4 Fashion-Blogger Outfit Formulas to Try This Winter

It’s time for a good old fashioned guest blogpost 🙂

High Style Life is a website dedicated to life and all the little pleasures it brings. We believe that if you just think about the way you live your life and commit yourself to living it to the fullest, the style will come as a natural extension of your being. The kings and queens of style are usually just people who came close to keeping their lives in perfect balance.

Hope you enjoy the following post by Cristina Nika Kask, Editor, HighStyleLife

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Anyone of us has, at some point, wanted to have the mind of a fashion blogger to find the secret formula that would solve “Nothing-to-wear” syndrome. Sure, you might think, that it is easy for them, because they have closets full of clothes, and they do not even have to try that hard to find something great. That is simply not true.

The best amongst fashion bloggers can make at least 3 awe-inspiring outfits with the same essential clothing pieces. “How”, you might ask? It is easy, they are the Einstein of the fashion, and though we cannot steal their minds, we can use the formulas they have shared with us. Here are some of the must-tries for this winter.

Ladies: Knit + Coat + Oversized Scarf + Skinny Jeans + Boots + Floppy Hat

This is the perfect winter combination. It is warm, it is layered and it is the perfect modern variation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s kind of elegance. The trick with this winner outfit is to choose one color that will prevail throughout it. If you want to play it safe, that color should definitely be black, but you cannot go wrong with chocolate brown, too. Two more daring options are the amazing and popular with reason burgundy or even dark metallic blue.

The hat, the boots and the scarf should be in the dominant color, while the other pieces can be combined accordingly –burgundy and black, for instance, pair up perfectly. If you want something a bit edgier, choose leather pants instead of skinny jeans. Finish up the combination with a pair of leather gloves and a leather bag.

For some PPMeow! looks incorporating some of these ideas click here and here and here.

Ladies: Knitted Sweaterdress + Warm Tights + Boots + Statement Accessory + Coat

The knit dress is quite an underrated piece, but it seems that it is about to get its five minutes of fame (and hopefully a lot more). A lady loves her dress, and why depriving her of the pleasure of wearing dresses during the winter? That is when winter dress comes on the scene. Chose a dress according to your preferences (turtleneck, midi dress, fitted cut, A-line, ribbed waistline, etc.) in some of the finest winter colors – grey, black, burgundy, blue, or with some patterns. Opt for solid color warm tights and boots (ankle or high). Your statement accessory can be anything from oversized earrings to large breastplate necklace. Top it all with a warm elegant coat.

For some PPMeow! looks incorporating some of these ideas click here and here and here.

Gentlemen: Tweed Pants + Dress Shirt + Tweed Suit Blazer + Tweed Driving Cap + Boots

You have probably realized by now that we are crazy about tweed, and so should you. It is the season’s greatest hit for men’s apparel. Another major trend is grey in all of its shades, so if you can, include it in this outfit. To reach the ultimate refines, the shirt, the pants and the blazer should be custom made by reliable tailors, such as iTailor’ skilled professionals so that they would fit your body shape ideally. The tweed driving cap will give you the youthful and a bit dandy-feel. Opt for leather lace-up style boots.

Gentlemen: Pants + Turtleneck + Paletot Coat + Boots

This is the perfectly casual and yet a bit dressy combination. Maybe you think that turtlenecks are so 70s, but do we have to remind you that none other than 007 wore it in this year’s spectacular Spectre, and guys, he hooked up with Monica Belluci? In that case, you have your answer when it comes to color too, black, of course (but you can experiment). Combine it with black slim-fit pants and an interesting long overcoat Paletot style (double breasted, fitted, knee-length) – it can be patterned (plaid) or colored (green). Choose elegant black lace-up ankle boots.

Do not limit yourself strictly to these formulas. Use them as basics for your own experiments with style. Discover your inner fashion blogger and find yourself in the crowded world of fashion trends. In the end, fashion is all about self-expression, so be yourself and be stylish!

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Asian Adventure: Hội An, Vietnam – The Ancient City

Although much of the trip was spent dancing with VLX …. I was able to check out a few sites, ate some amazing meals and even got to visit a tailor to get some custom threads made!!!

A few noteworthy things to mention if you are planning on visiting Vietnam:

There is a VISA requirement for this country. From my earlier post, What to Know Before you Go, many Asian countries issue visas free of charge on arrival at major airports and land-boarders. Vietnam is NOT one of these countries. There are a few online service providers that will help get you started with the Vietnam Visa process, we used: http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/ The application process is simple enough – just go online and apply. But the cost has gone up unfortunately — the online processing fee is $20 (just remember to select Canadian dollars).
Make sure the name you put in is exactly as your passport, that your passport number is correct, and that you put your arrival date correctly. If any of these are incorrect, you might have to pay a heavy fine upon arrival. This takes about 2-3 days to process and they will email you a letter – which you will need to print and bring along with $45 USD in cash exactly, to be paid with CRISP bills – no joke. If your bills are wrinkled or ripped, even slightly, your money will be rejected at the counter and Visa denied.
The Japanese Bridge – Hoi An
In addition to this letter, you will be required to fill out a form at the counter that you will have to frantically fill out before they will take your money. Some online service providers send out this form with the letter. Our service didn’t. FYI.
Oh, you also need passport photos – which you might want to get while you’re overseas travelling – as North American passport photos are usually highly overpriced.
The currency used is the Vietnamese DONG – maybe the best currency ever, by name alone 😉 Everyone is a Millionaire there, as $100CAD translates to $1.7Million Dong! It took me the entire 4-days to get used to the giant bills to pay for anything correctly there.

