Longing for your sundress and flip-flops…think again! Look outside ladies, we’re in the darkest days of winter and summer is a long way off. However, cold weather dressing doesn’t have to be boring. Let’s take a look at a few ways to liven up your wardrobe without going into credit card debt induced cardiac arrest.

A great way to spruce up a winter coat is color. Even if the weather is grey and dreary, it doesn’t mean your outfit has to be the same. Instead, opt for a bright, standout color in a classic fitting wool coat.

Remember how your mom used to tell you to wear a hat in the cold weather to keep warm? Well, she was right. Hats are a great way to stay toasty while adding another stylish element to your look. Hot items (pardon the pun) have been berets and slouchy hats. Both styles offer protection against the cold without hat hair ruining the rest of your day.

Heaven knows everyone can’t wear hats successfully, but don’t despair. Headphone earmuffs kill two birds with one stone. For a very small investment you can rock out to your favorite music while saving your ears from frostbite.

Now that we have your head covered and taken care of, let’s talk about boots. Searching for the perfect pair of winter boots can be frustrating and downright depressing. An easy solution to the practical need for a snow boot but the desire to remain stylish is the rubber soled wedge boot. But because Chicago has a penchant for salt, be sure to give your boots a good dose of waterproof spray to keep them looking sharp until Spring.

Hands down, gloves are the most inexpensive way to create a new winter look. Whether you’re hailing a cab or buying a fare card at the El, colorful gloves can provide an instant pop to even the most tried and true black winter coat.

See, dressing for the cold doesn’t have to be a bore. Living in Chicago, us PLRGs can master the art of braving the cold without compromising our sense of style. Sales are abundant and now is a great time to take advantage of discounts when there’s still (unfortunately) much more winter to come.

(Caroline Patek)

Caroline is the newest member of our team at PLRG. A Chicago girl through and through (with a weakness for Marc Jacobs flats and chai lattes from Starbucks), Caroline spent the first eighteen years of her life in Lincoln Park. Armed with her high school best-dressed award and good grade point she took off for Washington DC to attend Georgetown University. Writing for the lifestyle section of Georgetown’s newspaper The Hoya has allowed Caroline to become a master at finding the best bang for her buck in D.C.