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

Don’t forget to let me know what you think of my outfit too!! Photo credit goes to David Keegan (check out his blog here).