Chai Latte: A Winter Look

It's been mad cold outside if ya'll haven't noticed. People love to act like I should be accustomed to this kind of weather since I'm from Buffalo but trust me, I'm struggling just like everybody else. When it's getting down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit and lower, it's freaking cold no matter where you're from. Period.

All of my outfits for the past few weeks have been hidden under heavy winter coats, fluffy scarves, and chunky beanies. Prolonged winter weather leaves me a little stifled creatively when trying to put looks together. I took advantage of the 30-degree weather yesterday (basically a heatwave at this point) and decided to style this edgy, chic look.

All of the photos in this post were taken by my multi-talented friend and new blog photographer, Sarah Takash. Her links will be at the end of this post!

If this look were a Starbucks drink, it'd be a dirty chai latte (which just so happens to be my go-to order). Like the simple basis of a chai tea latte (chai tea, steamed milk, and warm spices), this outfit is built on classic winter staples: a turtle neck, jeans, and a puffer jacket. That shot of espresso that makes for a dirty chai comes in when you add the accessories and suddenly, a simple look becomes an elevated street-style moment.

As you can see, I was really feeling this look. I went for a black and caramel brown color palette to create a luxe, sophisticated vibe enhanced by the mixing of some different textures.

Let's get into some details, shall we?

My turtleneck is from the Banana Republic and is nearly a perfect color match to the coat. I love it when life just works out like that.

My high-waisted distressed jeans are from Abercrombie and Fitch. The mom-jean fit and distressed hem add a laid-back element to the otherwise put-together look. I layered a pair of black leggings underneath to keep my legs warm. We ain't playing with this cold ya'll!

My black leather, Nike AirForce 1's are for the hype because they're just really sick. The gold swoosh detail ties in with the gold hardware on the Gucci belt and Coach handbag.

Now, for the moment everyone has been waiting for: the coat!

This beautiful faux leather puffer coat is from a brand called Bagatelle NYC. I got it on sale at a Saks outlet after Christmas. I was immediately drawn to the caramel color, creamy texture of the faux leather and oversized fit and was pleasantly surprised about how warm it is. I will link similar coats at the bottom of this post.

For accessories, I chose simple items that stuck with my color palette. My black felt hat is from Forever 21 and my tortoise cat-eye sunglasses are from American Eagle. I'm a huge fan of buying affordable accessories to play with before investing in more expensive pieces. It's all about balance and how you style them.

I want to give a shoutout to my incredible photographer, Sarah Takash, for capturing these gorgeous images! Show her some love and follow her @sarahtakashphotogaphy on Instagram!

Keep checking back for winter style inspiration. I promise we'll get through this. Stay warm and flawless out there!

Links:

Photos by Sarah Takash Photography: https://www.instagram.com/sarahtakashphotography

Find my Faux Leather Puffer jacket by Bagatelle here.