Shopbop Giveaway!

Just what you need to ease the winter blues: a $100 giveaway courtesy of Shopbop! Read on for all the deets...


During the frigid winter months, your coat is arguably the most important piece of clothing you'll wear. A great coat should be three things: stylish, versatile and warm. As temperatures drop this season, Shopbop's got you covered-- literally!

One lucky reader will win $100 to shop the Shopbop sale. Shop for the latest trends from your favorite designers, like Alexander Wang and Michael Kors, or browse the site's collection of cozy winter outerwear.

Whether you want to keep it classic, set a trend or hit the slopes, a coat from Shopbop's designer collections will help you do it!

Classic

There's nothing more classic than a pea coat. Wear one to the office or for an evening out and you'll look refined and professional.

Trendy

If you really want to make a statement, a faux fur vest like the bold HHN by Haute Hippie Mongolian Vest should be your go-to piece.

Sporty

Puffer jackets are a perfect choice if you lead a more active lifestyle (or just live in a frigid place!). Casual and sporty, puffer jackets from Shopbop will keep you warm and stylish on the slopes or on the street.

Enter to Win!

Just leave me a comment telling me: when it comes to winter style, do you go for classic, trendy or sporty? Winner will be chosen at random, to keep it fair. Bonus: If you follow me on Twitter, Google Friend Connect or BlogLovin', you'll earn an extra entry! Just tell me in your comment which one you've opted to follow. And if you follow all three... that's three extra entries! Woo-hoo! Oh, and muy importante... this giveaway is also open to international readers! So what are you waiting for? Enter this awesome contest!

The giveaway will close on Sunday, February 6th at midnight. Good luck!

Wherever you are, I hope you're staying nice and toasty this season!

Let it snow!

The phrase is used to death, but when the earth turns winter white and the winds won't cease to blow, there's nothing left to say but... let it snow!



Taking these pictures proved to be quite the challenge yesterday. I (optimistically) set my camera on my tripod, and scampered to my "posing areas" as quickly as possible... quite a few times, the camera was knocked over. So. Not the best idea to use a tripod during a nor'easter.



The blizzard-like conditions also required a change in footwear. I started out (again, optimistically) wearing a pair of brown lace-up sweater-lined booties (all faux leather and acrylic "wool," FYI, fellow vegan fashionistas!), which have treads on the bottom but also stiletto heels. So. NOT the best idea to wear stilettos in a nor'easter! The things you learn... ;) I switched to my waterproof rubber duck boots, which also have heels, but chunkier ones. Yes, my "snow boots" have heels. My co-workers at the Environmental Police like to tease me over this.



These boots complement what I consider to be a practical winter weather ensemble! My Anthropologie Southward Stop dress is corduroy, and therefore quite warm (side note: I wanted this dress for months; eBay score!). I added a draped, cranberry-colored cardigan for a little extra warmth, along with eggplant-hued sweater tights. When that still proved a tad too chilly, I added a faux leather jacket. No puffer coat required! Really! Ok, truth: I was frozen solid after mere minutes, as my entire outfit was covered in snowflakes. But for a winter wonderland photo shoot? Worth ever freezing second!

And because today was sunny and slightly above freezing, I celebrated with an iced coffee. Yup. Guess I'm more of a New Englander than I thought!

What about you? Did you get buried in snow?

Love that: Vaute Couture

Sitting here working on my fashion week reviews, listening to the latest Muse and, as always, contemplating the future. Planning to post an outfit (or two) later on, but for now I just want to share... a line I love.

Yes, it's March and therefore almost springtime (at least in my mind), but Fall Fashion week is still going strong in Europe, and so I'm dreaming of warm, cozy coats.

Vaute Couture is based in Chicago (I used to live out there!) and creates beautiful, classic coats that are warm enough to withstand winters in the Windy City... but are, suprisingly, not made of wool (or any other animal-derived products, for that matter). Instead, designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart did some major research to find ethical and eco-friendly materials that could stand up to freezing temps. She uses recycled Polartec fabric, along with leftover waste from soybean farming (lots of that in the Midwest, let me tell ya!). Deadstock vintage buttons finish off the look. Sound unbelievable? You'll just have to see these beauties for yourself.

I've been ogling all the droolworthy runyway looks at The GreenShows Fall 2010 exhibition and will probably share a few more here. Full disclosure: I do not get paid to blog about Vaute Couture; this is simply a fangirl gush, from one veggie to another. And one day I really do plan to own one of these fabulous coats!

And maybe this sweatshirt, which has its own sheep but no wool... Cute!

Stay tuned... next time I'm sharing some Anthropologie-inspired nautical looks (that are not from Anthro at all!).