How To Stay Warm And Fashionable

So here’s a relatable fashionista problem for you (if you’re living in colder areas): how do you stay warm and fashionable at the same time? The problem that is, is that our fashion game is mostly on point when the weather is bearable. Like, spring, summer and the first part of fall. After that, fashion is kind of a constant battle between what one should be wearing and what one wants to wear. That chic jumpsuit that everyone is working, seems to be a good idea in theory, but when you’re standing there and you can’t feel your legs, you’re trying to remember how cold one can get before ending up with a cold or a urine infection (yikes).

So, is it possible? Can it be done? Can you dress warm and manage to look chic at the same time? Well, of course you can! With some smart tricks of layering, planning ahead and some embracing of sweater weather, you’ll be more than fine. Here’s how to stay warm and fashionable:

How To Stay Warm And Fashionable For Fall and Winter. Here's how to dress warm and look chic when it's cold outside! | The Fashion Folks

7 Ways To Warm And Fashionable:

Warm Materials

Invest in pieces that are warm as they are. Knitted clothes of course, but also wool. Investing in sweaters or jackets with at least 40% wool is a great way of staying warm with just one clothing item. Instead of doing 3 layers of clothes to gain the same effect, do one piece that does it for you. Another obvious, but important item that is life-changing, is wool socks. Will save your feet for colder days and also look stylish with boots. For a vegan alternative, fleece is also a warming material. Even though it’s not a material for fall weather, invest in a jacket that’s lined with fleece.

High Boots

Wearing high boots is another great example. High boots is perfect for rainy and windy days, as well as keeping the legs a bit warmer. They’re also fashionable, adding that extra detail to a look. We listed OTK (Over The Knee Boots) to be one of the must-have items this fall. Of course because they’re chic, but also because they’re warming.

Accessories

Well this is a brainy one! Accessories, belive it or not, will definitely keep you warmer. A hat, a scarf and a pair of gloves and you’re good to go for the day. The accessories also adds a great fashion level to your look, as their color and style contributes to the fashionable touch. We don’t say that they all should be matchy matchy, but if you’re unsure: stick to matching gloves and hat, do the scarf in a contrasting color. Read more about hats here!

Layering: Quick Tips

So layers are to some equal to a chic look, others a painful outfit that limits the mobility. And it can be both, truly. Too many layers are hard to work with as they often are uncomfortable. The solution to the problem is knowing what clothing items to pick for a layered look. I’ll get back to this in a post later, as for now though: 1. Begin with a tight long sleeved top, this item should be invisible. 2. Add a shirt 3. Put on a cardigan, preferably in a flowy style, or a sweater. 4. Put on the jacket, pick one that’s more defined but with enough room for the sleeves 5. Finally, add a vest if you want too.

That are five layers that won’t outdo each other. The different styles of the layered look will also add some chicness, and be bold when you go for different textures and colors! A layered look is also perfect for dressing in color scale!

Tights Underneath

So this is cringe-worthy to some, and I partly agree. But if you want to be able to wear certain pieces for colder days too, you’re gonna have to compromise. Jumpsuits, midi skirts and maxi dresses are all clothes that are more suitable for warmer temperatures. They can be worn during fall and winter too though, all with the magic of tights underneath. They’ll keep you warm and still not interfere with the look of your outfit. Give it a go before you go all judgemental (and yes, you can thank me later)!

Invisible cardigan

Okey there’s no such a thing as an invisible cardigan (lol, in Harry Potter perhaps), but when it comes to fall/winter there is. An invisible cardigan is a cardigan that fits perfectly under your jacket, but without hinting below. The proportions of the jacket is larger than the cardigan, therefor you have a hidden layer of clothes that won’t disturb the cool contrast of the jacket and your outfit. When you’re inside, you just take off the cardigan too, as if it would be a part of the jacket.

Protect Yourself

And lastly, use your brain, aka protect your body parts where you usually freeze. The feet, hands and the head are usually the first parts people think about. But wind blowing in the neck is not to mess with, and cold arms is just terrible. So be brainy here and use long sleeves under your jacket, socks in your shoes and a pair of gloves wherever you go. And a scarf, turtleneck or a high collar jacket to protect the neck. (Fun fact: In the 19th century people realized that high collars were terrific when it came to protection from harsh weather, that’s why many men’s jackets have insanely overdimensioned collars. See here).

Folks, that were 7 ideas on how to dress warm and fashionable! How do you survive colder days? Leave a comment below, I’d love to know!

Preview: Fashion Trends Spring 2017

So on Friday we talked about the Beauty Trends Spring 2017, so let’s discuss the Fashion Trends Spring 2017! I’m pretty excited about the trends next year, not because it’s anything new and fresh in specific, but it’s a fun mix of wearable clothes and dreamy ones. And as always, it’s up to you to decide what to incorporate in your style! Folks? Here’s the fashion trends SS17:

Fashion Trends Spring 2017 | The Fashion Folks

Fashion Trends Spring 2017

Stripes for life

So stripes is never out of fashion, but they do reappear in different styles every season. Next year though, there are so many different styles, so stripes in any shape is kind of stylish. I loved Proenzer Schouler’s (see below) fashionable stripes and adored the classic feeling of Carolina Herrera. Using stripes is a great way of color blocking too, another trend that is growing bigger.

