With the arrival of this hideous cold snap, and the official start of Winter on Monday 01 June, I have found myself more than once standing in front of my wardrobe and having a mini crisis as to what to wear! 

I am not a lover of Winter, I hate the cold, and sometimes struggle with what to wear. Whereas my summer wardrobe is pretty extensive, with dresses, tops, skirts, shorts and an array of clothes to choose from. With that in mind I have been checking out the shops and considering what would be my essential items that will get me through the next few months. 

So.. the following list comprises key items that will add to your wardrobe, and introduce some of the on trend looks for Winter.

1. Winter Coat - blanket wrap coat or the over sized coat are big news this winter, as is the Parka, featured a couple of weeks ago.
   
2. Dress - knee length chunky knit or printed dresses are very in right now.
   
3. Joggers/track-pants - I don't mean your standard workout gear, more the dressier day-time causal pant.
   
4. Statement knit - think something sparkly, a statement colour - jewel colours are big news, or a roll neck, cowl neck or funnel neck.
   
5. Distressed jeans - the boyfriend slouchy jean or skinny jeans are still big news but with that old worn look to them.
   
6. Tops - plum, olive, stripes and grey are all go to colours this winter.
   

Also check out my Accessories and Shoes pages for those Winter Trends.

Over the next few weeks I will feature a different item from this list, starting this week with Statement Knits, only because I have recently seen some lovely Knits in the shops and I don't want you all to miss out!

As mentioned previously there is lots of lovely knitwear out there. Common trends for knitwear this Winter seem to be;

• Sparkle - sequins or gold/silver thread or embroidery.
  
• Animal print
• Different necklines, the cowl neck here and even the cape look, but there are also funnel necks, and roll necks.
• The over sized statement knit, either very chunky or over sized to the point of a tunic look.

Clothes from top left to right; Country Road over sized neck knit $169.00/sale price $126.75, (currently has 25% off all womens clothes till Monday),  Witchery Flock spot knit $149.90, Storm Gunner metallic sweater $159, Witchery Farrah Turtle neck cape $169.90, Country Road Rib deflection tunic $199.00/sale price $149.25, Country Road Animal Crew neck knit $126.75/sale price $126.75.

You may have noticed a few of these floating around the shops,  they are often referred to as gillets or vests. They can be quite handy for layering with an overall look, adding texture, or breaking up the line of your body and creating shape.

The ones I have featured are my pick from the shops, I particularly love the grey Trenery vest as the material and the draping is just gorgeous. They would all look great with slim, lean silhouettes, so skinny jeans, or long pencil skirts or like I have done below, a long dress and tall boots.

From top left to right; French Connection Faux Fur Vest AU$149.95, Trenery striped birds-eye wool vest $199.00, SEED Heritage Waterfall Vest AU$129.95, Storm going loopy knitwear vest $159.00.

For a casual look I've teamed the Trenery striped birds-eye wool vest with a Seed Heritage Knot Tassle necklace AU$29.95, a Witchery Rib back Knit $109.90, Witchery washed indigo jean $109.90, and Seed Heritage Lace up brogue AU$129.95.

I love this simple cream funnel neck dress from Trenery and had to find a way to show it to you and style it with something! I know cream is not very practical, but for a special night out this is a gorgeous but warm way to look very stylish.
French Connection Faux Fur Vest AU$149.95, Trenery Funnelneck Knit dress $229.00, Witchery Arrow stud earrings $14.90, Witchery Montana Hobo Bag $299.90 and Country Road Alana over-knee boot -currently on sale @ $284.25!!

Its that time of year when we have to start thinking about Winter Coats, and there are a few different styles in the shops at the moment. I have spied beautiful wrap coats, trench coats and double breasted coats. But I am going to focus on the Parka, mainly because my dressing has been pretty casual of late, and this style is quite casual, but can be dressed up depending on the style of the coat. 

I've picked five different types of Parkas, all with different price points. I have also incorporated a couple of them into outfits, to show you different ways that you can style them. I hope one of these might catch your eye! 

Left to right;
Country Road Faux fur trim parka $349.00, (CR currently have 25% off the entire store, if your a cardholder, until Sunday 17 May)
French Connection Coated fur trim parka $169.95
Storm fur anorak $289.00
Witchery over sized anorak $229.90
Ezibuy faux fur trim parka $129.99.

For a dressy look; mix the French Connection Coated fur trim parka $169.95 with a Storm velvet chains tee $129.00, Decjuba Candice multi stud white bracelet $39.95, Witchery slashed knee flare jean $149.90, and Ezibuy Leather hair feather block boot $139.99.

For a casual look; try the Country Road Faux fur trim parka $349.00 with a Country Road Luxe Terry Sweater $109.00, Witchery heavy trashed boyfriend jean $149.90, Country Road Corina low top sneaker $149.00 and Witchery Katia Tote $99.90.

I thought I'd style some outfits from the latest pieces online and in the shops, so that all you lovely Mum's out there have some ideas on what to throw together for your special day!  

I hope that's a day out for lunch, or at home where your hubby/partner or family are cooking for you, or a day with your own Mum. I hope you all enjoy the day with your families or enjoy your special time out.

