OOTD: Bye Bye Fall, Winter Is Here

It is suddenly very cold around here. Yesterday I was in denial so I stubbornly wore my Loft peacoat, which is becoming my favorite jacket ever, but by the end of the day I had to admit that it isn't warm enough for the current temperatures (even with a thick sweater like my Claudie Pierlot under it) and chilling wind, so this morning I switched to my Wintress puffer.

This is what I wore yesterday (Fall gear):

This outfit got me a lot of compliments probably because the bag tie everything together. I had this bag for some time but I was undecided about it. In case you are wondering it isn't a Celine but a Pour La Victoire and I bought it on FashionFix.com, which is the website where Saks sells discounted merchandise from previous seasons. So I got it for a very good price (below $200), given that the front panel (the camel-colored part) is calf hair and the bag is all leather. I really like the colors because the black and the camel go with almost every coat that I have (except for my navy coat but I have a navy bag in case I really want to match my coat and my bag) and it is very difficult to find a camel bag. I wanted a bigger bag for winter (I usually carry a small tote in the summer, like the mini Brompton or a Longchamp Le pliage but I now I need something bigger to carry around all the winter "in cases" for me and my daughter, like scarves, gloves, snacks etc.). I also wanted a tote style, as my previous winter bag, a Tory hobo, drives me crazy for everyday use (I seem to never find what I am looking for in a hobo). So it really fits the bill in terms of praticality. What bothered me was that 1) it really tries to look like a Celine, which I hadn't realized at first and 2) it has two zippers that start on each end on the top and that stop where the handles are sewn, so that the center part closes only with a magnetic snap. I find it kind of silly and I am not sure why they didn't make the zippers go all the way through:

Well, actually I know why but I think it could have been done differently. You can wear the bag with the top corners out (which make it bigger) or tucked in (which make it smaller). See the difference below:

Anyway, in the end I decided that it didn't bother me that much and it was exactly what I was looking for and for a decent price so I carried it yesterday for the first time and I am very happy with it. In case you are interested in this bag or a similar one, Gilt has a few Pour La Victoire in this style.

This is what I am wearing today (Winter gear):

My Wintress puffer is from last year and I really love it. It is cozy but not too bulky and I love the tie-belt (I am wearing a XS). I also love the shiny gold hardware that makes it a bit more elegant.
Under the puffer I am wearing a cozy JCrew sweater. I can't remember the name but it is from two years ago and it is one of my favorite sweaters. I regret not buying the other colorway it came in (a heather grey) but at that time I had a Gap that was very similar so I thought it was redundant (the Gap is now a "wear inside only" thing):

I am in love with this belt. It is new and comes from Brooke Brothers, of all the places. I have been looking for a wide black belt to wear at my waist with some knit dresses (one in particular that was a real steal and you will see soon) but so far I hadn't found anything that I really liked (they were all too plain or too trendy). I don't know if I ever told you but I live literally a block away from a Brooke Brothers boutique and I had NEVER set foot inside until the other day when I saw this belt in the window. I was afraid that it would be real croc with a price to go with it, but it is just a croc print and they were having a promo so it came home with me. It is still expensive for a belt (it is priced at $98) but hopefully it will last me for years, it is classic enough. As I said I bought it to wear with dresses but I really like how it looks on a fitted sweater too. I think it will look great over a pencil skirt:

Thats' it ladies. I have a few packages coming this week, so I will have a few reviews for you.

Have you switched to winter gear yet? Are you a tote or a hobo kind of gal? Any Brooke Brothers fan out there?