Take your wardrobe right into winter: top tips to show you how to layer with style

In Ireland we really only have two seasons- winter and sprummtumn.  And as we all know to our eternal sadness you can easily get through the three days of sunshine with a few bits from Penneys and Dunnes.

So investing well in your winter wardrobe is a MUCH better bet!  Plan it well and you should get years out of it. Buy the best you can afford and the closest to classic styling when you are choosing the basics of your wardrobe and then keep it on trend with less expensive high trend items. Now let's see the best ways to do it this year.

ADD COLOUR
Take a good look at the basic pieces in your wardrobe - trousers, skirts, jeans, jeggings, leggings. If they are a neutral -  like black, navy, grey, brown or white, all the better.  Any of these can be worn with dresses, tunics, long tops or knits.

And then just go crazy with colour. Experiment with colour combinations you might not have used before - purple and lime green, pink and red, chocolate brown with bright blue. Wear a camisole or a vest top underneath your dresses and tops to keep you toasty and invest in some long sleeved t-shirts in black and white that will add sleeves to short sleeved pieces. And layer as much as you need.

(NEVER layer anything with a peplum, with another peplum!)

BRIGHTS ON THE LEGS
As a change from black on the bottom, the bright trousers you bought this summer are the perfect way to inject some sunshine into a dreary winter wardrobe. If you don’t own a pair, then in denim they're really affordable. I just got some in Vero Moda, who are selling two pairs for €34.95. And if the budget is bust you can probably afford two pairs of jeggings from Pennys!

If you are totally bankrupt, then another option for under dresses and long tops is heavy opaque tights – as long as the top is not too short.   Penneys two hundred denier tights are really cosy and come in lovely happy colours. Just pull on your knee high boots and you're good to go.

STATEMENT TIGHTS
Speaking of tights, apart from your indispensable black opaques, the right statement tights can totally make an outfit. And there are some fantastic anything- but- basic tights in all the high street stores.

And all of you bright young things - love to see you rocking the shorts and tights look, it’s very cool. Just make sure they are not too summery: denims will look great.

OASIS                                    DIESEL                                   TOPSHOP

BELT UP
I am sure that at some time your mother made you invest in a classic wool coat dressy enough for a party, yet cool enough for jeans. One of my best buys was a black wool coat from Zara that I bought three years ago. Oh hell, I think it was four actually! It is a copy of a Versace design and looks really expensive. It’s classic tailoring and always on trend colour keep it looking fresh each year. A good coat should last you years, but if you're already sick of it then try wearing a belt with it, it will totally update it.

BLAZER CRAZY
Any structured jackets like blazers and military jackets that are not too light a fabric or colour, will still look fine in winter and this year you can go crazy layering which will also keep you warm. It’s cute to see that pop of colour from your fun t-shirt or your favourite summer top under a classic blazer, cardigan, or tailored jacket.

If you have a leather jacket it should be warm enough with layers underneath - a gilet is even better, as it will look great over this season’s warm knits.

Knits, a huge trend this year are always perfect to look warm and stylish and even if you just have the classic basic of black and winter white, you can wear them with everything.  I showed you some of my top picks a couple of weeks ago - take a look.

A little something shiny is fun for the holiday season. One of my favourite summer looks is metallic with white, so use your metallic bag from this ‘summer’. You can either go big for day or just add a little evening clutch for a bit of seasonal sparkle

INVEST IN GOOD BOOTS
If you bought well in previous seasons, you should already have at least one decent pair of winter shoes or more likely boots. If you can’t afford another good pair then make sure that they are up to a further round of keeping you cosy. Take them to be soled and heeled if they need it. It’s not expensive and they come back all polished and good as new. I have a great pair of LK Bennetts (that I got in a sale!) that I get repaired every couple of years and they are still gorgeous.

If you find a twenty in a pocket going spare, then a pair of kicking bargain boots can also do wonders for your look and Pennys have excelled themselves this year with choice. If you find another twenty, then this riding boot from Dunnes is a classic.

So take a new look at your wardrobe and you might find you have more money for makeup!

What do you think?  Are you rocking any of these looks at the moment or have any more inspiration?  Spill!