The following looks are styled based on bodyshape to give you an idea how to dress for your shape with current trends. For more information on bodyshape, and how to work out your shape, check out Dress for your shape.

Remember the bodyshape guidelines are just that, guidelines. Most people aren't one particular bodyshape, but the suggestions are there to help you create balanced proportions for your shape. Current fashion trends tend to ignore the bodyshape guidelines all together so it can be good to know ways to enhance your best bits!


HOURGLASS
Embrace the curves, enhance your waist, show off your bosom and bottom, as much as you are comfortable with! Scoop neck tops, pencil or A-line skirts and well fitted trousers around the waist. If you wear something floaty like this top make sure it is tucked in to show off your waist and enhance your curves.

Witchery long sleeve gathered blouse $109.90, Country Road Bar Stud $44.90 earring, (currently 25% off), Witchery bonded pencil skirt $149.90, Country Road Arabelle clutch $169.90, Mi Piaci Maddy ankle boot $250.00.

APPLE
With your tendency to carry weight around your middle you don't want anything that will cling. You want to create structure and curves so a cropped jacket will give you that shape. A long necklace draws the eye down to your great legs, and skinny jeans are great at showing them off. The cross body bag, that falls below your waist, also draws the eye away form your middle.

Decjuba Taren Tie dye top $79.95, Glassons short belted biker jacket $99.99, Seed trio pendant necklace AU$39.95, Ezibuy Fringe bag $49.99, Ezibuy Urban high waisted jeans $49.99, Seed Eva Casual point charcoal AU$129.95.

RECTANGLE
Your straight up and down figure can be the envy of others. You are the easiest bodyshape to dress, but you can forget about creating some killer curves to that figure. A great way to do this is to wear a belt, add detail on your bottom half, i.e. pockets on trousers or pleating on skirts. You can get away with these PU trousers, which a lot of people would not be able to wear, and the t-shirt jeweled detailing, and inverted detail on the bottom creates interesting lines for you.

Country Road Marble stone t-shirt $109.00, Decjuba PU Ponte jogger $129.95 (members 10%off), French Connection Chain trim cross body bag $44.96, Witchery Millie Trainer $149.90.

INVERTED TRIANGLE
With your broad shoulders and smaller bottom half you want to create a waist for yourself and give yourself detailing around your bottom half. This Seed skirt is ideal for this as it comes in at the waist but is full from the hips and is short so shows off your great legs.

Decjuba Hammered loop earrings $24.95, Storm Times right shirt $169.00, Witchery Bailey Loafer $149.90 Latte, Seed Heritage Collection Asymmetrical leather skirt AU$399.95, Storm Meaghan multi row bracelet $19.95. 

You may have noticed that the Cape, (as I will refer to it), is quite popular at the moment. There are a few names for it that are being branded around in the shops;

1. The Cape, which is more of a coat style with arm holes,
2. The Blanket Wrap, which is really a huge scarf to wrap around yourself, 
3. and the  Poncho, which makes you think Mexican bandit, but essentially means a single large sheet of fabric with an opening in the center for the head. 

The Cape is not the most flattering item of clothing to wear; a large piece of fabric that covers your whole top half with no shape to it! But with some clever styling, as detailed below, you can pull it off.

I have seen these styled in the shops, and online, with wide leg trousers and full skirts, but I think to avoid looking too billowy, they are best worn with skinny jeans/trousers or leggings/jeggings or a straight pencil skirt.  If you want to add definition to your waist then try a skinny belt over the top to accentuate your middle.

When we had our cold snap last week I went looking for a cape that I can snuggle into when I'm sitting here writing my updates to keep the chill off at home. My top picks at the moment are, from top left to right; French Connection Aztec Cape AU$179.95, Country Road Boiled wool Cape $349.00, bottom left to right; Storm Cape Crusader Poncho $149.00, Seed Heritage Print Blanket Poncho AU$79.95.

I have styled the Country Road cape with a Country Road tie front jumper which gives some waist definition.

Items from left to right; Country Road tie front rolled neck knit $109.00, Country Road Boiled wool Cape $349.00, Decjuba rose gold studs $19.95, Seed Heritage charm stretch rose gold bracelet AU$24.95, Seed Eva Casual point charcoal shoe AU$129.95, Witchery zip patch cargo $149.90.

This Seed Heritage Print Blanket Poncho AU$79.95, I used for the inspiration for a daytime/office work look. Styled with Storm middle merino wool sweater $149.00, Nextdirect.com blue leather wide based shopper $88.50, Witchery Twiggy Knee high boot $369.90, Country Road Asymmetric wrap skirt $139.00, Wanderlust & Co Floral Deco gunmetal necklace AU$75.41.

For an evening look, try the Storm Cape Crusader Poncho $149.00, teamed with, from left to right;
Decjuba Ailie top $79.95, PU Ponte jogger $129.95 and Jacey High heel $77.95 all from Decjuba. (If you sign up online with Decjuba you receive %10 off, and they are currently doing 30% off footwear.) Earrings from Pinch & Fold; dream catcher droplets sterling silver $39.00.