A Minimalist Winter Wardrobe

I'm a minimalist gal at heart. 

Whilst the enormity of my wardrobe begs to differ, I must confess that the vast majority of items were bought a) on a whim b) for the party that I never intended to attend or c) in the attempt to convince myself that I was en vogue. In fact, I happen to be accomplished in the art of convincing myself to buy any redonkulous piece of clothing , whilst knowing fully well that it is likely to remain unworn for the rest of its days, until eventually it is thrown into a plastic bin-liner (original tags in tow) and sent straight to the nearest charity shop. A sad tale indeed. 

With the aim of culling this expensive habit once and for all, this winter I forced myself to stick to my loyal friends, the classics. After a shameful number of trips to the post office for ASOS returns, I finally have myself a minimalist winter wardrobe. 

1. The Classic white shirt/blouse.  My The Kooples may be classic in colour, the play with textures on the sleeves (lace) and collar (leather) speaks volumes. 

2. The cashmere polo neck. A polo neck is a great staple for the winter months and can be dressed down with a simple pair of jeans or dressed up with leather. Uniqlo is a great source of high quality cashmere, especially come boxing day sales when prices are slashed.

3. The cigarette trousers. Whilst cigarette trousers are classically made in black or navy, the puppy tooth print on this Oasis number creates a timeless 60's vibe. 

4. The "IT" coat. Choose wisely and don't be afraid to go over budget. Remember, that a quality number like this camel coat from Zara will be a wardrobe staple for many years to come. 

5. The waistcoat. It won't keep you any warmer but will give a certain je ne sais quoi to an otherwise simple outfit. Mine is a boucle texture number from Zara but COS and Topshop also do them well. 

6. The leather skirt. Classic but edgy rolled into one, need I say more? Unfortunately mine is an oldie from warehouse but you can a leather skirt pretty much anywhere. 

7. The winter knit. Dressing up a chunky, baggy winter knit requires a certain skill. The key is to keep it simple on your bottom half - black skinny jeans or a black leather skirt is the perfect base. 

8. The LBD (with an extra something something) Whilst an LBD will always be a wardrobe staple, something too basic could quickly fall into the trap of office wear. To avoid the " I've just left the office" look, an LBD with lace, sheer or interesting detailing should suffice. My Zara cape sleeved dress ticks all the right boxes and with a statement necklace and a plum lip, I am ready to polish off that mulled wine like there's no tomorrow.