How to Successfully Wear Fur

The winter fashion scene reminds me of the middle school years- a brief awkward time stuck in-between two major seasons. It's short-lived, yet the confusion can be scaring for life if done incorrectly. Of course, winter 2010/2011 fashion trends are borrowing from it's elder fall 2010 runway highlights, while also eagerly grasping onto aspects of spring 2011 looks. It's sort of like a twelve year-old girl who is borrowing her high school sister's Chanel lipstick, while also wearing her 6th grade cords.

One such trend is the fur frenzy I've been seeing all over the mags- Harper's Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire featured fur looks in their November, December, and even January issues (at least the ones that have hit the press/I've seen). Fur is being belted, shagged, and even slapped on oversized collars like a built-in scarf. If you're like me and the only fur thing you've ever owned is a rabbit foot key chain that you one at the county fair...it feels like warm and fuzzy overload.

After doing some research, I've compiled this season's most popular ways to wear fur and have paired my findings with a few helpful tips of my own. Perhaps with a bit of organization and summarizing, we can approach the fur trend together with confidence. Here goes nothin'!

On the Runway

Before compiling two of my own examples, I wanted to include a collage of inspirational looks from the runway. Here are just a handful of the fur looks shown at fashion week:

 

Example 1: Fur with Leather

Remember all of the motorcycle looks on the fall 2010 runway? In October you couldn't leave the house without studs or leather in your ensemble, and now, all you have to do is add a dash of fur to your outfit and you are right in sync with the winter 2011 scene! Treat your fur like an accessory- look for tame coats that have fur collars and/or cuffs. Pair it with skin-tight leather skinnies, a loose t-shirt and a sleek ponytail for a cool downtown look.

My Example Ensemble:
Jacket- Mackage
Top- Son of John
Pants- Black Denim
Wedges- Chinese Laundry

Example 2: Sporting a Fur Vest

The influx of fur vests this year has been ridiculous. You can't step into a Forever 21, nor a local boutique or even Barney's without spotting a number of fur vests. I've seen a lot of them belted with long sleeves underneath; however, I prefer the open vest look. Trying to cinch all of that fur under a belt defeats the purpose of waist-defining accessories. In keeping with the fall-meets-winter trend theme, I chose a gray number since gray and camel are the signature colors of fall 2010. I paired it with a long sleeve in a muted print and filled the rest of the ensemble with neutrals and touches of gold.

My Example:

Vest- Kensie

Boots- Frye

Long Sleeve- Erica Tanov

Pants- Free People

Bag- Helena de Natalio

Runway Photos from: http://www.style.com/fashionshows/powersearch?trend=trend11&event=show2062

How to Successfully Wear a Summer Dress During the Winter

So you invested in a $500 summery designer frock for $250 in October because, let's face it, that's 50% off and you've been drooling over that dress since it hit Barney's in July. Alas, three weeks went by and the honeymoon phase between you and your silky number was cut short by the daily high plummeting a good 30 degrees. You've only worn your dress a handful of times and it's starting to look like the red tag sale really got the best of you. What's a girl to do?!

Do. Not. Panic. I'm here for you, and if need be, I will mail you a brown paper bag for all of your hyperventilating needs. However, I doubt you are going to reach that level of despair because I'm here to give you some really easy tips on how to utilize your summer dress during colder weather. Let's get started!

The sample dress I'm going to use is a belted summer dress from 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent. It retails for about $300 and was recently on sale on The Outnet for $75, so this is a very realistic example.

Tip 1: Remember Your Basics

Honestly, whenever I don't know what to wear during the cooler months I start with a foundation of black with cognac boots. Well, black tends to be part of my fashion philosophy all year long; however, pairing black with cognac boots becomes particularly useful between October-February. Especially with the periwinkle color of this dress, you really have to darken the entire outfit to make it suitable for fall/winter color schemes. I'm also going to throw it out in the open that I really prefer solid, thicker tights. I'm not a pantyhose type because it's really unpractical as far as keeping you warm, and I have a lingering paranoia that they are going to rip at any given moment. Just food for thought.

Candence Cognac Boots- Steve Madden
Gray Legwarmers- Puma
HUE Black Tights- Ron Herman
Commander Jacket- All Saints

Tip 2: Dress It Up With Booties

Of course one of the best times to utilize your summer dress is while you're out on the town! My go to outfit for winter nights out is definitely a tunic-type dress with leggings, booties, and either a cardiganish knit item or a blazer. It's really comfortable and warm, while still being a little on the dressy side.

Ribbed Stretch Leggings- DKNY
Lovely People Juniper Bootie- DSW
Paisley Gust Sweater Jacket- Anthropologie
Draped Multi Chain Necklace- Forever 21

Tip 3: Play With Current Trends

A great way to sort of mask the summeriness of your dress is to amplify other aspects of your outfit. Right now, red coats seem to be a huge hit, as well as infinity scarves, moto boots, chunky knits, and cowboy-esque boots. However, because you don't want your outfit to scream "trend overload" make sure you pinpoint one or two trends you want to showcase and fill the remainder of the outfit with neutrals.

'Kiki' Over the Knee Boots- Dolce Vita
Thermal Leggings- Old Navy
Knit Collar Coat- Forever 21
Slouchy Beanie- Banana Republic
Deux Lux Bag- Urban Outfitters

And that concludes my lesson! If you have any other tips/tricks/questions/concerns feel free to leave a comment! Also don't forget to enter the RemChic giveaway before the contest closes! Click here for more details.