Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

The actress debuted her baby bump in an out-of-this-world Instagram post.

Literally everyone should own it.

The holiday season is a wonderful time to embrace festive gatherings, cozy evenings, and brisk outdoor strolls. As temperatures drop, finding outerwear and accessories that keep you warm without sacrificing style becomes key. From statement coats to elegant accessories, here are twelve pieces that can refresh your winter wardrobe with ease, blending warmth and fashion for every occasion. 

1. Classic Wool Wrap Coat – Elegant and timeless, the wool wrap coat is a winter essential that never goes out of style.
2. Puffer Coat with a Luxe Twist – Puffer coats have come a long way from being just practical, functional pieces.
3. Teddy Bear Coat – his trendy piece not only keeps you warm but also adds a touch of whimsy and fun to your outfit.
4. Shearling-Lined Booties – These cozy boots offer warmth from the inside out, thanks to the soft shearling that wraps around your feet. 

Continue reading to discover more winter fashion that is perfect for the holiday season. 

Winter Fashion

Classic Wool Wrap Coat

Belted Wool Blend Longline Coat at Nordstrom

Elegant and timeless, the wool wrap coat is a winter essential that never goes out of style. Its soft yet structured design adds sophistication to any outfit, and its flattering wrap style complements all body types. Look for one with a belted waist to cinch in and highlight your figure, creating a tailored silhouette that’s ideal for both day and night. Available in a variety of lengths and colors, this coat can range from minimalist blacks and grays to festive reds and emeralds.

Puffer Coat with a Luxe Twist

Kenneth Cole New York Memory Faux Fur Trim Hooded Puffer Coat at Nordstrom

Puffer coats have come a long way from being just practical, functional pieces. Today’s styles combine warmth with luxurious finishes like faux-fur lined hoods, and some even feature metallic sheens for a modern, eye-catching look. Opt for a mid-thigh or knee-length coat to shield you from the elements while maintaining a sleek silhouette. Look for details such as a faux fur-trimmed hood or deep, insulated pockets to bring both style and utility.

Teddy Bear Coat

MAX MARA Teddy Bear Icon Coat in alpaca and wool

There’s no better feeling than wrapping yourself in the softness of a teddy bear coat. This cozy piece not only keeps you warm but also adds a touch of whimsy and fun to your outfit. With its oversized fit and plush texture, it feels like being hugged by a soft blanket. Available in neutral tones like beige, gray, and ivory, it can easily be dressed up or down. Try it with jeans for a casual look, or layer it over a holiday dress for an added element of playfulness.

Statement Wool Scarf

Cole Haan Reversible Fair Isle Scarf at Macy’s

A wool scarf does more than keep you warm – it can be the statement piece that ties your whole winter look together. Look for large, blanket-style scarves in patterns like plaid, checks, or even animal prints for a bold yet classic touch. Not only will this scarf keep you cozy, but it also adds a burst of color or pattern to your outfit, allowing you to experiment with textures and layers.

Cashmere Beret

Women’s Pure Cashmere Beret at Maison Cashmere

Nothing beats the luxury of cashmere, especially in the form of a beret that’s soft on the skin and perfect for winter wear. Cashmere berets offer warmth without bulk, providing a sleek and refined option that complements all face shapes. Available in a variety of shades, from soft neutrals to festive jewel tones, a cashmere beret is a staple that can seamlessly transition from day to evening.

Leather Gloves with Cashmere Lining

Harssidanzar Womens Winter Warm Cashmere Lining on Amazon

There’s something timeless and elegant about leather gloves, especially when lined with cashmere, for added warmth. These gloves are both practical and luxurious, adding a hint of glamor to your winter look. Opt for classic black or tan, or try a festive red or green for the holiday season.

Shearling-Lined Booties

Marc Fisher LTD Vina Booty at Zappos

Your winter footwear can be both fashionable and functional with a pair of shearling-lined booties. These cozy boots offer warmth from the inside out, thanks to the soft shearling that wraps around your feet. For added versatility, choose a style with a slight wedge or block heel that can be dressed up or down, and look for waterproof options if you’ll be navigating snowy streets.

Chunky Knit Mittens

Heat Holders Jackie Cable Knit Mittens at Macy’s

Chunky knit mittens evoke a sense of nostalgia, taking us back to childhood snow days and the warmth of handmade accessories. These mittens not only provide a high level of warmth but also add a cozy, homespun vibe to your winter outfit. Look for mittens with fleece or wool lining to keep your hands extra toasty and ready for winter adventures.

Plaid Blanket Wrap

FRAAS Tartan Boucle Oversized Wrap at Macy’s

A plaid blanket wrap is an incredibly versatile winter accessory. You can drape it over your shoulders for a layered look or wrap it snugly around yourself on colder days. The plaid pattern adds a classic touch to any outfit and makes it easy to style with jeans, trousers, or a dress. Plus, the oversized shape is perfect for layering over a fitted coat or jacket.

Faux Fur Shawl

ELFJOY Bridal Faux Fur Shawl on Amazon

For a touch of Hollywood glamor, consider a faux fur shawl. This accessory instantly boosts an outfit, adding a touch of vintage charm. You can drape it over your shoulders for an evening out or wrap it around a winter coat for added warmth and elegance.

