I own a pair of 2 year old Seychelles boots. They're absolutely brilliant in the sense of comfort, practicality and style. I'm so attached that I refuse to believe that the sole is slowly wearing away, that there is hardly any grip left, or that the zipper is removing itself from the actual boot.
But in these harsh winter months (HELLO, yesterday was frigid!) we need to make sure our feet are warm and that we don't slip (that is, if you are fortunate enough to live in a place with the joys of black ice, hail and snow... If not, I apologise for my not-applicable-to-life post).
Here are some boots that I found, sadly prices are much too high for my liking - then again, investing in a good pair of hardy boots is a good idea. Forget the heels and give me those rubber soles, please! Buckles are great on boots, they give them some character and add a little something to your outfit. &those Tory Burch boots with the bi-colour leather, how excellent.
I like to have boots that have zippers up the leg, they are more shapely and much easier to put on, especially when you want to tuck in your trousers.
And for all our sakes. Please DO NOT wear these, I beg you.
Image Source: Seychelles, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom
As I'm virtually filling up my shopping cart (it is SO much fun), I realized how everything I choose was either a dress a cute delicate top or a cardigan. Nothing practical that I can wear on a daily basis (besides maybe the cardigans). This is probably why my winter wardrobe is so monotonous year after year. It occurs to me that maybe I should change my approach a bit and focus instead the basics- like sweaters! 
I am loving these two very simple sweaters with a twist. The jeweled collar of the Rebecca Taylor cashmere sweater (left), gives this somber gray sweater just the feminine touch it needs to be pretty. The twist on this cowl neck Marc by Marc Jacobs (right) sweater is cool and refreshing. And the beauty about both of these sweaters is that, while they are interesting, they are still simple enough to be paired with anything, from simple jeans to printed skirts- in fact, I think printed skirts would be a brilliant idea!
Moving along, we have the stand alone sweaters that makes a statement by itself. The Juicy Couture criss cross sweater (left) is cute and preppy. And I love the little lambs on the black LAMB sweater- it provides a very cute contrast to the stark black/white. 
Finally, you can never go wrong with a classic quality sweater. My personal favourites are Ralph Lauren cashmere sweaters (left). They feel divine. I want one in every color! And of course, you can get even simpler ones like this one from Bop Basics (right). In fact, many of their classic Bop Basic cashmeres are on sale right now! I have my eye on that black cashmere turtleneck!
Image Source: Shopbop, Saks and Ralph Lauren
I should have started my Christmas shopping a long time ago. In fact, I still haven't started, but here are some ideas.
Crafty little things are definitely something I'm a fan of. Handmade? Good quality? Yes, please! Check out these little finds of mine on Etsy. Etsy is so fantastic, you support people who create their own things and you always find awesome and wonderful creations. What better than to give a gift that's made with a lot of love? Not only is it unique and fun, it's something to remember you by!
I posted about Etsy creator Alliebeans in a post I did about my make-up. basics I can honestly say that the quality of these products is tops, it's excellent! And I also have that little coin pouch (bottom picture), it's perfect! I have already bought several to give to friends.
This is not an Etsy maker. These wrist warmers are designed and made by Sandra Juto, I found them on her blog. How adorable! They're very Victorian; beautiful and definitely useful.
Decorations! I love Christmas decorations! Perfect for a gift for someone else - or yourself! I'm about to go order the cute little needle felted acorn trees from truLuxe. And the adorable little penguins are from Skunkboy Creatures.
What could be more fitting during the wintery months than a pair of mittens? And then Moocow went to go add some pom poms. I'd be happy to receive this, and I know a lot of people who would be too.
What are you thinking about getting for your family and friends?
Image Source: Alliebeans, Sandra Juto, truLuxe, Skunkboy Creatures, Moocow, Etsy
Yes, back to holiday dresses. Going from muted tones to FIERY RED, and orange and purple...and black.
I fully approve of this dress by Theory. I don't know why, it's rather simple, not totally exciting, and I'm not huge on patterns, but I'm definitely big on this. It's like big brush stroke roses.
Clearly I'm going to like this one, and I'm going to tell you I'm in love with it because it has ruffles. I cannot stop with the ruffles, oh Lela Rose, how beautiful.
My God, and then I found THIS. Roberto Cavalli! Red! Luscious! Passionate! Most Excellent!
Oscar De La Renta - the perfect designer for a night out. I have nothing else to say, the colour just pops, and the amount of detail is just enough for it to be very interesting, but not overly gaudy.
This big rose applique on the side of the dress is awesome. Some skill definitely went into designing it. While it's a bit last season, it's not just sewn on, it's sewn into the dress. Stunning and memorable to say the least.
Just like I can't get away from ruffles, I can't get away from black. The following dress is by Abeate. Wonderful!
Another excuse to buy another dress for another occasion, when it's not really necessary, especially now with the recession... but hey, let's have a look anyway.
& we're going for ideas, not prices. Moving along, my little obsession continues with all things white/ivory/beige, within that realm of things, and of course greys and blacks; I thought the following dresses were rather interesting. Something different from the usual holiday dresses you see hung on rack after rack, store after store. Let's start off with a Missoni scarf dress.
I love the back, and especially the subtle pattern, and how the dress has been hemmed. You see a lot of scarf dresses, but this one has some character.
And then after BG's talk of her Rebecca Taylor dress, I had to go find some more because her dress was so beautiful! Simple, but so elegant! The perfect black dress.
It's definitely a piece you could dress up and down. Versatility is always a good thing. I can just imagine how flowing the material would look.
Above, a dress by Miu Miu. Usually I see things by Miu Miu and I get excited, then after a while I don't really like them. However I like this one, and it kind of reminds me of an extremely toned down version of what BG and HG called the "S" dress in a previous post. I love the pleated bottom.
And then there is Chloe. How cute! I have a dress that has a veil layer on top similar to this, and I absolutely adore it. However mine is all black, so this change hue is something I'm drawn to.
And then there is Vera Wang.
Maybe a little too generic and confined? I'm not entirely sure. But beading detail is always an extravagance one can indulge in. Something more grand and sophisticated than sequins and glitter.
So maybe this year, opt for softer tones? Whatever suits your fancy, this was just one idea. There shall be more to come!
Image Source: Net A Porter, Deuxieme Classe F/W 2008
