Double-Cardigans and the Right Kind of Coat

(hat - Band of Outsiders | chunky cardigan - Club Monaco | cardigan - Express | trousers - H&M (similar here & here) | boots - Steve Madden)

(jacket - William Rast | t-shirt - Lululemon | jeans - Banana Republic | shoes - Vans) 

Jordi and I spent the day in Gastown and ended up in a spot called "Blood Alley". I think I like it because it sounds like it should be a street in a Harry Potter novel.

Me first.

I'm sure you've seen wine pants out and about; they're really becoming big this winter. They bring along a certain level of bad-assery and grunge that you'd expect to find in a chic alley.

If you want to spend the day feeling chic, but it’s just so damn cold outside, try some fingerless gloves. They do, however, make me feel like a homeless person that just inherited a small fortune or a Dickens’ character. I picked mine up last season in Club Monaco and I really like them (side note: they're great for using your smartphone or controlling your ipod).

I'm all about avoiding blending into the crowd during the winter. Remember: just because it's winter,
doesn't mean you have to wear a heavy coat. Try double-layering cardigans to keep you looking good, and feeling warm (the only rule is the chunky one goes on the outside ;) ). A big chunky wool cardigan will do the trick nicely.

Now for Jordi.

In the title, I mentioned the "right kind of coat". If you're looking for a trendy brand and are willing to pay a bit more, check out William Rast. It was created by Justin Timberlake himself in 2005, and the brand has been doing some pretty awesome stuff--like this coat for example. Look for William Rast at Neiman Marcus, or Harry Rosen.

The coat is designed to look like a thick sport coat, including a wide lapel and a breast pocket. It has a
modern fit, so it'll make you look thin and tall (never a bad thing). However, this coat has a rugged side. I like the attached hood in charcoal. Jordi plays the colors nicely, from the light grey v-neck to the black coat. This is the coat you want to wear around town on the weekend.

My favorite part about Jordi's William Rast coat is the leather accents. We've begun to see a lot more
of this recently (jackets with leather sleeves, hoods, etc). This coat doesn't overdo it with the leather, but its presence is noticeable (in a good way); it adds some edginess. The leather breast pocket, trim, and elbow pads say, "I'm not playing around". Welcome to the big-leagues.

Takeaways:

• If you're sick of the pea coat, double layer cardigans with chunky to thin
• Want a new pant color? Wine-not? (too corny?)
• If you are going to wear a pea coat, play it like Jordi Bailey. If not, go Rogue.

Stay Classy,

Wear it Write.