*Any items in this Winter fashion post with a * next to them were gifted to me for free by the respective brand. To learn more about how I work with brands, read here.
She’s back folks
Thought my life as an inexperienced fashion guru was limited to this one post? Think again! I’m doing this thing for the foreseeable future. Today, I am back with more hacks for those of us who want to look “stylish” without actually having to try. These ones based around winter fashion and travelling. I recently took a trip to Paris in November and safe to say I was more than a little bit chilly. So, I had to consider the best ways to not only pack for winter, but also the best ways to pack for fashion and pack efficiently. So, without further ado, here’s my latest fashion hack post, centred around winter fashion and travel.
Best hacks for winter fashion whilst travelling
Though I was visiting Paris for a blog based reason, you can’t go to a city like Paris without having an explore for yourself! I wanted to check out as much as possible in a short period of time and actually managed to fit in more things than I thought I would be able to in 48 hours (Post on that coming soon). However, it did mean that I spent a lot of time walking the streets of Paris in winter. So, I had to dress accordingly, whilst also trying to look cute for touristy photos. I’ve always been the kind of person who picks practicality over style, but over the last few years, I’ve realised that there’s no reason you can’t have both.
1) Bring out the bags
This is less of a winter fashion point and more of a practical travel tip. As the kind of person who has the solution to most conceivable problems in her handbag at all times, I am a strong believer that you must have the right bag for a trip abroad. I will always, without a doubt, pack a strong, sturdy, somewhat large but still manageable bag with me as hand luggage. It needs to be able to fit my camera, laptop (on select trips, Paris being one of them), notebook, pen, water bottle… The list goes on. It’s my safety bag, and I won’t lie, I feel a little naked without it. This trip I was using this Gaston Luga Praper bag in black*. They sent it to me a couple of months ago and it’s ridiculously comfy, very roomy and incredibly sturdy, would recommend. You can get 15% off of any of their bags with the code JASMINE.
Links to winter fashion items featured in this image from left to right: Marks and Spencer Lily jeans, Gaston Luga Praper bag, Cream H&M beret. Everything else is either years old or no longer available.
However, with city breaks, I like to throw a second bag into the mix: the bumbag. The bumbag, or “fanny pack” as it was once known, is a tiny bag that straps around your waist. I use them on holidays to pack my phone, passport, purse, keys and any other little bits that would cause me to melt into a puddle of tears if lost/stolen.
2) Broadly co-ordinate accessories
Packing is already a minefield as it is, therefore you don’t want to be wasting space with a different scarf and hat to match every item. The way I see it, there are two main ways to play it. Firstly, you could go for shades rather than a colour, sticking to a black or white item so it will go with most of what you’re wearing. Or, if you want to provide your outerwear with more of an effortless pop, then pick a bold colour and run with it. I personally stuck with a bright red Primark scarf that I could whack a red lipstick on with and pretend to be fashionable.
3) Learn to layer
Featured pieces from left to right: Leather jacket from Wallis, Dress from Everything Five Pounds*, Top from Mistral clothing*, Black top from Femme Luxe Finery*, T-shirt from Femme Luxe Finery*, Skirt from Mistral Clothing*. Everything else is either years old or not in stores.
Winter is cold. Everything’s icy and sad. However, that doesn’t mean you should spend your time hauled up inside your hotel… What was the point in travelling to a city in winter if that’s what you’re gonna do? To avoid becoming a popsicle as you wander through the streets, layer up your clothes as much as possible. I believe that the art of layering is to balance the thickness of the layers. I always start with a thin bottom, statement layer like this T-shirt* or this sleeved top*, then throw on a thicker hoodie, add a jacket and top it all off with a scarf. This way I’m covered for weather eventualities, can strip as I please based on the temperature/my activity level, and I still look cute and am the right temperature when sat inside.
And there you have it! Hope this post was somewhat helpful! Navigating winter fashion is hard enough without having to navigate it while travelling. Therefore, I thought I’d throw out some lazy girl tips.
Lots of love,
Jas xx
I bloody love my Gaston Luga bag, it’s so perfect for travelling and I don’t know what I’d do without it now. I absolutely love that red scarf on you, red is DEFO your colour. That white E5P dress is SO nice, I’ve picked up some absolute bargains from that website and I’m always checking it on pretty much a daily basis for new items – think I’ve got a slight obsession haha. Layers are defo essential, I’m loving blanket type scarves at the moment as they’re so perfect when it gets chilly.
Alice xx
They’re amazing, aren’t there! And thank you! I really need to wear more red and also get a blanket scarf xx
Yes to the learn to layer – that’s the key to winter survival and staying fashionable. And being ready for any occassion (or climate).
I agree! xx
Layers. All the layers. As someone who is freezing all the time, travelling in winter when I need to make sure I have enough to stay warm (basically impossible) fills me with dread. I went to Paris in January once. I didn’t take enough ? x
Sophie
Hahahah yeah gotta have a good few layers x
these are such great tip! can’t wait to hear more about your trip to paris! your outfits always look fabulous when i see them on instagram xx
mich / simplymich.com
Awww thank you so much – it means a lot because I don’t consider myself fashionable at all haha xx
This is a lovely blog post and I love your outfits here! I love layering tee-shirts under my jumpers for a cosy feel!
Ayse x
Yesss it’s so cosy to throw on a T-shirt under a jumper! xx
That bag is gorgeous! Looks perfect for travelling. Layers are definitely key in winter, especially getting thicker as you add more layers, I learned my lesson in Iceland!x
It’s such a handy bag! And yes, layers all the way! xx
Yup, I’m fairly new to the concept of layering (yes, really) but now that I know the secret I’m never going back! Also a huge yay for scarves, which hide a multitude of sins 🙂 Lisa x
Haha yeah layering is such a must! xx