Winter Blahs

I am currently in the "blahs" I feel fat, old and ugly! I really don't think I am any of those, but I feel it! Help! How do I put in a punch of spring when it is 30 degrees, we just had a blizzard and I am always freezing at work? I am 5'4' 125 pounds, dark brown hair with caramel highlights and brown eyes, wear glasses. I am so happy to see you have this site, I always love your advice
Ginny

Ginny, it's asking a lot of Pres to solve the winter blahs, but I can do it! What you need is some cashmere in great colors (it's on sale now, too.)
Take a brown outfit, and drape a pink pashmina scarf over it. Fold the scarf so that it is a narrow ribbon, then fold in half again, (like the pages of book.) Place the scarf around the back of your neck, and pull the fringed ends through the loop. That will create an assymetrical knot. Choose a pink that works best for you; hot pink sounds about right, but you can go all the way down to dusty pink. Don't pick anything too pale. Yellow and turquoise work too, if they are your good colors.

Another trick is adding a bright cashmere shrug (bright purple), over an all black or black/gray outfit. Here's one Shrug. I like this over a collared shirt, not as shown, because the collar adds structure and snap. Since this one is in a subdued color, I'd wear a bright shirt under, like teal. Mix the pink and blue.

Try wearing a short sleeve tee with beading or sequin trim over a plain shirt, too. I have a few evening things that work for daytime, if they're layered over tailored outfits. And, one of my favorites is to tie a bright, or beaded sweater around my neck, sleeves forming a knot in the front. Another trick with a sweater is to pull the cowl down around your shoulders, exposing the entire top of the shirt worn under (it's cold, so we are layering today) with the cowl collar forming a straight line from shoulder to shoulder. Do this with a white shirt and a heavy black cowl neck; drop a lot of chunky chains over. Add some fitted cords, and you are warm (and hot.)

My winter boots this year are a very warm and waterproof shiny black patent with flat heels. I'm sorry that it's getting too warm for them, actually. Patterned tights have kept me warm this year, and oh the colors. I just added some in deep olive green, with a tiny cable pattern; on sale now, too. New tights are a really inexpensive way to brighten things up.

It will be Spring soon!