Shop With Style

Winter opens up a whole new world of amazing and exhilarating outdoor activities for you to enjoy, with snowboarding and skiing being two of the most popular. But, if you’re underdressed or unprepared, you’ll do anything but enjoy your time in the cold…instead, you’ll be spending every shivering minute wishing for the warmth of the indoors and cursing whosever idea it was to invite you to the slopes to begin with! Luckily, we have a list of the essentials you’ll need to enjoy every schuss, slalom, and snowplough in style!

• Base layers – Your parents or grandparents might have called them “long johns” or “long underwear,” but modern day base layers are made from more advanced synthetic fabric. Base layers are designed to be form-fitting, worn close to the body, and made from non-cotton material that wicks moisture and retains heat.
• Ski socks – If you’ve ever spent time in the snow or extreme cold, you know how quickly your toes can start to feel that burning numbness. Ideally, think of snow socks as a base layer for your feet. They should be thin, but made of a moisture-wicking material that will keep your feet warm and dry.
• Ski/snow jacket – Unlike jackets made for ordinary cold weather, ski/snow jackets also need to be breathable and waterproof. Look for ones that provide good insulation and are semi form-fitting but still allow for good mobility. A bonus here is that snow jackets come in all kinds of beautiful and amazing colors and patterns…so you can really find one that is fun and perfect for you!
• Ski/snow pants – These are a must for safety and warmth on the slopes. Proper snow/ski pants need to be waterproof and insulated with a contoured fit, but they also need to be long enough to be pulled down over your ski boots and loose enough to allow mobility in your knees and hips.
• Ski/snow gloves – As with your toes, you will often feel the harsh effects of the cold in your fingers soon after entering the climate, so a good pair of actual ski gloves are best. They are waterproof and offer durability and dexterity. If you find your hands are very sensitive to the cold, you can also add glove liners that will basically act as a base layer for your hands.
• Ski goggles – These will be important for a couple of reasons. Despite the chill in the air, the sun’s rays will be amplified by reflecting off the snow, so your eyes will need protection. Also, skiing and snowboarding create a great deal of wind that blasts your eyes, causing extreme dryness. Goggles will help eliminate both of these…not to mention you’ll look really cool wearing them!
• Snow boots – The uppers of good snow boots should be made from padded or quilted nylon, textile, suede, or leather. The midsoles and insoles should be extra cushioned with good arch support and be well-padded for shock absorption. Finally, the soles need to be lightweight and waterproof, with the whole boot being waterproof overall. If your feet stay comfy and warm, you’ll be able to frolic in the snow for hours!

Even though math was never our strong suit, there was a certain pleasure in the undeniable formulas. You knew that if you added X plus Y and divided by Z, you would have the answer. If only picking out clothes from our closet could be as cut-and-dry. If there was a simple formula for looking good…something that would undeniably work…it would make life a lot easier, right?  Well, we just so happen to have 5 tricks to illicit a positive reaction from people (men), as scientifically proven by studies.

• Wear heels – Aside from the fact that you (scientifically) have a better chance of being approached by a man if you’re wearing heels, heels also accomplish a few other pretty neat tricks. Because of the arch, heels force you to stand straighter, so you appear taller. And heels that blend in with the color of your leg, or those with a very low vamp (the part of the shoe that cuts across your foot at the front), make your legs appear longer and leaner.
• Go sleeveless – Studies have shown that arms are one of the parts of a woman’s body that men are most attracted to. In fact, in many studies, arms are more highly rated than legs! So, if you happen to be blessed with nice toned arms and shoulders…show them off!
• Think bodycon – There are loads of studies that show men are more attracted to an hourglass figure. Lucky for all of us, that’s what shapewear was invented for! Bodycon dresses are designed to naturally highlight the smallest part of you, the area just under your bust at your waist. And many bodycon dresses have slimming patterns that accentuate the effect even more. When you pair some fabulous shapewear with a great bodycon dress, you get WOW!
• Rock some red – Red attracts attention…period. It also symbolizes power, passion, and romance. So of course there will be studies that show men are attracted to red. But another bonus here is that there is a perfect shade of red out there for everyone!
• All hail the LBD – It’s iconic for good reason. And now, studies show that 5 out of 5 men will look twice at a woman in a black dress. It’s the perfect compromise if you don’t feel like wearing a bright, bold red… but you don’t necessarily feel like blending into the wallpaper either. The little black dress is classic, slimming, and oh-so-chic. It will never lead you wrong.

You’ve got some great pieces in your wardrobe. You know you do. So then why is it that every time you open your closet, you either A) find you have absolutely nothing to wear, or B) stick to your same ol’ “safe” outfits. It might all come down to a very simple reason: you are not taking full advantage of color matching. Once you start looking at colors, and new ways to combine them, a world of possibilities with your existing wardrobe will open up before your eyes!

• Complimentary Colors – Unless you remember high school art class, you might need to get on Google for this. On the color wheel, a complimentary color is one that can be found directly across from your current color, and it is combo guaranteed to look fab. See? It’s science!
• Think Ombre — Admittedly, this is the easy way out, but it will work in a pinch. It might even get your color matching juices flowing! Just as ombre uses varying shades of the same color, try pairing differing hues of the same color in pastels, jewel tones, earth tones, etc.
• J. Crew Cheat Sheet – When in doubt, hit the catalogues! It works to find inspiration in almost anything… decorating, interior design, gardening…so why not fashion? J. Crew in particular is fantastic at coordinating items resulting in the most beautiful array of colors and patterns you’ve ever seen! It’s almost guaranteed that even if you don’t have the exact pieces J. Crew is using, you most likely have the colors. So look at how their experts are pairing the colors, and follow their lead.
• Look to Your Prints – Some of your favorite, most unlikely, most delightful color combinations might be hiding right in front of your eyes! Maybe it’s in your closet, or your accessory drawer, or maybe it’s something straight from a fashion mag or your favorite designer’s runway show. Prints! You know ‘em, you love ‘em…and they can unlock all kinds of winning color combinations for you. Also pay attention to the proportion in which each color is used. Make the most-used colors the inspiration for your big pieces, and let the lesser-used colors inspire you for small pieces and accessories.
• Black and White – It’s classic for a good reason: it works! Pairing black and white is not only striking, but it works on a scientific level, since these two colors are opposites on the color wheel. And they also combine to provide an epic base for adding a pop of color in shoes, belts, jewelry, bags, and other accessories (just do us a favor…don’t take it too far and go all Cruella Deville on us).