dream winter lookbook

This past weekend, my family’s group chat (appropriately named “fam bam”) was flooded with pictures of lightly coated snow streets and flurries. It’s not lost on me that snow comes with a lot of negatives– power outages, hazardous road conditions, etc.; however, I can’t help but feel left out that my people on the east coast get to enjoy the only advantage of a cold winter. There’s a certain magic that snow has.

If you know me, you know I’m a NYC girl at heart. While other 5 year olds had princess or sports themed parties, my 5th birthday was all about New York City. My sister even dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. When I got to high school, I dreamt of going to school in the big city to live out my Gossip Girl dreams. When that didn’t pan out, my post-grad goal was to move to the city to be the Black Carrie Bradshaw or Rachel Green. Even though I landed in LA, I still dream of New York. When I tell people this dream, they always respond with the same question: “But what about the weather?”

While it’s significantly cooled down since the last time I complained about LA weather, it’s still not cold enough for me to even wear a coat. I’m no stranger to lukewarm winters. Growing up in North Carolina, we were lucky if it snowed once a year. I distinctly remember one Christmas it being 75 degrees outside. You try being in the Christmas spirit when it’s warm enough to go swimming, it’s hard. So here I am again in another season daydreaming about what I would wear if the temperature dipped below 50 degrees here.

*Editor’s Note: This a dream wardrobe, not only because it’s not cold enough, but also because of the prices. Please know I cannot afford most of the items below… yet ;)

LOOK #1: Maximalist Grandma

Minimalism is so last year. Let’s bring back bold colors and prints into our winter wardrobes. This look is inspired by this Tik Tok that I am absolutely obsessed with. The “Maximalist Grandma” doesn’t GAF about what you think of her. She wears what she wants when she wants and looks fabulous doing so.

LOOK #2: Apres Ski

I have loved this look since my high school Senior Trip to Breckenridge, CO. I had no intentions of hitting the slopes, but I loved the idea of lounging around the resort in cute clothes sipping hot chocolate. This is a look I will have to recreate in New York because I have no desire to return to CO anytime soon.

LOOK #3: Timeless Corporate

She’s on a mission. She has no time for BS. She is Andy from The Devil Wears Prada both pre AND post Nigel transformation. You know she has a big girl job just by the way she struts across the street in her The Row wool coat. It’s a look I could have easily achieved if I had majored in Business. But no, I wanted to be a creative.

LOOK #4: Downtown Cool Girl

You may be thinking to yourself, “Kayla, what’s the difference between this look and the Maximalist Grandma?” And it’s a very thin line. Your “Downtown Cool Girl” draws inspiration from her equally cool elder but tones it down a bit. She can’t appear as if she’s trying too hard. Your Downtown Girl frequently visits art museums and trendy cafes with her closest gal pals. I aspire to be this effortlessly cool.

LOOK #5: Eclectic Grandpa

Yes, the eclectic grandpa aesthetic has made it into two blog posts in a row. That’s because it’s the perfect look for colder weather: cozy neutrals, durable pants, and don’t forget all your layers. When I think winter, I want to be in a cozy cabin, putting together a puzzle in front of a fire, in true grandpa form.