This is the first winter that I’ve really felt prepared for the cold weather, and it’s great! In past years, I’ve shivered and suffered in thin, wool coats (and, once upon a time, stockings and heels every day—but I got over that), but this year I planned ahead and bought a knee-length, super-warm down coat from Soïa & Kyo. Ahhhhhh. It’s like a sleeping bag with a belt, only more flattering. I have to ride a ferry across the Hudson and stand on an outdoor train platform every morning, so this is serious business.
Also, did you know that wearing a hat that covers your ears keeps you much warmer than not wearing a hat at all? I know, I know, that seems crazy, but apparently our mothers were right about that. Huh.
39 Comments
the boots! they are AMAZING. where did you get them??
Katie, I got the boots last year at Steve Madden, believe it or not! They’re super comfy, and I wear them almost every day when it’s cold/icy out. I’ve already had the heels rebuilt once because I’m so hard on my shoes…
thanks! (p.s. i love the office bathroom pictures. fantastic!)
A hat…I will mess up my hair though…LOL
As a mom myself, I am right about the hats – for kids. I don’t own a hat. It also took my a long time to buy a winter coat appropriate for playing outside.
Super cute coat. I like that it has a high collar. Nothing worse than a gust of wind down your front side. Unless maybe one up your backside.
“It’s like a sleeping bag with a belt, only more flattering” Sounds like a perfect winter coat!
Every time you’ve discussed your ferry ride across the Hudson, I’ve thought it sounds like the most incredible way to start and end your day (and I’ve probably said that before.) I’ve only been in that area one time, and I can still remember how incredibly beautiful the Hudson and surrounding trees seemed in even the dead of winter.
Oh, and yes, how about that… our mom’s were often right!
Hats Rule! I love your photos! They look like stills from a movie. #3 = Roman Polanski. Hey! Tomorrow is FRIDAY! 🙂
My mother was even more precise and told me that SEVENTY precent of your bodywarmth disapears if you don’t wear a hat! Well, as I teenager I didn’t pay much attention but now I somehow have a sense that she was right. Great coat btw!
The fur collar is spectacular!
i hear the ferry is not running today!. stay warm & safe anna.
I bought a GORGEOUS short brown coat from them last year at Loehmanns (my fav store)…but then I had to go on a trip that I wasn’t even going to be here for the winter and I realized it was wayyyyyy out of my budget 🙁 So I returned it (tear)
Actually just covering the ears helps too (and keeps hair cute, Tam). I got these little fleece things called earbags at an accessories fair a couple of years ago. They’re sort of like ear muffs without the connecting piece in between them. It feels a little goofy at first wearing them, but it keeps me much warmer.
I too am loving that tucking pants into boots is back in fashion. It makes my morning commute so much easier. And I find that my beanie doesn’t give me hat head at all.
My winter staples are this Kenneth Cole wool trench (toasty warm) http://www.bluefly.com/Kenneth-Cole-Reaction-wheat-wool-blend-melton-belted-coat/cat20010/300337502/detail.fly
and waterproof Ecco boots (Keep my feet dry and warm without the bulk)
My dad would always tell me to wear a hat when i was younger but i was too cool for it. Now a days it’s too COLD not to! 🙂 I got over it too!
I have a similar hat to yours (very cute on you btw) but the one I wear practically every day has ear flaps. I either get ridiculous looks or compliments on it. Either way it keeps me warm and isn’t so hard on the hair.
I bought a new coat this year as well – down filled to the knees! Stay warm — it is freezing in Minnesota as well. -20 this morning!
Cuuuute coat! Super flattering and very chic.
Thanks for linking Soïa & Kyo. Their stuff looks great. My trick to staying somewhat slim looking in the dead of winter is to wear a cashmere sweater inside my down coat when it drops to down to “so cold that you can’t take your hands out of your pocket to wipe your nose cold.” Stay cozy!
that looks like real fur, though… :-(((
ps, Anna, can you divulge the name of the style of your SM boots? It’s probably a pipe dream, but I would love to try to track down a pair.
