

[InvisibleKittenAttack]

ooh, it's been a while since we had a 'how to look expensive/classy' thread!

I'm not one to ask as I'm not good at looking stylish, but last year I swapped the 'duvet' style padded coat for a wool one - Jeager picked up in TK Maxx - and coupled with making an effort to keep my knee high boots looking half way clean, I felt more stylish than I have on previous years. Just as warm, but looking a bit better even if the outfit underneath was a state

[LazySusan11]

Yes invisible that's what I'd like a good long wool coat, I tried several Jaeger and they were lovely quality but looked awful on me. I have dreams of a long cashmere camel coat but camel isn't my colour, completely washes me out.

[InvisibleKittenAttack]

Camel isn't good on me either - I went for navy - which works really well with my skin tone. I can't have completely shapeless either, even though there's lots about, I need something that pulls in at the waist a bit or I look swamped.

[Penelopeg]

How old are you OP?

I like chunky knit dresses and over the knee boots with a military style wool coat, or on a more casual day a long wool coat, cashmere polo neck, skinny jeans and Chelsea boots.

(Still need to shop for all this!)

[Vonklump]

Emigrate.
And leave the children behind.
(Possibly not helpful.)

[Dejatrue]

The key really is the coats, and it all follows from there

excuse the Yoda like statement but I've been wrestling with the same dilemma for years and I think I'm just about on top of it now!

Basically as a fellow large norked individual, casual IS hard and of course although we can shine in the summer with fitted dresses and sandals winter needs more "layers" which work better on smaller top halves (even though I'm size eight my breasts make me either look "too sexy" or "frumpy" in a lot of outfits )

I live in Scotland so my coat is really all anyone sees most of the year and I've got the following "complement"

1. One long, fitted, plain black coat (label per Una but I got from charity ry shop) wear over ANYTHING and it (1) looks smart (2) makes my curves look a bit taller and more elegant
   

1. One tweedy knee length style coat (again from charity shop. Aquascutum label (sic?) Slightly oversized so I wear slimmer black boots only with this to "balance it out" It actually came with a belt and I used to try and tie it, but I think that style looks a bit frumpy so got rid of it. I get loads of compliments on this coat, I think people think I'm some outdoorsy posh type when I wear it (50% right )
   

1. For casual, I initially struggled with puffers and the bulk they added.
   

But (1) they are warm (2) they make a look more casual. So it took me a few years and a lot of duds (essentially I tried on EVERYTHING, I found expensive brands weren't necessarily the most flattering on me personally ) but eventually I settled on two brown puffers (one knee length and one calf length)

One is by trespass and proper hiking gear and the other is by the French company le chameau and I got it off Ebay.

I think both work well with my wardrobe as dark brown suits me and is very "neutral chic" and I normally match them with a green scarf and grey or cream hat. I also got a sleeveless black knee length puffer gilet from ebay today, which is "puffer without being too overwhelmingly puffy " and I think I'll wear this over a polo neck black jumper and then woollen gloves and a hat (and the black base outfit means I can add lots of colours without looking too clashing)

Basically good neutral basic coats mean I can then add colours and still look chic (I hope) So this is where I'd put the money and shopping energy into.

[LazySusan11]

I'm 39 penelopeg..almost 40

Thanks for that dejatrue I think I'll go for a dark colour, I usually wear black so wanted a camel coloured coat to lift me slightly but I look ill, navy could be good, or charcoal dark grey?

If I can find a lovely swanky I look classy coat I'm wearing pjs underneath as no one will see! I won't

[Dejatrue]

You do need to just try on EVERYTHING I wouldn't stick with the "department store on a Saturday afternoon" path. TK maxx is good for lots of different styles and big names at low prices . If you don't mind 2nd hand then charity shops and ebay.

(I've heard good things about the cut of Aigle puffers but never actually encountered one irl? )

[teaandakitkat]

I want a coat like the girl from the Fantastic Beasts film. It's lovely. Haven't seen one though

[Couldashouldawoulda]

I know someone with an Aigle puffer irl. She wore it all last winter, and it always looked gorgeous! I want one...