Five winter fashions to buy now

November 6, 6:19 PMAllentown Fashion and Style ExaminerJessica Schwartz

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Faux fur is a hot addition to winter wardrobes this year when looking to keep warm in style.
Forever 21 - Belted Faux Fur Vest, $27.80

As Halloween fades into the background and thoughts of sugar plums start dancing, it’s time to also start thinking about dressing warmer and switching into winter wardrobes. This year, trends are plentiful but focus on exaggerated silhouettes – the bigger the better, along with warm, textured and fluffy materials.

With a selection of key accessories that help keep you warm to those that are party-perfect statement pieces, functional partners with fun this season! The best part: it’s very easy to incorporate the top looks of the season into your wardrobe by adding one fashion or accessory item per trend – which means Cha-Ching, more money for holiday shopping!

Want to get a head start on stocking your wardrobe with a few of the hot, cool weather trends? Start by adding key pieces from these five winter wonders – all are under $50.00!
 

1. Faux Furs: Keep warm this winter with one of the hottest trends this season – faux fur. From coats, vests and trapper hats to shoes, handbags and accessories, faux fur is everywhere. Designers and fashionistas such as Rachael Zoe and Kate Moss have seen sporting no-harm furs and Zoe even offers a nice selection including a cute coat and vest through her QVC collection. If looking to sport the trend best, try an adorable vest such as the Belted Faux Fur Vest from Forever 21 ($27.80). Like the look but not ready to go all-out? The Charlotte Russe Fur Lined Lace-Up Boots ($44.99) are available in both black and brown and offer a way to incorporate a just a touch of fur to any outfit. Regardless of how you wear it, faux fur is a hot way to keep warm.
2. Hats: Like your mother always said, heat rises and wearing a hat can help keep warm on the coldest of days – but these aren’t your mother’s hats. Berets are back big time bringing an “ooh la la” feeling to winter fashions. Worn back slightly further on the head (place at the crown rather than the forehead),adding a beret to an outfit is a great way to keep warm while new styles including sequins, textures and exaggerated knits make them more fashionable than functional. Most mass fashion retailers including Target, Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and Macy’s in the Allentown area offer several versions of the beret. Old Navy Women’s Popcorn-Knit Beret ($9.50) is simple and very affordable and Urban Outfitters website (urbanoutfitters.com) offers a great selection including a sequin covered version. Wear with an oversized sweater and skinny jeans and you've got a look that's tre chic!
3. Textured Tights: Lace, patterned, ribbed, or knit, whichever you select, textured tights are a great way to keep legs covered this winter in style. Use patterns only when wearing a relatively simple outfit so that the look is not too overdone or messy-looking. Paired with knee high boots and a sweater dress or mini skirt and booties, textured tights can add a big “look at me” factor to any outfit. Forever 21 has a great selection of tights including footless and thigh-high versions at amazing prices. Most run around $5.80 to $6.80 which allows for the purchase of more than one style. The Floral Panel Tights from Forever 21 ($5.80) would add instant romance to an all black ensemble. Things are starting to heat up already!
4. Sequins and Shine: The holiday season is looking like a bright and shiny one! Sequin covered fashions and accessories are must have items this winter. Embellished cardigans, tuxedo jackets, hats, handbags and so much more are popping up everywhere and offer a way to go gaudy and still look good. Easy to incorporate, and generally inexpensive, key pieces would be smaller accessories such as an encrusted clutch, beret, bangle, or headband which are plentiful at retailers such as Wet Seal, Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. For an even shinier, happy fashion statement, Express has a great selection, at a slightly higher price point, of sequined cardigans, leggings and dresses as well as a sequin tank ($29.50) which is available in eleven different colors. Perfect for the holidays, a sequin covered dress or skirt would pair just right with simple stilettos and a more subdued top or wrap. Tis the season for silver and gold so don’t be afraid to go all out and show off!
5. Ponchos, Capes and Ruanas (oh my!): Traditional coats won’t get you too far fashionably this season. Instead, when looking for fashion-forward outerwear to keep warm this winter, it is all about ponchos, capes and ruanas. Seen in many different fabrics and patterns, some of the most popular versions are oversized knits, furs and plaid patterns. Forever21.com has one of the best selections of inexpensive ponchos including a plaid poncho priced at only $16.90! Another way to embrace this trend would be a faux fur caplet which works well as a cover-up when going out at night or with a more sophisticated outfit. For ruanas, go loose knit and oversized so that it can be longer than a typical wrap and much for exaggerated-looking. Whichever you are wearing, make sure to wear a tight-fitting top underneath so that you appear layered, not lumpy!