If you’re not already following me on Instagram … Here are a few snaps from my adventures in Hoi An …

THE FOOD!!!

I’m a huge fan of asian cuisine … but the amounts of delicious foods that were eaten my short time in Hoi An was magical – and sooooo cheap!!!!!

VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE (CAFE SUA DA) – This is oh-so delicious. Made with Vietnamese coffee press + Sweetened condensed milk filling a tall glass filled with ice to its brim!

AND then these BLOSSOMS – Hoi An fried wontons are covered in a salsa-like topping of vegetables and sweet and sour shrimp or pork …. they are crispy, mouth-watering works of art.

VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE (CAFE SUA DA) HOI AN FRIED WONTON BLOSSOMS

OK! The below dish is called Cao lầu – it is a regional Vietnamese dish made with noodles, pork, and local greens, and is only found in the town of Hội An.

Naturally, I ate as much of this as I could while I was there.

Cao lầu and Larue Beer – genuine Hoi An street-must-eats!

WHAT I BOUGHT

In terms of souvenirs I behaved myself. My purchases included: two medium-sized fabric lanterns (for my balcony), coconut bowls, Viet snacks for coworkers AND the most delicious coffee ever + metal coffee distiller!

My biggest excitement …and spending … took place with the custom-made clothes!!! 😀

Everyone who had visited Vietnam before, had told me how great the tailors were out there. I was loosing my mind trying to narrow down my choices of what items I wanted to get made.

The tailor I used — visited them a few times to get the following pieces perfect for moi!

Before leaving for my trip, I picked pieces that I’d been coveting that didn’t come in plus sizes at the vintage/reproduction boutiques I frequent. And found my TOP FOUR items I wanted to get made:

1. Hello, Yellow two-piece midi-crop top set

3. The bow-tie dress shirt & 4. overall skirt with pockets

Buuuuut there were TONS of cool ideas and dress designs hanging all around me at this little shop. And I’ve got a problem and weakness for pretty frocks.

In the end …. SEVEN new pieces actually came home with me! And when all was said and done, each item cost me approx. $42 CAD.

Saving this floral frock for Toronto Vintage Society’s Annual Tiki Party this **August 29, 2015** – save the date friends 😉

Which is pretty awesome, considering I selected premium fabrics + lining, got to add my own ‘design’ ideas such as adding POCKETS to everything …. and each piece is unique to fit me perfectly.

Nobody in Toronto is gonna be wearing my outfit. Huge Bonus 🙂

Stay tuned for upcoming blogpost highlighting each of these outfits specifically!!! Thanks for reading! xo

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Asian Adventure includes:

Boracay, Philippines – White Sand Beach – click here for blogpost

Hội An, Vietnam – VLX – click here

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Food, Fun and Fashion (coming soon, I promise)

Asia: What to Know Before you Go – click here for blogpost

Holiday Double Feature: Casual Cocktails

Here we go – the very last outfit post of our week-long Holiday Double Feature collaboration series with Cassie of Style Cassentials.

We’ve been discussing and putting our own unique twists to some Holiday trends ALL week. Hope you’ve been enjoying it. If you missed any of my previous posts I’ll list them at the end of this one…so you can get yourself caught up and festive ready! 🙂

There’s bound to be a few dress-down weekend holiday house parties you’re gonna have to hit – and that’s what we’re focusing on with this last post we’re calling: Casual Cocktails!

I picked this soft pink lace trim top on sale from Penningtons a few months ago. It totally caught my eye with its mix-media textures, this top would go well with a skirt or dress pants, to the office on weekdays and totally works with jeans on the weekend.

The lovely lace trim and cool colour-blocking over soft pink sheer front and cotton back just makes this top oh-so unique.

Since this top has lots of interest to it, I was easily able to tone down the vibe of my outfit while still looking a bit ‘holiday fancy’ for a festive house party at the neighbours or whatever last min invites that may come your way for boozy egg nog and Christmas cookies 🙂

How I Got The Look: Sheer & cotton laced top from Penningtons; Navy tuxedo striped pixie pants from Old Navy; Brown suede booties from Reitmans; Faux fur bag from Aldo Accessories; Bow-tie earrings were gifted.

Cassie’s off-the-shoulder winter white sweater with lace skirt combo is oh-so romantic for the holidays. Head over to Style Cassentials for all the details on how Cassie has styled the trends. Or visit her Facebook page here.