How To Stay Sassy And Warm This Winter | Part Two

FAUX FUR COAT - VINTAGE | JEANS - GAP | DRESS - VINTAGE | BERET - ASOS | BOOTS - OLD ASOS

Location: Avenue Fairmount, Montreal.

Hello and welcome to part two of this mini series about my eternal quest to stay sassy and warm this winter. If you are not up to date, I am currently living through the coldest winter of my life in Montreal and as I do like experimenting with what I wear, I am refusing to succumb to the jeans/jumpers/big boots/big coat look everyday of winter (even if I do enjoy this comfy ensemble on occasion) and am constantly thinking up new ways to keep my outfits interesting. Make sure you check part one, which is all about the details, but today we are talking about layering.

Layering is a big trend for AW16 so that boded well for practicality and styling during a snowy and subzero Canadian winter. It recently struck me how when it is bitterly cold, a coat will often hide everything I am wearing underneath but what I put on the bottom half of my body will always be on show. So when I stumbled across this gorgeous midi dress at work I thought I would give it a shot.

There are so many things that I love about this dress and that make it the perfect winter layering piece. I have worn it over my trusty Gap jeans and a black turtleneck - my usual go-to outfit on those cba days - giving the overall look a bit more shape with a silver waist belt. The slightly transparent fabric means that you can still see the jeans underneath, which is one of the joys of layering, and even when my understated black faux fur coat is fastened there is still lots going on in this look. 

As a stand alone piece, the dress is really on trend. Maximalism, granny chic and ruffles are all trends that I love and this handmade vintage baby ticks all those boxes. Also, purple is big this season and adds a great pop colour to my winter wardrobe. I am already seeing tulle and mesh dresses all over the high street for spring/summer so this is my winter version for now. Admittedly, it was a bit of a wild purchase but I am dead keen on the result - what do you think? 

Izzie x
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How To Stay Sassy And Warm This Winter | Part 1

COAT - VINTAGE | JUMPER - &OTHERSTORIES | JEANS - ASOS (SIMILAR) | TURTLENECK - SECONDHAND | BOOTS - DR MARTENS | HAT - JOHN LEWIS (OLD) | SCARF - TOPSHOP | LIPSTICK - MAC 'DIVA'

As a fashion blogger living through my coldest winter yet, I am still stubbornly refusing to let the subzero temperatures affect my sartorial choices...well, not too much anyway. I have not invested in a unflattering puffer jacket nor will I be donning my feet with ugly snow boots any time soon and guess what? I am surviving. So with this thought constantly on my mind, I thought I would create a little series with tips on how I am staying warm in style this winter in Montreal.

There is no doubt about it that dresses and skirts are out of the question for the next few months - even I am not committed enough to having dangerously numb legs and a draft wooshing up between my thighs - so jeans and wool tailored trousers are my winter uniform, with tights or leggings underneath, of course. These jeans have a rather large knee rip, which, if left unattended, would allow for more wooshing so I added some fishnets tights for a little warmth and an extra detail.

See, today's outfit - even though it is quite simply a jeans and jumper combo - is all about the details. These days I am living in turtlenecks and layering this stripy one underneath my new beloved &Other Stories jumper adds that bit of interest while keeping my neck warm.

Accessories are a great way to spice up any look and during colder months we have even more options, with all the scarves, gloves and hats that are unavoidable in a Canadian winter. I have had this incredible leopard print faux fur bucket-style hat for a few years now and it is the softest and cosiest hat ever. Plus I am hitting two keys winter trends and feeling super sassy while doing so - win win. Finally, if all else fails, a statement lip can bring any winter outfit from boring to striking and it's pretty effortless too. Luckily MAC's Diva shade perfectly matches my cherry red Dr Martens boots, which are currently the only suitable thing I own for foot-deep snow.

Izzie x

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My Slouchy Knitwear And Jeans Go-To

 Jeans - GAP, Jumper - homemade, Burberry trench - vintage (SIMILAR), Hat - vintage (SIMILAR), Trainers - CONVERSE

Location: Outremont, Montreal

As the first snow falls over Montreal, I think it is safe to say that this is one of the last times that I can get away with comfortably wearing Converse and a trench coat. As I have been working in a vintage shop that requires a lot of "getting stuck in", I have got used to wearing lots of slouchy jeans and jumper combos with comfy shoes on my feet and this seems to have crept into my weekend wardrobe too.

