How do you keep warm, stylish and MSE?!

FelinePrincess

This is an issue I've always struggled with and as this winter is soo cold and I'm no longer at an age where I'm willing to sacrifice warmth in order to look good I really need some advice

I don't have alot of good winter clothes, recently I've been wearing a vest top under a thin jumper under a leather jacket with jeans, boots and a scarf and I'm freezing! I don't seem to come across warm clothes on the high street/online all the jumpers I come across just aren't very warm and I never seem to be able to find a decent winter jacket/coat. I'm reluctant to pay about £60 for a cheaply made, not very warm jacket from the high street and have never taken the plunge and brought an expensive coat.

So ladies, please tell me how you keep warm and look good without spending a fortune? Where do you find good quality warm clothes at decent prices?

Thanks in advance

vixarooni

Well layering is better than one thick peice. I ted to to vest it up always, with a jumper and sometimes a cardi with a coat and scarf. Obviously it depends how old you are? What about leggins or tights under trousers? I do that alot. Thermal vests too! I get my thermal wear from primark. Cheap as chips!

hieveryone

I bought a padded jacket from Sainsburys and it was only £10! It's waist length though, so need to wear warm trousers, but it is so very warm!

ruthber

The charity shops where I live are brimming with coats, jumpers, hats and gloves. I guess I am lucky! but do give them a try you might find something you like locally.

pookiewn

Have you looked on ebay for a coat? I've just managed to buy a wool, full length bright red Papillon coat, for £40.01 delivered. I have a few of those cheap pashmina type scarfs of different colours, if it's really cold I put two together. The layers help with the warmth and the two tone look funky without being over powering. Charity shops are rather places too, the last purchase there was an angora jumper for £4.
Do you have any shirts? Perhaps a shirt with the vest top and the jumper on top? Matalan have some of their thermals on a 342 promo at the moment, have read some good reviews on them around here.
I've finished waffling now hth

iceicebaby

I wear either a thermal vest, then a jumper or another tshirt/top with a cardi.

When I go out I then put another old cardi on on top of whatever I am wearing then my coat scarf and gloves. Layers are good, 3 or 4 thinner ones under a coat are better than a thick jumper under a coat.

Savvy_Sue

must admit I am not too fussed about how I look, but I have several pairs of thermal long johns, my favourites are bright pink. found some black silk ones in a charity shop and they were ace too, until they wore into holes.

silk vest, silk shirt, warm cardi and I am snug, esp. with arm tied to body, but in a normal (ie an unbroken-arm) winter I'd expect to have a thin jumper under shirt by now.

FelinePrincess

Thanks everyone for the replies

Charity shops where I live aren't very good unfortunately and I'd always given up looking on ebay for coats because they were just so many I couldn't be bothered looking through for something I liked but after reading Pookiewn's post I thought I'd have another look and I filtered it to only show size 10 and mediums made from wool and then selected all the brands that I like out of the list and I've already brought a 70% wool topshop cotten for £10 inc delivery! I'm still looking through so hopefully I'll pick up a couple more bargains

I think I'll get some more leggings/long johns too and start wearing under my jeans too and continue with the layering. Any more suggestions/comments gratefully appreciated

I really don't know how these people in truly cold countries do it!

tara747

Charity shops are a godsend, I love them! Have a trawl, you will be amazed at what you find. Focus on posher areas as they have the best pickings

foreign_correspondent

I've got an italian charcoal grey pure new wool and cashmere coat which came from a charity shop - apparently they are a very expensive make (£500 ish) - it cost me a fiver. I changed the buttons to give it a more contemporary look, however, sadly my newish lovely leather boots arent as practical as they look - they are no good in the snow and wet, so Im still working on getting the footwear part right!

FelinePrincess

Sadly Tara there are no posher areas where I live! I'm sure there are still great finds to be had, but I usually can't be bothered looking because I never find anything - still, I'll have a look next time I'm in town, after all you never know when something might crop up!

That was a great find Foreign Correspondent! Footwear is the one area I don't struggle too much with - I have lots of good pairs of boots as I wear them all year round