Crime & Swedish Fashion Blogs

January 13, 2009 | bloggers I adore, fashion, guest post

My first guest blogger this week is probably the craftiest, most stylish girl I know. I also totally want her hair. It’s the ever so lovely Kyla Bea! If for some reason, you don’t read Kyla’s blog…seriously, what’s wrong with you? Get to it!

Also it is apparently Delurking Day or something so delurk and say hi. I promise we are all nice here!

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In winter there seems to be more time for dreamy flipping through fashion magazines or vegan cupcake cook books, which means more time for blogs – and my top indulgences are design and street style blogs. I am full on and wholly addicted.

Where I live in Canada, between Toronto and Vancouver, the winter lasts from November to April and is routinely well below the -30°C (-22°F!) mark which means a significant amount of time spent indoors. This year is also the first year that I’ve owned a PVR which has opened a world of TV to me that I couldn’t be bothered to watch before…..suddenly America’s Next Top Model has entered our home.

The word fierce has new meaning! There are more (albeit less political) girls from Alaska! There are hormone injections and
underwater shoots! But between the winter weather, street style blogs, and Top Models I’m feeling all together fashionably sub par this winter.

So in continuation of Jamie’s major fashion offenses, I give you 5 major fashion offenses I have committed in The Great White Canadian Winter. Because sometimes when you have frostbite, you just can’t think straight. And sometimes it’s more important to be warm than to look good.

The Crimes:

1. Painting my nails in pastel, because while the light blue OPI that I own looked edgy in the summer, but it really draws attention to how pale I am in January.

2. Layering with more than one sweater and compensating for massive heat loss due to wearing leggings when I should be wearing snow pants by wearing black long johns under black tights. It keeps the heat in!

3. Wearing snow pants over my skinny jeans. I’m still going to wear skinny jeans even though I’m cold and the internet tells me I shouldn’t! I’m just not going to freeze. Snow pants are cool when you live 8 hours north of Minneapolis, it’s a fact.

4. Rocking oversized men’s flannel and skinny belts. It’s warm. And with ankle boots it can be fierce. Or at least warm & tall. I’m not apologizing for this one.

5. Watching my co-workers squirm while trying to choose their words when complementing my new sweater. Because it’s not a sweater, it’s a pancho. (Don’t worry, I didn’t wear it with tights to work!)

It can be near impossible to look pulled together when you’re staving off frostbite and static electricity – what winter faux pas have you given up on avoiding while there’s snow on the ground?

31 Comments so far
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Amen. Anyone who tries to tell me that wearing four scarves and three layered sweaters at once isn’t fashionable hasn’t lived in Canada.

Bens last blog post..It’s that time again.

If I lived in Canada or anywhere snowy and cold, I would be doing the same thing and not thinking twice. Seriously. I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold!

E.P.s last blog post..Better late than never

Hey Kyla!
Ok, well my clothes and accessories mismatch on a daily basis because my warmest winter wear isn’t always in the same color scheme. Also – hat hair!? Totally stylish, right? Good, because I rock it just about every day. I also wear my giant snow boots into the office every morning and MAYBE once a week I untuck my dress pants from them or wear regular shoes.
I can’t imagine being 8 hours NORTH of here (Mpls!). It’s -15F here, and my nose hairs are still unfreezing.

Lilys last blog post..Letter to Sunday

It’s just a little hard to look fashionable when it’s -30C outside so I actually think you don’t have anything to apologize for. Ok, maybe the nail polish that washed you out.

Maries last blog post..Cold Induced Thoughts

When the tempeture drops to a certain low I think all rules of fashion should be called off. I won’t lie. I have worn furry snowflake socks and extra sweatshirts when it has gotten cold. It’s hard to maintain fashionista staus when you have a low budget and temperatures are in the negative.

In my opinion, all your crimes are forgiven.

lizs last blog post..I’m a modern girl, but I fold in half so easily

you should not feel any guilt for wearing any of those things! especially if you’re dealing with cold that brutal.

i say keep on rocking the multiple sweaters and pancho!

thatShortChicks last blog post..I guess I’m a little late

um….

I like when girls wear skinny jeans?

Matts last blog post..Deal Breakers

It’s probably bad that I think that pancho is really cute, isn’t it? Like seriously, I want to wear that out for my 21st… I wonder if I could find one in a week…

If I lived in that kind of weather? I’d be wearing snowpants too.. and ROCKING them.

