Now, when it comes to winter, you may instinctively want to cover yourself up because you’re not only freezing cold but you genuinely don’t know how to really style a winter outfit. When you think about winter fashion, you tend to think about woolly jumpers, fleecy coats, big boots and any sort of gloves, scarves or hats. But you don’t have to sacrifice your fashion for the sake of keeping warm. Instead, combine them both together and make sure that your winter look for 2019 is just as stylish as the rest of your looks throughout the previous year. Here is how you can retain your style even though the coldest period.

Long-Sleeved Midi Dresses

Now, this is an extremely fancy choice for any sort of party or work outfit. The best thing about midi dresses is that they practically hug your body and highlight your beautiful waist. Not only that but you can practically pair them with anything. That means you literally have on a simple pair of fuzzy leggings, boots and a belt and you will look perfect! A midi dress will keep heat in on their own due to the long sleeves and warm material. So, all you need to do is pair them with something eye-catching like a leather jacket or trench coat. Just remember to pick a midi dress with a cinched waist. That way people can see your beautiful figure.

Gothic Floral Fur

If you don’t feel comfortable about showing off your body, and don’t worry there are literally some V London escorts that literally prefer highlighting their curves through the right fabrics, then why not go with a gothic floral fur trend? These full-length dresses go with a gothic baroque theme with materials like velvet and shiny fabric. They normally have pictures of flowers or patterns on the material but if you go to the sleeves, neck and end of the dress, you will find some faux fur attached. Try to stick to darker shades as this can give you a mysterious and elegant look!

Cowl Neck Dresses and Shirts

Now, this is a fun, feminine and flirtatious look that never gets old. Perhaps you heard of the recent sweater lingerie look called “The Virgin Killer?” Well, this is based off the cowl neck jumper. A cowl neck jumper or dress has a large neckpiece that keeps the throat well insulated. It is usually a single colour and has long sleeves. It normally comes in a thick woolly fabric to keep you warm. Basically, you will look like you are wearing a boyfriend sweater without actually having to steal any of his clothes! This is a simple look where all you need to do is wear a pair of warm leggings and boots. The outfit practically speaks for itself and can really flaunt off your figure whilst keeping you extremely warm. It’s perfect for anyone who truly wants to indulge in a warm wintery look.

Layering Effect

A great way to enhance your natural hourglass shape is to layer. It’s not as difficult as it sounds. Try picking similar coloured skirts and dresses that could look like they were practically a dress together. So, you may choose a velvet pink short dress with long sleeves but then combine it with a long purple dress. On the other hand, you may have a billowy blue dress that’s quite short. But you can combine with a puffy black skirt, some leggings and a belt to cinch in your waist! Your layering should bring out your natural waist, so remember to use layers to show it off rather than just cover it up. You can also combine long-sleeved shirts and a long dress or flowy top.

High Waisted Belt and Jeans

Not really the type that’s into skirts? Well, don’t worry, it’s time for you to dig out your favourite pair of high waisted jeans and combine them with a big chunky belt. The belt will naturally draw attention to your waist, especially if you pair it with a cropped jacket or a long-sleeved shirt that covers your hand. This will leave you to leave you sporting a look that is casual but will still make you look like you are ready for business!

Your body is perfect, don’t hide it away!

The problem with winter is that it makes you want to cover up and hide rather than flaunt what you have. Instead of using winter fashion to show off our best assets, we use it just to wear as many thick layers as possible. It’s time to throw away this attitude and find our best belts and long-sleeved dresses and skirts. Just don’t forget that no matter what size you are, your body is gorgeous. Treat it right and make it look fabulous with a winter style!

The housing market certainly moves in cycles. When I was a child everyone seemed to rent, hardly anyone owned their own home, and I grew up on a council estate in a council property and was perfectly happy. Flash forward a few years and my parents were making the most of the right to buy and purchasing their council property, it was now a home of their own. When I met Pete, we had moved on further, and secured a mortgage and bought our own property. But when the housing market and banking markets suffered their collapse (Northern Rock anyone?). It suddenly became difficult for first time buyers to get that initial mortgage. Which is why home rental has its place once again.