For a final autumnal walk through Outremont on Saturday, I went for my favourite new Gap jeans - which you have already seen in last MONDAY'S POST - and this unique denim jumper that my grandma knitted for me and I love oh so much. I find that it can be tricky to find the right balance of tight and slouchy in a knitwear and jeans look but I think this outfit gets it just right thanks to the straight (and not boyfriend) shape of the jeans and the long length of the knit. I love the androgynous vibe of this outfit, which is finished off perfectly with my beloved oversized vintage Burberry trench coat, falling apart Converse and a baker boy hat.  

I hope you like this slouchy look as much as I do. If I am honest, I have been feeling quite uninspired recently, not knowing what to buy or invest in for my first Canadian winter and this has certainly affected my content - so I am sorry. And November is a bit sucky anyway but I am super excited for December, the festive season and all the Christmassy content I have planned that is coming your way very soon! As much as I love a good knitwear and jeans combo, I can't wait to start getting a bit more dolled up in the next month or so. 

Alors que la première neige tombe sur Montréal, c'est sûr que cette tenue est une des dernières fois que je peux porter des Converses et un trench confortablement avant le vrai hiver. Vu que je travaille dans une friperie où il faut s'atteler à tous, je m'habitue à porter une combinaison de jean/pull avec des chaussures confortables et il semble qu'on voit ce type de look aussi dans mon placard de weekend.

Pour une dernière balade d'automne samedi à Outremont, j'ai mis mon nouveau jean préféré de Gap - ce que vous avez déjà vu dans la poste de LUNDI DERNIER - et ce pull unique que ma grand-mère a tricoté pour moi et je l'aime trop. Je pense qu'il est parfois difficile de trouver le bon équilibre entre serré et oversized dans un look de tricots et de jean, cependant, pour moi cette tenue est parfaite grâce à la forme droite (et pas boyfriend) du jean et la longueur du pull. J'aime trop comment cet outfit est tellement androgyne, surtout avec ce trench oversized, ces Converses qui tombe en morceaux et cette casquette marine. 

J'espère que vous aimez cette tenue oversized autant que moi! Je vous avoue que je ne suis pas super inspirée en ce moment - je ne sais pas quoi acheter ou en quoi investir pour mon premier hiver en Canada et je pense que ces sentiments ont affecté mon contenu. Et novembre craint quand même mais j'ai hâte de faire tout le contenu que j'ai prévu pour décembre, Noël et la saison des fêtes très bientôt! Même si j'aime bien une combinaison jean/pull, j'ai hâte de me retrouver dans des tenues plus festives et spéciaux dans le mois qui vient.

Izzie x
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My Coat Collection

Izzie x
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DIY Knitted Scarf

Scarf - Homemade with DEBBIE BLISS WOOL, Leather jacket - ASOS (old), Dungarees - ZARA, Denim shirt - TOPSHOP (old), Shoes - DR MARTENS

Location: Carrer de la Diputació, Barcelona

Introducing my favourite accessory this season, my DIY kintted scarf. A few Christmases ago - in fact the Christmas just before I started this blog - my grandma gave me a beautiful jumper that she had knitted for me from denim wool. I was so impressed so I decided to re-learn how to knit and started with this scarf. Of course life happened, summers passed where I forgot about my knitting and then finally last April I finished it, so this is the first winter of wearing it! It is made from lovely soft DEBBIE BLISS CASHMERINO ARAN wool and the cream colour means it goes with pretty much anything. I can't recommend this wool enough, the peacefulness of knitting and how great it feels to produce something to this quality!

Now -  what shall my next knitting project be?