Florals for spring? Groundbreaking!

Aaaand florals is never out of fashion or style either. But naturally though, it’s always a bit extra buzzing when it’s spring/summer. This September a lot of the floral patterns embraced more is more, with eye-catching patterns for the bold one! Delpozo did them justice, so did Chloé (see below) and 3.1 Phillip Lim as well. More flowers please!

1980s Rock Life

Me talking about the 1980s is starting to get ridiculous, every week (if not every post). But guess, what, the 1980s rock life is trendy next year. We’ve had our fair share of oversized silhouettes and pastels, so it’s time for rock. Think: leather, leo and zebra prints, studs and t-shirts with print. Vera Wang, Coach (see below) and Alexander wang embraced the rock style of the 1980s.

Pink And Yellow

So I called for pink and yellow in combination being one of the top trends this year. Read the post here. Next year though, the two colors should be separated and embraced from top to toe. A monochrome look in pink or a monochrome look in yellow? Love them both! Valentino went for all pink (see below) as well as Balenciaga and Céline. Both Lacoste and Ralph Lauren worked the yellow life.

Tees with text

I talked about Dior in the post where I summed up Paris Fashion Week. And guess what, Dior is not the only fashion house that is embracing t-shirts with text, so is House of Holland (see below)! Get yourself a chic t-shirt with a fashionable text, and work the street style life! Love the idea of doing a t-shirt with text, distressed jeans and a pair of heels! Easy but chic.

Folks, that were some of the fashion trends spring 2017! Got a favorite? Share it below in the comments!

Preview: Beauty Trends Spring 2017

So I’ll be honest with you. Are beauty trends that exciting? Perhaps not. They kind of look the same year after year. If they do look different however, it’s not something for the everyday life. But as with all trends, they are perhaps more to be inspired by than to adopt within the minute. Nevertheless, I love to be inspired and know what the beauty industry is up to. And as the fashion weeks just ended, here is a preview on the Beauty Trends Spring 2017: (And pssst, of course I’ll come back to them when it’s time for spring again, no need to take notes!).

Beauty Trends Spring 2017 | The Fashion Folks

Makeup trends of Spring/Summer 2017

Color Pop

So this trend is for everyone who wants to go makeup bold but kind of doesn’t have the time to do so. The color popping trend is a neutral makeup look with one bold touch of color. It may be your lips, your eyeliner or even ears (lol Proenza Schouler). The key part is to keep the rest of the face natural and let the color pop steal the attention. And ohh, even though I named the trend color pop, it can be color subtle too! See Leonard Paris below.

Smudgy Life

The smudgy life is all about a smudgy eyeshadow/eyeliner around the eye. Compared to its older sister, the smokey eye, this one is done with one shade and a lot of mess. We’d suggest doing a liner around the eye and smudge it out! The idea is for it to look messy, so it’s kind of fool proof. See Rag & Bone below.

More Metallic

We talked about metallic for fall, but folks, you can work it for spring too! As with color pop, choose a random area of your face for a touch of metallic. Fendi did it on the lips, but eyeshadow, highlighter or even brows will work too. Whatever you decide, make sure to add the sparkle of life to da face! And yes, you can go beyond silver and gold, do one in a metallic hue that suits you best. See Fendi below.

Back (again) to the 1980s

Am I talking about anything else but the 1980s? Pretty sure it’s all I’m talking about these days. However, stay alive cause the 80s are going strong next year too! It’s the neon colors, the use of too much blush as well as eyeshadow. The less you blend, the better kind of! See Jeremy Scott below.

Hair Trends of Spring/Summer 2017

Side Part

So the mid part has kind of been in style ever since it made its comeback in 2008, but is the era finally coming to an end? Might be so as the side part seems to be the way to go next season. Take your hair, part it on one side and work it! I think that this look is perfect for a sporty vibe, but who knows, it might make its way to the fashionista life too! See Salvatore Ferragamo below:

Braids

As we thought we already had a good sense of braids, the beauty world is still finding new ways on how to keep the hairstyle trendy. Braids in any shape and form, however you like it, is trendy next year too. Instagram is hinting that the tight, sporty, baked braid is hotter than ever. The designers did braids in different styles, so I’m pretty sure you’re good to go with whatever you want. See Kenzo below.

Folks! That’s a preview on the Beauty Trends Spring 2017. Yay, nay, okay? Leave a comment below!

