Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of winter sun? The warmth of your breath visible in the air and the sunlight scattered on your skin – it just brings a certain something-something that makes the numb fingers and runny nose that much more tolerable.
*Special giveaway announcement at the end of the post!!
Personally, I sometimes struggle to care about what I wear when it’s cold out unless it’s for any special occasions, which there can be many during this festive time but for others, I just find it hard to give two rat’s arses about precise dressing.
In this OOTD, I try to show how I layer for the cold without so much of a stylistic properness and spending hours figuring out whether the colour of your jacket buttons goes with anything else you’re wearing, as us fashionistas often do. :/

Jacket: Porter & Ash | Cardigan: H&M | Tee: ASOS | Scarf: Amsterdam street find | Skinnies: Topman | Brogues: Jasper Conran
Oliver’s Styling 101, a tip for winter dressing, don’t ever attempt to outshine a Christmas tree – choose only two simple and flattering colours for yourself and work from there. The colour coordination will create an illusion that you’ve thought the styling process over when the truth is you had no desire to put much imagination into it…!! In this particular outfit, I went for the very festive warm-pumpkin-spice-latte brown and dazzling-ornament silver.
Both the H&M cardigan and Porter & Ash jacket are half a size bigger than my actual measurements but thanks to that, they’re actually very comfy to wear!! It’s not complimentary to the figure by any means but I like to think they work here!!
To make it less monotonous, I’ve accessorised with this fabulously warm floral scarf, an absolute one-off that I have yet to see it on anyone else since I bought it in Amsterdam several years ago. So another tip from Oliver’s Styling 101: Always keep an eye out for potential additions to your winter accessories even when you’re on your summer holiday!! Inspirations can come from anywhere, at anytime. 😉
In fact, most of these items have been sitting in my wardrobe for quite a while now… For me, winter is the perfect season to break out the pre-loved clothes, especially the old knitwear and outerwear that you’ve long forgotten you ever possessed!!
Anyway, there you have my outfit and my thought process of putting it together – now here’s an extra special Christmas treat for you lovelies!!
This week I’m giving away five 2014 UK number-one albums of your choice to one lucky winner!! Everyone has an email address and social media accounts and that’s all you need to enter the raffle HERE!! Below is the list of all 32 incredible albums to choose from:
Swings Both Ways – Robbie Williams / Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
High Hopes – Bruce Springsteen / Cavalier Youth – You Me at Six
See Long, See You Tomorrow – Bomboy Bicycle Club / Little Red – Katy B
Bad Blood – Bastille / Girl – Pharrell Williams
The Take Off and Landing of Everything – Elbow
Symphonica – George Michael / The Power of Love – Sam Bailey
Education, Education, Education & War – Kaiser Chiefs
Caustic Love – Paolo Nutini / Sheezus – Lily Allen
Xscape – Michael Jackson / Ghost Stories – Coldplay
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith / 48:13 – Kasabian
Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey / x – Ed Sheeran
Stars – Collabro / Royal Blood – Royal Blood
No Sound Without Silence – The Script / This Is All Yours – alt-J
Wanted on Voyage – George Ezra / Chapter One – Ella Henderson
I Forget Where We Were – Ben Howard / 1989 – Taylor Swift
The Endless River – Pink Floyd / Four – One Direction
Never Been Better – Olly Murs
This giveaway is open internationally so get involved now! Do remember to follow my blog, comment below with your name, email address and five album picks. Best of luck!!!
Love, Oliver
40 Comments
Juan David Cruz
December 1, 2014 at 3:28 amHi! I loved the outfit, the scarf is the only thing that doesn’t match for me, but it’s a lovely look, serious and perfect for this season!
Love the idea of the giveaway, music is what keep our minds alive and creative! The 5 album I’ve pick are:
1989 – Queen Taylor Swift
Sheezus – Lily Allen
Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey
X – Ed Sheeran
My data: Juan David Cruz Benitez from Colombia 🙂 , juandcruzb@hotmail.com and this is my Facebook https://www.facebook.com/juandavidcruz13
oliverinstead
December 1, 2014 at 10:48 pmI completely agree, Juan! My life is pretty much driven by music and I thought it’d be appropriate to share and promote British music to people from all over the world! Good luck!!
Oliver
Juan David Cruz
December 9, 2014 at 2:09 amI know! And the great thing about the UK is that charts are filled with diverse music, US charts can be a little bit generic all the time (I like almost everything hahaha) but UK has better quality, I forgot to tell you that I loved the fact that Sheezus is there, God that album is amazing!
adrianna
December 2, 2014 at 7:46 pmInteresting article about styling yourself for winter. I always have struggels to style myself perfectly for winter but this article is very helpful. Thank you!