Je vous présente mon accessoire préféré du moment qui est l'écharpe que j'ai tricoté. Il y a quelques Noel - en fait, le Noel avant que j'ai commencé ce blog - ma grand-mère m'a donné un pull qu'elle a tricoté de la laine en jean. J'étais si impressionnée que j'ai décidé de me réapprendre comment tricoter et j'ai commencé avec cette écharpe. Bien-sûr qu'elle m'a pris beaucoup de temps parce que...la vie…les étés sont passés où j'ai oublié de tricoter mais enfin en avril, je l'ai finie. Donc, ceux-ci est le premier hiver que je peux porter cette écharpe! Je l'ai faite en laine de DEBBIE BLISS qui est super douce et la couleur crème va avec presque tout! Je vous conseille tellement cette marque de laine, je vous dis que tricoter est vraiment calmant et comment on se sent super d'avoir produire quelque chose de cette qualité!

Alors, que tricote-je maintenant?

Izzie x

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Vegetarian Sweet Potato & Ginger Soup Recipe

I just love soup. It is the perfect winter warmer for both lunch and dinner and even better if it is homemade. I made this soup up a few years ago now and even Lewis with his 'soup-is-alright' attitude loves it! It is super (souper) easy and cheap so let's get cooking!

What you need…

- 1 large sweet potato

- 2 large potatoes

- Half a red pepper

- 2 carrots

- 1 onion

- 1 clove of garlic

- 2 tsp of grated ginger

- 1 vegetable stock cube

- Olive oil

- Crème fraîche (optional)

What you do…

1. Fry finely chopped onion in olive oil. After a few minutes add chopped garlic, grated ginger and red pepper. Cook until soft on a medium heat. 

2. Add cubed sweet potato and potatoes and sliced carrots; stir. 

3. Pour in enough boiling water to cover all the ingredients and chuck in a vegetable stock cube.

4. Bring to the boil and then reduce to simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are very soft and almost breaking up.

5. If you have an electric hand whisk, blitz the soup to taste. I prefer leaving a few surprise chunks of potato in there. Otherwise you can use a potato masher to smooth those ingredients out into a nice chunky soup texture. 

6. (Optional - stir in a couple of tablespoons of crème fraîche) Season to taste and serve with crusty bread, homemade croutons or... a cactus!

7. Enjoy!

I would love to know if you try this recipe and what you think! Either in a comment on here or on any of my social media channels which you can find just below <3

Izzie x

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The last wintery outfit (I hope)

Vintage bandana / Vintage Levi jeans / Primark jumper / Vintage Burberry trench coat / Dr Martens 

Location: rue Roger Velomme, 75003 Paris

After a week of lovely sunshine being stuck at work I was quite disappointed that I had to resort back to jeans and a jumper on a rather chilly Saturday. Not too disappointed though because I love this outfit, just simple and comfortable with a twist added thanks to this cute bandana.

I've got some more summery outfits planned so let's hope the weather just keeps getting hotter and hotter! No more cold weekends please Mr Weatherman, that is just not cool…

---

Après une semaine de soleil pendant que je travaillais, j'étais assez déçue de remettre un jean et un pull ce samedi où il faisait un peu plus froid. Pas trop déçue parce que j'aime bien ce outfit, simple et confortable avec un bandana pour ajouter un twist mignon.

J'ai prévu des outfits plus pour été du coup j'espère que le température continue à augmenter! Plus de weekends froids s'il vous plaît Monsieur Metéo, c'est pas cool…

Izzie x

Winter in a slip dress

Vintage slip dress / Vintage turtleneck top (similar here) / Calzedonia long socks / Doc Martens shoes

Location: Tiergarten Park, Berlin

At the weekend Lewis and I had a little trip to Berlin to see one of our favourite bands play, The Gaslight Anthem, and to do some exploring. It turned out that our Airbnb apartment came with two bikes, which was an amazing way of seeing the city and as I loved my cute baby blue one I thought I would feature it in some blog photos!

Slip dresses were my go-to piece this summer but I cannot bear to part with this one over winter so here is my way of styling them throughout colder months. Turtleneck jumpers are a wardrobe must-have this season, they are so versatile! I love the 90s look of layering mine under a slip dress for a bit of extra warmth. Then I just added some knee length socks and voilà! So remember, a slip dress is for life, not just for summer ;)

Izzie x