Knit Headband

Clear Creek Women’s Cinched Knit Winter Headband at Target

Knit headbands are an on-trend alternative to traditional winter hats, providing warmth for your ears while letting you show your hairstyle. They come in various widths and styles, from simple, narrow bands to wider, more dramatic ones that add a retro flair to your look. Choose a headband in a bold color or with embellishments like pearls or sequins for an extra touch of holiday sparkle.

These winter accessories bring both style and function to your seasonal wardrobe, offering options that blend sophistication, comfort, and a hint of holiday magic. 

Read Are Fashion Brands Finally Catering to Women Over 50?

Also, read The Best Affordable Fashion Jewelry for Older Women.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you live somewhere cold where you need a winter coat? Do you like winter accessories? Where do you like to shop for your winter fashion? Tell us about it in the comments below. 

Moms are our queens and should be treated as such.

As Flannery O’Connor famously quipped, anyone who has survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of her life. That’s good for us because memoir writing is one of the most popular pursuits in retirement, but also daunting for many people. What to say, and how to say it can be stumbling blocks.

How to Start

Marian Roach-Smith, in her latest book, The Memoir Project, believes memoir writing has three basic truths.

The First Is, Tell the Truth

Tell your story as you lived it with all the hilarity, pain, delirious enthusiasm, or regret you actually felt. After all, it’s your story and it’s emotion, the feelings you convey, that pull us into the narrative and engage our attention. Tell us what occurred, but also what happened to you through the event.

Move the Story Along

Next, everything you include should drive your story forward, that is, the one story you’re recounting. A memoir isn’t the same as an autobiography. It’s an informative piece that recounts a specific aspect of life so keep it simple. Go for an event that teaches the reader something, or provides greater insight into you, which hopefully, will also have some useful takeaway for the reader.

After all, how your life was changed or improved through your experience should help us as well. Or, as Roach-Smith advises, “teach us something about all human behavior, that sheds light on our fears, dilemmas, happiness, or wide-eyed wonder.”

Pick Your Topic Carefully

Finally, she advises is to remember that just because something happened doesn’t mean it’s interesting. Best to pick a universal theme and go with that and delete anything that doesn’t support the theme. Be strict and stick to your point.

Who, What, Why?

The Institute on Aging also offers some recommendations for memoirists.

Note Your Audience

First, determine who you’re writing for. Most people want to leave memories for family and friends as a way to pass along wisdom and life experience. Writing about your life has the benefit of revealing aspects of yourself that your family may be unfamiliar with and shows grandmother as a real person with her own hopes and dreams.

Decide What You Want to Include

Writing about your authentic experiences can leave a wonderful and valued family treasure for generations. The lessons learned and wisdom gleaned can be a comfort and a guide, as well as a source of inspiration, and maybe a few good belly laughs connecting family through time.

Personally, I hold dear the stories of my Irish immigrant relatives, especially Eliza. At 17, as the oldest child of a large family she was tasked with the shopping for her seven siblings and parents. When she learned her parents were in serious discussion with a widower with several children of his own, and that he was an old man in his 40s, she got busy. She kept delaying the marriage until she had scrimped and saved enough from the shopping money to pay her passage to America. And off she sailed, alone and nearly penniless, to an unknown country! I’ve remembered her pluck and courage many times when things looked tough.

Maybe your family has a unique character, a special tradition, or history, you’d like to share so they’re not forgotten. Writing them down and including anecdotes about these relatives and times will preserve them. Adding pictures can make the stories even more engaging. Perhaps there are old friends or far-flung relatives who also played a part in the stories. It could be fun to reconnect with them and add their memories.

Outside Assistance

What to include, and how to say it can be streamlined by enlisting outside expertise. A writing coach can cut right through the overwhelm and help edit out the unnecessary parts while keeping the narrative moving so your intention is realized in a clear and meaningful way. More importantly, a skilled professional can tease out your authentic voice, so the piece carries the best of you to those you love!

Thea Fiore Bloom, a writing coach with decades of experience helping novices and professionals alike craft their unique stories, has this to say about writing a memoir:

“You want your memoir to be deliciously readable, right? You don’t want people to pick through it out of obligation. But how can you accomplish that? Narrow the focus. Don’t go from your birth to the present moment. Don’t write about the whole cake; instead, select a slice of the story.”

Roach-Smith suggests a slice of a slice is even better. And she’s right. Pick one poignant episode out of the arc of stories you were considering. Pick a story that excites you and that you feel affirms a life teaching your reader may relate to. 

A good example of what I’m talking about is my story of Eliza above. It’s a slice of a slice. The story is important to me, but it will also encourage readers to have courage and take chances in their own lives.

A final word is that memoir stories are typically rather brief, somewhere around 750 words, which makes the task less formidable. Who knows, you may just enjoy the process enough to write several shorter pieces, which you can then string together into a book and voila, you’re an author!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have an interesting ancestor or family you’d like to write about? Please share your experiences, we’d love to hear about them.