I love it! 🙂 I’m just the same way, never ready to commit to a real winter coat. I’m hooked on VESTS. I will wear them all winter long, despite sub-zero temps (I’m from Minnesota, and today it’s -20 degrees outside, but that didn’t stop me from throwing a vest over my sweater and heading out the door). You inspire me, and perhaps next year I’ll get smart and really prepare for winter! 😉
Kelly: Yes, it is real fur. I actually didn’t know that when I bought the coat (on eBay for 1/2 price!) — the descriptions at Soia & Kyo’s website list the components, but don’t mention the fur, so I assumed it was fake. Until the other day I had left the collar off (it’s detachable), but then the temperature dropped…and…well, I won’t lie, real fur is WARM. Really warm. So I figure it’s better to get use out of the collar and at least give some value to the life of the fox (?) that was sacrificed to make it. Maybe that’s rationalizing, but I really believe that it’s better to use it than to throw it away.
As for the boots, I’m actually NOT wearing them today, but I can check and see tonight if there’s a style name printed inside. I will warn you, though, that I bought them on clearance over a year ago. These are very similar, if you’re looking for a buckled, knee-high equestrian boot. 🙂
well, ya know, it was kind of hypocritical of me to wag a finger about fur and then follow it up with a question about where to get leather boots, anyway. ;-> I respect your thinking process (and I’m glad you thought about it!).
THANK YOU for that link! Those boots are rad. I have been waiting for-ever for flat boots to come back, but I’m super picky and nothing I’ve seen has bitten me yet. And since I’m currently sans employment, I have to be sure they’re ‘the ones’ if I’m I’m gonna lay down the dosh for them… (but I do think that wanting boots for 20 years straight– and not having any– qualifies me for buying some, already, once I find the right ones).
You look fabulous!! So chic. I love the collar on your coat and the silhouette of the coat. I remember a time when you never wore jeans and never wore a heel shorter than 4 inches!
Real fur?!? Dang, how far from former vegetarian are you going to go?
ps: I own no leather, eat no animal products … point taken about fur/leather. All comes off the same poor animal, but I happily support anyone who takes steps toward humane consumption, eg: gives up veal, eschews fur, etc. Don’t have to be pure to do better.
Don’t you hate it when Mum’s turn out to be right! Rockin’ coat though!
Love your blog. Just heard about the plan crash in the Hudson river. Hope you got home safely and in a timely manner!
Anna, I skipped past your answer about the real fur before posting. Fair enough. But please try not to look stylish on days you have the collar attached … do your best to appear frumpy (Oh, that’ll never work. Just put a big button on the coat that says “I Didn’t Know It Was Real When I Bid on It”)
kelly: I checked the boots, and the style name is ‘Karlton’. I hope that helps!
hollandv: I completely agree with you that it’s not all or none, and that’s a stance I’ve always taken. Honestly, I don’t know where my feelings lie right now when it comes to vegetarianism and animal product consumption. It’s a confusing thing for me, since I was totally veggie for more than half of my life. I’m still trying to figure it all out, and understand the reasons behind my decisions. I’m not trying to make excuses, just stating the facts. I have a feeling I’ll eventually go back to being veg, since I’m not really comfortable with the way things are right now. We’ll see what works. 🙂
Ryan Renee: We are all very thankful that everyone is well and safe after the plane crash! It was alarming, yes, but ultimately the situation turned out better than anyone could have expected.
Yesterday evening I read about the plane landing in ‘your’ river. Luckily it wasn’t to busy with all those ferries…
You’re dressed nice and warmly for those passages accross The Hudson!
It’s amazing to look that good this time of year. I look more like a tired ghost. Very tired. Very ghostly.
Anna, You always look so darn cute and stylish!
What kind of camera do you use?
Malo & Lisa, I just don’t take photos on the days that I look like a dehydrated worm!
Adrienne, most of my photos are taken with a Panasonic DMC-TZ5 (that’s what I’m holding in the photo above). Occasionally I will use a Nikon D80, but it’s too complicated for me to use all the time. 🙂
cute outfit. you too this pic in the bathroom? stupid question but isn’t there suppose to be like toliets in there? you have a cute blog!
Checking your gorgeous blog is definitely not good for my wallet…thanks to you, I now have a Soia & Kyo coat of my own! (Although, also thankfully, I checked eBay first!)
Question : care to divulge your lip colour in these photos? Doesn’t look like the “Moistly” you referred to before…(which is also now in my bathroom, thanks to you! Whoops…)
just saw the soia & kyo coats at tj maxx for $69 — bummed none in my size — they are beautiful…sigh, i love canadian design…
Bummed to hear TJ Maxx has Soïa & Kyo for, um, $69 – but mine has made all the difference this icy winter so I’d say it’s worth it.
Love the blog, and am really curious to see images of the finished room with painted wood floors!