Merry Christmas, guys! Weather wise, this has been the most amazing winter so far. No complaints from me! I love being able to wear dresses comfortably without freezing my butt off. 

Also, hey flower crown! Gah! It was my first time making one and I went all out with this statement piece. Designing with flowers is such a fun challenge....not to mention, GORGEOUS! Remember, pick a variety of colors, textures and sizes to combine together. I have some directions and tips below!

DIY Statement Floral Crown 

• floral wire
• floral tape and of course
• freshly picked flowers.

First, cut a piece of wire to fit you head. It's up to your own preference to how you'd like it to lay and fit you. Overlapping the wire ends, use the floral tape to wrap and secure the ends together. Make sure to pull and wrap the tape tight. Floral tape isn't as sticky as regular tape so it was a little hard to get used to.

Now that you have your crown base, lay it flat on the table so you can start arranging flowers around it to get an idea of how you'd like it to look. Trim the stems to be around 2 inches long. You'll be taping these to the wire.

I used cuts of evergreen branches as the main greenery element and wrapped those to the wire first as my base. I spaced small cuts equally around (except for the front). Wrap each stem base with the tape until it's secure to the wire with little movement.

I left the front bare (no evergreen) so I could easily add in my focal point. I grouped my largest flowers (3 giant mums) in the center and arranged carnations around them as accents with little snippets of evergreen. Try on your piece every once in a while while you're making it to see how it lays and to see how it holds up. Make any adjustments necessary and ENJOY!

Flower Crown: diy  ///  Coat: Zara  ///  Dress: Missguided  ///  Boots: Missguided 

One of the most important things to remember about style & fashion is to make it your own. Experiment with styles and be you. Just because you own a article of clothing that bursts of sequins, it doesn't mean you can only wear it for a formal & dressy occasion. In fact, the best outfits have a mix of dressy and casual elements. It adds variety and interest...and of course, FUN! Somewhere in our minds we get stuck on certain ideas and purposes. Here's a reminder that there are no rules! So let us mix and match to our hearts content.
I took a minimalist approach with this look, simple neutral color pallet, minimal jewelry and clean lines. I had grabbed this sequin dress for $15 and was dying for a chance to wear it. For going out to dinner, it's a little much...a little too glam and fancy. An easy fix is to throw on some layers and mix it with some casual pieces to tone down the dressy sparkle. I layered on a high-low twist top from Necessary Clothing. I simply love this oversize piece, it can go with anything. The over-the-knee boots and hat add another casual stylish element. It says "trendy" and tones down the glam of the dress. WIN! To top everything off, my fitted and clean line Zara coat really pulls the look together. Polished!

Hat: ASOS  ///  Necklace: Aldo Accessories  ///  Dress: Nordstrom Rack  ///  High-low Twist Top: Necessary Clothing  // Over-the-Knee Boots: Necessary Clothing  /// Coat: Zara

Well whaddya know, I got the River Island coat I've been eyeing! This muppet-esqe beauty is sure to brighten up the rest of the long winter season. That faux fur accent tho! A little punch of Bid Bird color goes a long way during these months of gray on gray on gray.  If you're wearing lots of dark colors this winter like I am, don't be afraid to add a bold pop of color. Make a statement!

But seriously, Big Bird...I love him. Suuuunnnnnnyyyy dayyyys, sweeeeeping the cloooouds aaawwayyyy...

Now is the time, grab up your favorite statement coat you've been eyeing all fall & winter. Sales are all around us!  Living in Cleveland, I still have months of suffering enjoyable winter weather to get my moneys worth out of a new coat. Why not get a fun & funky one to brighten up the rest of these dull gray months till spring? These 4 are my current favorites and are around $100. Find them here:  1  ///  2  ///  3  ///  4

Lotsa. Chunky. Goodness. Time to layer up for Winter and the game is comfy, cosy. Honestly, the more it looks like you're straight up wearing a flannel blanket, the better. Blankets & rugs, let's go there. Let's wear them. I've been piling on oversized blanket capes, faux fur anything mixed with plaid tops or flannels. Don't forget the details though...add in gold accents, fringe or even sequins to your look. Mix textures, mix patterns.

Faux Fur Skirt:  1  ///  2  ///  3
Gold Accent Ankle Boots:  1  ///  2
Oversized Cape:  1  ///  2  ///  3

It's time to start thinking about Wintertime survival in Cleveland / Northeast Ohio. I understand that fashion takes a back seat when there's multiple inches of snow on the ground. That's when we put our normal trendy fashion boots to the side and break out some bad boys that can handle the job. Here are my top 3 picks for the most fashionable & functional snow boots out this season. Here are questions I asked myself & how I based my selections:

Functionality

Traction: type of sole & heel height. Will I be able to easily trample around town?...without falling?
Shaft Height & Warmth: are they tall enough to keep out snow? Will my feet freeze off?

Aesthetic

Style: Do these match my style & wardrobe? Will I put my city to shame by wearing these? (i.e. people who wear Ugs)
Quality: What type of material are they? How will they wear in snow and salt? Can they be easily cared for / cleaned?

Here are the links to check out these styles further!
Top: Dollhouse, Defend  ///  Middle: Zara, Leather Wedge Mountain Bootie  ///  Bottom: Topshop, Ava Faux Fur Lined Boots