The Statement Necklace

So this is probably the one piece that will take your outfit from ordinary to extraordinary. From low to high, from fashion to fashionista. The one piece that gives life to a plain t-shirt and will always steal the spotlight. We’re talking about the statement necklace!

The statement necklace

So what counts as a statement necklace? As described above, it’s a spotlight stealer due to its often oversized scale and more is more approach! If it’s not colorful, it’s often very detailed and is anything but discrete. As a minimalistic necklace complements an outfit, without making too much of a noise, a statement necklace does the contrary.

History of the statement necklace

A big and fancy necklace is nothing new (the history of necklaces goes back all the way to the stone age, so it’s kind of old but gold). Another historic record of the statement necklaces are the ones the old Egyptians wore, they were large, colorful and got all the spotlight. Another great example of the historic use is the 1920’s, where pearls were popular to use as a necklace. A few years ago, statement necklaces were back in fashion and style icons such as Miroslava Duma and Olivia Palermo worked them (and still does). Another fashion icon that regularly pulls them off, and embraces the maximalism, is Iris Apfel. She’s simply the queen of more is more!

How to pull of the statement necklace

As with everything, it’s about how you match and style it. If you’re not too keen on the statement part, choose a necklace that goes well with a minimalistic outfit. Perhaps a black, grey or white one that blends in with the color of the outfit. If you want to highlight the piece, go for one in a bright color, or a necklace that sparkles.

The thing with a statement necklace is that it comes down to whatever you prefer. Do you want to go fashion bold with it? Dress it up. Do you want to keep it low key? Gor for jeans, t-shirt and a simple cardigan. If you want to be completely sure that your outfit is working, I’d suggest that you keep the details of the outfits very subtle. The statement necklace is the start of it nonetheless. If you want to play bolder than that, pick up the color/sparkle from the necklace and match it with a clutch, bracelet or a pair of shoes. See the outfit below.

Do you prefer the statement necklace or simple ones? Hit us in the comments!

Style Details From The Fashion Weeks

I was actually about to talk about the beauty from the fashion weeks today, but let’s save it for Friday as I can’t stop drooling over all the style details from the fashion weeks. We’ve always said that it’s all about the details (once again, here’s the Pinterest board named after it), so quite naturally, it’s about time to talk about them. I’ve plucked them down and at least tried to explain why I think they work!

Style Details of The Fashion Weeks | The Fashion Folks

Style Details: Chanel

Chanel is famous for its classic and elegant style and this look is no exception. The sleeves, the pockets, the belt, the placement of buttons as well as the necklace are all in tune with one another. This is favorable for the eye to register and easy to take in. The asymmetrical placement of the flower on the belt creates some disharmony. As for the colors, pink and blue is a soft combo that works. To break it off, the purple color by the flower breaks the color combo off perfectly. To make things even more matchy, the metallic of the necklace highlights the metallic buttons. The pink of the necklace matches the pink of the belt. Bonus thing: You can also see that this look is in levels, first you have the buttons, then you have the sleeves, then comes the belt, the pockets and more buttons! Scan the look from top to bottom and you’ll see!

Style Details: Giambattista Valli

Black and white is the most classic color combination there is. Doing black and white as stripes is equally as common and classic. They create a balance both in colors and in size. To break the tension off though, Valli placed pink flowers in 3D both on the white and the black stripes. Firstly, I love the combo of pink, white and black. It’s too good honestly. Secondly, the geometric nature of the BW is lovely matched with the natural shape of the flowers. Geometric meets natural movement. The use of three colors and the contrast between the shapes creates perfect a perfect style.

Style Details: Emilio Pucci

I know, we’ve already talked about this look, but let’s get back to it once more. Pucci did some color blocking for Spring 2017. As you can see, the colors used for the skirt are also found in the top, a lovely way to create color harmony for the eye. We all would probably go for a neutral bag to this look, but nope, matching it with even more colors works! Even though the colors of the bag are not completely in tune with the ones of the dress, it works. Why? Because the eye picks up the black details of the bag, and they match with the black ones of the dress. Also that there is some white, red and pink helps the eye pair the two together. We talked more about how to mix prints like a pro here.

Style Details: Dolce & Gabbana

This is another look I’ve already talked about, but it’s so full of details that it definitely needs to be talked about again. Dolce and Gabbana are both masters of details (just so much to look at)! And some minimalists will argue that it doesn’t work, but it kind of does. To begin with, look at the use of colors. Gold is featured in the earrings, the sunglasses as well as in the crown. Red/pink is used in the dress, on the lips, in the sunglasses and in the crown. Black is featured both in the dress and in the embellished crown. The look is also very symmetrical. If you put a line in the middle of the photo, you’ll see that the dress looks the same on both sides, so does the earrings, the sunglasses and the diadem. Something that helps creating balance in the details. Bonus thing: The thin gold frames of the earrings are similar to the one in the sunglasses, take a close look and you’ll see it too!

Folks, these were some of the style details of the fashion weeks! It’s definitely all about the details!