I picked these cds:
Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
Girl – Pharrell Williams
1989 – Taylor Swift
Xscape – Michael Jackson
Sheezus – Lily Allen
Joshua D. Cummins
December 1, 2014 at 3:28 amOne Direction – Four
Girl – Pharrell Williams
Sheezus – Lily Allen
1989 – Taylor Swift
Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
So pretty, I wish I had enough money to afford nice clothes! 🙂 You have the best taste in clothes.
Bdale McPherson
December 1, 2014 at 3:30 amJust entered! Great contest! My top 5 albums would be Ella Henderson, Taylor Swift, 1D, Ed Sheeran, and Olly Murs!!
Luke Donegan
December 1, 2014 at 3:33 amI’d love to have 1989, Sheezus, X, Wanted on Voyage and Never Been Better, please! <3
Facebook name: Luke Donegan
Email: lukedonegan@gmail.com
Christian Robie
December 1, 2014 at 3:42 amYour still never fail to surprise me! I always look at your photo on LOOKBOOK and damn you know how to match outfits and make them expensive. I would like to have some fashion advice with you somebody. by the way this is MinWoo from RTVG <3
No Sound Without Silence – The Script
Four – One Direction
Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey
Ghost Stories – Coldplay
Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
oliverinstead
December 1, 2014 at 10:52 pmHey MinWoo, fancy meeting you here! lol Thanks so much for the comment!!
Oliver
Clarisse Sebert
December 1, 2014 at 3:47 amYour photos look amazing! Outfits are spot-on 🙂
How generous of you for the giveaway! Totally cool thing to do
My picks would be:
Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence
Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
Taylor Swift – 1989
Lily Allen – Sheezus
Pharrell Williams – G I R L
Happy holidays!
Carlos Portillo
December 1, 2014 at 3:57 amI love Porter & Ash but im mexican and i can’t buy those thing oh oh. And i actually think the scarf looks great, it has color but not in an overwhelming way.
48:13 – Kasabian
Sheezus – Lily Allen
Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey
I Forget Where We Were – Ben Howard (favorite album this year and i can’t buy it in Mexico)
1989 – Taylor Swift
i dont know if i had to do this but yeah:
José Carlos Portillo López
carloz_pl@hotmail.com
facebook.com/jcarlosportillo
oliverinstead
December 1, 2014 at 10:54 pmPorter & Ash is an amazing brand – the quality of the jacket is so good and it’s really well made. I hope you win too so you get to own a copy of I Forget Where We Were, it’s such a brilliant album!! Love Ben Howard.
Oliver
S Edwards
December 1, 2014 at 7:02 amMy pick would be
1989 – Taylor Swift
Ghost Stories – Coldplay
Four – One Direction
48:13 – Kasabian
x – Ed Sheeran
Bill
December 1, 2014 at 9:33 amI’ve never been a scarf person but maybe I’d wear a cap or hat. I love the rest of the outfit, especially the jacket.
Did you dream of being a model when you were younger? 🙂
Swing Both Ways – Robbie Williams
Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
Never Been Better – Olly Murs
1989 – Taylor Swift
In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
oliverinstead
December 1, 2014 at 7:24 pmWell, you need something to protect yourself from the cold in this country and ‘no’ is the honest answer to your question but do I get jealous of physically more gifted people and wish I was more like them… yes. :/
Oliver
Bill
December 2, 2014 at 8:22 amYou might not be as tall as professional models but your photos inspire ordinary people like us, in the way other models can’t.
oliverinstead
December 2, 2014 at 9:07 amAwww how sweet. 🙂
Mohamed Rais (@iwannabwithu)
December 1, 2014 at 10:49 amI want that scarf tbh it has it’s own touch on the whole outfit haha and your shoes are gorgeous and the whole outfit is really fashionable specially the jacket! Wish I had enough money to afford such a great outfit and all of those CDs as well haha
so here are the albums I want the most
1989 – Queen Taylor Swift
Sheezus – Lily Allen
In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
Little Red – Katy B
Never Been Better – Olly Murs
Nakis
December 1, 2014 at 11:02 amNever Been Better – Olly Murs
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
48:13 – Kasabian
Chapter One – Ella Henderson
No Sound Without Silence – The Script
nakisantoniou91
December 1, 2014 at 11:03 amKeep up the good work 🙂
Never Been Better – Olly Murs
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
48:13 – Kasabian
Chapter One – Ella Henderson
No Sound Without Silence – The Script
Alex Forsey
December 1, 2014 at 11:26 amHonestly I only went here for the CD giveaway, but I thought I’d read the fashion part anyway. I’ve always struggled with coordinating outfits, so it was really useful to read about choosing two simple colours. You really know your stuff so I’m gonna be keeping up with your blog from now on 🙂
That jacket looks really nice and warm, I’ve never heard of Porter & Ash so idk if you can find it over here but oh well!