Oooh, delurking is fun! Here’s my question:
What were the three happiest moments in your life so far?

Kayla, I don’t think that you should feel guilty, either. Seriously, it’s effing cold. I don’t remember having such and awkward winter, so far. Besides, life is not a catwalk when it’s snowing and freezing outside.

Rosiers last blog post..PMS = Our Reason To Act Bitchy

This morning I tucked my wide-legged pants into my slim boots. In fact, I do this on a regular basis. It always makes me feel like a russian dancer – http://www.ysursa.com/y%20boys/Pages/calendarMassenkoffRussian.jpg

Ericas last blog post..The beginning of a wonderful relationship

seriously, if i lived anywhere that cold, i wouldn’t go outside. i would no longer have the ability to be a functional member of society. i’m scared of cold. i’m crying today because it’s 35 degrees here in jersey, no bueno.

rachels last blog post..losing my french kiss virginity…

Oh Kyla, that’s nothing! It is bothersome that with all of the fashion magazines and blogs and lookbook, there never really are “fashionable” solutions to arctic temperatures.

I love seeing “winter fashion” when it’s an open thin jacket, leggings and boots, and maybe a scarf. Silly fashionistas! I say, you should start giving fashion advice to those of us who live in a bitter cold world, more often.

Elle Bees last blog post..Pictures to Burn

I’m a firm believer that there are no fashion faux-pas when it comes to Canadian winters. Although I’ve never experienced the arctic personally (and I have no desire to), I’ve heard the stories, and that is enough to make me believe that you are allowed as many layers as necessary. No judgment here.

AshleyDs last blog post..Delurking Day

There is a temperature where fashion is allowed to go on vacation, and I believe that is it so I will in no way judge you for any of these.

The Modern Gals last blog post..Orla Kiely comes to Target

Hm…I don’t know much about Canadian winters because I’m writing this in Orlando where I walked out in jeans and a tshirt and was immediately wishing I was in a tank top. At least you have winter. LOL. And I might have to go look for that OPI nail polish. It sounds fierce.

Miss Maries last blog post..Welcome to MFW

ha….yea its seriously cold….and i think some of my crimes might be worse…hee hee….but I got 2 new fabulous winter jackets that cover it up mostly!

(i was pale in the summer…and still am…so im just passing on the nail polish for awhile)

Holy Vatahas last blog post..Oh and by the Way…

Well, last time I was in the snow, I was 11. And everyones makes faux-pas when they’re 11. Especially me.

Andys last blog post..Insecurity.

Hey, I think you totally rocked that pancho! I loved all of your looks on your lookbook! I adore your style! You are the cutest.

Those pictures of you are amazing. You ain’t doin’ nothin’ wrong, girl.

Tristan | the almost right words last blog post..Never ending math equation

PS That site is awesome — I had never seen it before!

Tristan | the almost right words last blog post..Never ending math equation

Kyla Bea brings it once again! Oh man, girl, I am a hot mess in the winter and that’s no lie. But I’ve been more conscious these past few weeks about wearing cute tights instead of frumpy long underwear, double-layering tights so I can still wear skirts, rocking the sexy boots instead of the snowy boots, etc.

But yeah… it’s hard. And sometimes you’ve just gotta give up and embrace the hat hair.

Laurie | Your Ill-fitting Overcoats last blog post..More Than a Paragraph, Part III

p.s. You’re so beautiful! I love your photos!

Laurie | Your Ill-fitting Overcoats last blog post..More Than a Paragraph, Part III

I can’t wait for spring to come back around so I can wear my light nail polish. I miss my bright colors!

Maxies last blog post..Flexing my artistic muscles

Those are all hilarious! Good to know too

Is it weird that I LIKE half of your winter fashion choices. Mens flannel? Awesome. Pastel nails? Pretty.

michelle woos last blog post..What’s my motivation?

oh i love oversized men’s flannel with boots..totally edgy..isnt sienna miller wearing that a lot?

(delurking)

I didn’t even realize they made snow pants for adults. I’m intrigued!

Mermandas last blog post..The one where I have an epiphany

OH NO, I do almost all of those. I effing love flannel.

All winter long I wear earmuffs overtop of my hats, and look like this:
http://sarah-bration.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-that-time-again.html
or worse, much, much worse.

Sarahs last blog post..First kiss

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