Winter leather

It's almost March and it's still freezing. Surprise, surprise. I've found my new winter survival item though: leather pants. Even windbreakers don't protect against the wind as good as leather does. The thing about cold weather is that you can always bundle up in more sweaters and heavy coats, but you can only wear so many layers of bottoms. And I don't know about you, but I find that wearing leggings under jeans is terribly uncomfortable and bulky. I tend to like the ability for my knees to bend.

Crop top from Sway Chic / Beige cardigan from H&M / Bag from Asos / Half leather pants

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Leggings and long shirts

The days are (still) dreary and the colours are flat. But that's no reason to sulk. If I'm gonna sulk, it's gonna be because I went out in public with holes on the butt of my leggings. I don't know how they got there or how I didn't notice before I left the house, but yes, it happened. And the holes were the size of a penny, so they were probably noticeable. Thankfully, I abide by the rule that leggings aren't real pants, so I wore a chunky sweater over them that (hopefully) just covered the holes. This. This is why long shirts and leggings are a must. Take note, please.

Patterned leggings / Buckled ankle boots / Oversized sweater 

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How to: Wear black on Valentine's Day

French Connection lace dress / Pearl necklace / MAC lipgloss / Vera Wang perfume

I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day. I'm not a fan of gift guides, I'm not a fan of red and pink, and I'm not a fan of cheesy outfit ideas. I understand that people like being festive, but wearing red on Valentine's Day gets overwhelming and cliche really quickly. Which is why I'm more of a fan of wearing black (and not just because it represents my disdain for romance).

1.) Grab the Little Black Dress: It's the go-to piece for any occasion, so why not Valentine's Day? It's classy, classic, and a great blank canvas that lets the attention fall on your personality instead of your devotion to festive colours. To get that festive sultry look, black lace is a great way to go.

2.) Be a minimalist on the pink and red: Good things come in small packages, right? The same philosophy goes for wearing colours on V-Day. Instead of looking like a giant red box of candy, add a subtle pop of colour in your accessories or makeup. Think lipstick, shoes, and bags.

3.) Let your jewellery speak: Whether it's a simple string of pearls or a bold statement bracelet, try emphasizing your jewellery rather than your colours. It's a great way to stand out in a sea of red and pink by focusing on the details.

Also, I'm not an everyday perfume kind of person, but I think that this is one of those occasions where a little extra scent is acceptable. Especially when my fragrance of choice is to smell like weddings. Now that's getting into the Valentine's spirit.

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5 pounds

It's no secret that I love a good deal. In fact, I've been known to brag about the price of my bargains. Which is why I'm really excited to throw http://justfor5pounds.com in your face. The concept behind the store is simple: Everything on the site is £5 (or about $8.50 USD). I'm really liking that idea because if you see something you like, there's no worrying that the price will be out of your range. You know that everything on the site is the same price. So I got a pair of faux suede booties with a mesh panel and wooden heels. C'mon, you can't even get a pair of ugly shoes at Walmart for this price. But £5 for super versatile and attractive shoes? Yes, please.

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Colorblock trapezoid bag

My search for a colorblock bag is finally over. This one from Tacicco hits all my requirements.  It's classic black and white, has a crossbody strap, holds a lot, and is structured as a trapezoid bag.

This patent leather bag features a classic glossy look on one side and a unique texture on the other. The textured side has a bit of sparkle when it catches the right light and also holds a front pocket. There's also a pocket insert that  is removable so you can choose to show off your brand pride, or turn it around to be more discreet.

And as a huge bonus, I've never received better customer service. I emailed sales@tacicco.com asking if the bag would fit a DSLR camera in it. Not only did they reply within 24 hours, but they sent me multiple photos that they took of a camera in the bag. You just don't find personalized service and care like that very often.

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Chunky

Chunky cardigan c/o Chicnova / Burgundy chiffon skirt from Lookbookstore / Blue blouse from H&M 

I go back and forth on how I feel about long chunky cardigans. On one hand, they're really cozy and add some nice dimension. But I'm just not a fan of how they look under short jackets. Layering is a nice look, but only when it's intentional (note: that includes trying to look effortless). Except when I only own short puffy winter jackets that stand up to -10 degrees, the little bit of a cardigan sticking out from under the jacket just looks like a poor piece of fabric that you forgot about and that is now sadly flapping in the wind.

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Time to get a watch

In this digital age, I've abandoned the watch for the cell phone. I always have my phone with me and it has become a force of habit to pull out my phone to check the time. To have my wrist constrained by a chunk of round metal seems rather redundant and unnecessary. Which is why I opted for this braided bracelet watch instead of a traditional style.  It's more of an style piece and less of something that I need to know the time.

The problem with the decline of watches is that we're gonna face the disappearance of the timeless "What time is it? Time to get a watch!" joke.  Pun intended. Timeless...because you have no watch. Oh c'mon, someone laugh with me! I am literally cracking up over my own joke over here.

Bracelet watch c/o Born Pretty Store / Get 10% off with code 'SABRINAKC' on your next purchase.

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Ice crystals

The prophets and panic that said that the world was gonna end in 2012 were wrong. But they came close. Instead, late 2013 and this bit into 2014 has brought us the polar vortex of bitter cold, snowstorms, and freezing rain. Gotta say that it was kinda cool being in a post-apocalyptic kind of scene with ice covering everything and signs of power outages everywhere. So I've been drawing inspiration from the look of gleaming ice and soft blues lately in the form of sparkly nail polish and jewellery that catches the light.

Customizable diamond hoop earrings & gemstone jewellery via Anjolee 

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Damask

My subconscious is good at influencing my choices. Like when I saw this sweater, I thought the print was really pretty and the cream mixed with blue was a nice combination. And once I got it, I thought my living room would be a nice setting to take photos. Then I walked into my living room and realized why. This is the exact colour and print of a pair of chairs that sits in my living room. Long story short, I'm imitating a chair. I wasn't just inspired by the chair, I aspired to be the chair. That's great, subconscious...aim high.

Damask sweater c/o Choies / Scalloped bag from asos / Owl necklace 

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Before and after

Like most of the world, I get reflective during this time of year. Or panicky because a new year's about to start and I haven't done enough with my life or I need to do more with my life...etc, etc, blah blah blah. It's funny how a day on the calendar can spark panic, even if I have no reason to. Especially since I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. Just because it's another year, doesn't mean that it's the right time to start a goal. Unless you're really in the right mindset, you're not gonna stick with your resolution based on the reasoning that it's a new beginning.

So here's my little look back at my favourite style moments of 2013:

And here's to looking forward to 2014. I'm excited to report that I've been contacted by Tacicco and I'll be showing off some of their leather bags to you in the new year. Great structures, colorblock, and vibrant shades. What's not to love? 

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