Pretty Little Things: My winter wardrobe essentials

Welcome to Pretty Little Things, where each week we bring you our picks for the prettiest little things online. If we love it, you’ll be the first to know! This week is all about staying warm — without compromising style.

I hate winter. If I could, I would spend most of this snowy season on a beach somewhere. I loathe the bulky layers, the puffy jackets and the heavy knits, so I’ve had to find a way to make winter work for me from a style perspective. Until I can afford to spend the colder months in the Caribbean, here are my winter wardrobe essentials.

I love to wear skirts and dresses (I’m a girly girl, what can I say), and I refuse to stop wearing them just because it’s snowing out. That’s where a few pairs of thick wool tights (shopbird.com, $48) become a winter fashion must. They’re warm, cozy and they mean I don’t have to give up my favorite wardrobe items until spring.

My winter wardrobe cannot be considered complete without a sweater dress (or three). They’re versatile (dress them up, dress them down) and they’re warm. They look cute with heels, boots or flats and you pretty much throw it on and go. I’m currently coveting this cable knit wool in soft gray, with a crew neck and exposed back zip (shopbop.com, $395).

One of the things I hate most about winter is the thought of having wet feet from walking around in the slushy snow. My solution: Hunter boots. These sleek rubber boots come in a rainbow of hues (from green to lavender to crimson and everything in between) and you can buy fleece inserts for them for added warmth. I love my black ones (saksfifthavenue.com, $125), which look great with everything from skinny jeans to dresses.

There’s nothing like wrapping a slightly oversized cardigan around yourself when the weather outside is frightful. This year I can’t get enough of this ultra-soft cashmere shawl collar cardigan (jcrew.com, $170) that comes in several shades including heather gray (my favorite), red, white and pale green.

If there’s one item every winter wardrobe needs this season, it’s the chunky knit scarf. It seems like every designer has created a version of this snugly accessory and they’re a must for staying warm on windy days. I love this charcoal gray version that complements my green coat (urbanoutfitters.com, $24).

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