This raffle is really sweet of you, as someone said above music is what keep our minds going.
Out of the list these are the ones that really jumped out at me.
Little Red – Katy B
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
1989 – Taylor Swift
In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
This Is All Yours – alt-J
oliverinstead
December 1, 2014 at 10:57 pmThat’s one of the sweetest comments I’ve ever received – you have no idea!! 😀
Btw Porter & Ash is pretty much just London and UK-based. Perhaps in some parts of Europe you can find their clothes.
Oliver
Sarah Thain (@sequinthis)
December 1, 2014 at 2:13 pmLove this look Oliver, especially the scarf 🙂
I would choose T Swift, Royal Blood, Sam Smith, alt-J and Pharrell!
Sarah x
englishrosefrommanchester
December 1, 2014 at 2:45 pmLove the outfit, and have to say that the light in these photos is gorgeous!
Jen x
http://englishrosefrommanchester.com/
Sebastian
December 1, 2014 at 3:00 pmThat scarf is everything. I don’t really follow blogs like that, but thanks to you, I’ll keep up with this one haha. Anyway, this is my inevitable choice of albums:
Little Red – Katy B
Chapter One – Ella Henderson
1989 – Taylor Swift
Four – One Direction
Never Been Better – Olly Murs
helloadieu
December 1, 2014 at 4:46 pmHeya,
I’m Abena – great blog and cool end of year competition!
My 5 picks would be:
X – Ed Sheeran
In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
Ghost Stories – Coldplay
Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey
I Forget Where We Are – Ben Howard
my email is: AHelloAndAdieu@gmail.com
JennyLeungX
December 1, 2014 at 7:12 pm<3
Jenny of pennedbyjenny.co.uk
Joey Hepburn Davis
December 1, 2014 at 8:53 pmSwings Both Ways – Robbie Williams
Symphonica – George Michael
Xscape – Michael Jackson
x – Ed Sheeran
Chapter One – Ella Henderson
Joey Hepburn Davis
December 1, 2014 at 8:55 pmPS. I need that scarf in my life. *whimpers*
Joey Hepburn Davis
December 1, 2014 at 8:58 pmSwings Both Ways – Robbie Williams
Symphonica – George Michael
Xscape – Michael Jackson / Ghost Stories – Coldplay
x – Ed Sheeran
Chapter One – Ella Henderson
Fabio
December 1, 2014 at 10:49 pmLove the outfit! I like that you have your own personal style which is important to have!! I like the jeans and love the scarf 🙂 and love the actual shots of you and how they were taken!
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
Olly Murs – Never Been Better
Taylor Swift – 1989
Michael Jackson – Xscape
One Direction – Four
Romain Tripet
December 2, 2014 at 9:34 pmI like your blog. Thank’s for this giveaway! You’re really generous! ^^
I picked these cds:
1989 – Taylor Swift
Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
Girl – Pharrell Williams
Sheezus – Lily Allen
Xscape – Michael Jackson
Thank’s again, and good luck everyone!
Darryn Louis Kinney
December 3, 2014 at 6:41 pmHalcyon – Ellie Goulding
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
x – Ed Sheeran
Chapter One – Ella Henderson
1989 – Taylor Swift
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
December 5, 2014 at 4:29 pmI love that look. Your hair looks awesome as well by the way!
misspond
December 6, 2014 at 9:59 amLove the outfit! I don’t think oversize matters, it’s very in at the mo. The jacket is lovely 🙂
Great giveaway! I think I’d love:
Halcyon – Ellie Goulding
Girl – Pharrell Williams
Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey
x – Ed Sheeran
1989 – Taylor Swift
As I own many of the others already! Hahaha!
x
oliverinstead
December 6, 2014 at 10:30 amIf it’s comfy and warm enough for winter, then why not, eh? Thanks for entering the giveaway!!
Oliver x
Hannah Smith
December 8, 2014 at 7:19 pmBad Blood – Bastille
1989 – Taylor Swift
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
x – Ed Sheeran
Xscape – Michael Jackson
Jo Louise Ahmed
December 8, 2014 at 9:38 pmI am loving your blog – it’s very cute indeed!
Thanks for the comp dude.
I’d love:
Paolo Nutini – Caustic Love
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
48:13 – Kasabian
Wanted on Voyage – George Ezra
Four – One Direction (for my little girl, not guilty, haha).
Thank you :-*
oliverinstead
December 8, 2014 at 11:56 pmThanks Jo! 🙂
Oliver x
Kapundu
March 3, 2015 at 2:26 pmIt’s so true it is so hard to dress up when it’s cold but I do think throwing a nice a accessory like a scarf. I love these Tamaki Niime from http://seijaku.co.uk/japaneselifestylestore/ I think they just make an outfit!