Whilst it is still a dream for many people to own their own home, there are some definite advantages to renting, especially when it comes to your first home. This is all new to you, and you have to get used to paying all those bills and costs, so it may be more beneficial to test the waters by renting first.

Here are some just some of the reasons why rental may work for you.

The property itself

Everything about buying a home is expensive, and homes that you can actually afford to go for may need lots of work doing to them, work which you can’t afford. Renting from a private landlord could help you get used to paying the bills, and give you a property that is all ready to move into. Good,reputable landlords will have landlord insurance which will not only cover them for payments, but also for building issues, accidental damage and flat roof cover, so if you do come across any of these issues, they shouldn’t be your problem.

In some cases you can actually rent a furnished property, perfect if you are starting from scratch and don’t have much yet in the way of furniture. This can make moving in quicker too.

Time

Buying your first home, even if you have no chain, can still take months. Choosing a rental property can be so much quicker which could be useful if you are moving to a new area to start a new job and have to be there quickly.

In the same way, if you need to move again, you may have to give a month’s notice of your intention to quit, but this is so much easier than if you are trying to sell your property, a process that could take months, even, in the worst case scenario, years. Rental is much easier if your job sees you moving around a lot.

Finding out if it suits

OK, so this may not be the most romantic reason to rent, but it is a reason to consider it. When you first move in with a person, the truth is, it could go either way. You could have found your soulmate, the person who you will spend the rest of your life with. But you may equally have moved in with someone you just can’t live with, try as you might. Renting does not have to be permanent, you can move out and move on, far easier than if you were tied in with a mortgage.

Have you ever considered renting?

In the Summer I set the question, could you get your holiday wardrobe from charity and vintage shops and buying second hand. The answer was a resounding yes (you can check out that post here). So now, with another very special time just weeks away I am asking the question – Can you get your Christmas party wardrobe by shopping preloved once again?

I think that, once again, the answer is yes, and the benefits are brilliant, not just for you, but for charities who rely on their customers to keep vital services going, but also for the planet. Sure you can get clothes very cheaply from stores like Primark, but these clothes also tend to be the sort of fast fashion that end up in landfills once they’ve been worn once.

Charity shops and vintage clothing offers you the chance to find something that is different from the High Street offering, hence lessening the risk you will bump into someone else wearing the same outfit (which, incidentally, shouldn’t matter to us, but totally does, all the same.). It gives you the chance to express yourself, whilst raising money for a good cause.

Each year I make sure that some of the pieces I wear in the run up to Christmas come from Charity shops and vintage stores (I’ve got a Vintage Fair coming up at the Manor House on 1st December, and a theatre press night on the 5th so am looking for something special. I also shop my wardrobe, and then add new accessories. By new, I mean preloved pieces that can also be found in charity shops.

Below are some of the dressy things I have found in charity shops over the past couple of years, along with a few things I saw in some of my local charity shops this weekend.

This was a 1970s vintage dress I found in a charity shop for £4.99. (Acorns I believe). I added the vintage style belt as the original one was missing.

Vintage velvet dress that cost £2.50 from a preloved sale.

This jacket was a Definitions jacket, almost kimono style, found in St Giles hospice for £4.

Top is such a 1980s style and is quite heavy. I wore this for a family house party last Christmas. Can’t remember where I found it though, although I think it was Compton Care, but have had this for years.

Apart from the Zara box bag, this whole outfit is from charity shops. Top is Children’s Society £2.50, tulle skirt is St Giles Hospice £6, and the sling back, kitten heeled shoes are Beacon for the Blind. Whole outfit was £12.50. The skirt still had the Dickens and Jones tags on it.

My vintage faux fur was a Christmas present that my sister found in a Charity shop during a trip to Lincoln for £10.

This dress was £5.99 from Acorns Hospice shop and I wore this to The Nutcracker a couple of years ago. Think I need to dig it out again.

Animal print dress from The Children’s Society. Could definitely work with red accessories for Christmas.

Maybe these Principles shoes?

Warehouse 1960s style dress, bargain at £5.99.

This would really jazz up a little black dress, but would be great with jeans and a white t-shirt too.