winter fashion – Ensemble of Elan

Winter Outfit Ideas That Are Anything But Dreary

Are you in a winter fashion rut? (Don’t fret, it happens to the best of us.)

By the time mid-January rolls around and you’ve exhausted the number of sweater and jeans combinations you can throw together, what on earth are you supposed to wear and feel amazing in?

We’ve got you.

Throw in a Pop of Color

Many people tend to gravitate towards neutrals in the wintertime, but you don’t have to wait until spring to start rocking your favorite hues!

Pull that brightly colored sweater out of your closet and wear it with pride.

Lavender is Pantone’s color of the year, so you might want to get a head start by wearing this shade before you start seeing it everywhere.

Wear Something Metallic

Yeah, yeah, we know you’re wondering how we can consider an almost entirely gray outfit to be “fun”, but let us prove it to you.

The key here is adding something metallic, like these sneakers.

The eye-catching metallic combined with the on-trend plaid trousers and an edgy beanie makes this look unconventionally exciting.

Rock Your Spring-iest Embroidery

Embroidery has been going strong for a while now, and it isn’t poised to slow down anytime soon.

So, look forward to spring by wearing your favorite embroidered pieces now!

A pair of embroidered booties or an embroidered leather jacket adds a fresh touch to any outfit (and will remind you that spring isn’t far away!)

XOXO,

S & H

Sabrina’s Wearing:

Hannah’s Wearing:

T’Neria Ransom’s Wearing

Moving Up

2017 brought about many great moments, but it was also one of the most challenging years of my life. From starting Ensemble of Elan to putting on our first fashion show and opening our online store–it flew by in a whirlwind of hard work and dedication.

Now going into 2018, I am simply elated for the new opportunities that are in front of me.

I’m going into the last half of my junior year, and I’m taking classes that challenge me as a creator and a student. I’m taking my first watercolor class, braving Spanish ll, and diving deeper into my marketing minor.

I’m also starting an internship with local fashion designer, Linda Rowe Thomas. I can’t wait to be in an environment surrounded with beautiful fabrics, innovative design, and raw inspiration. In this internship I’ll get a first-hand look at what it means to be a designer and to assist in editorial shoots.

On top of all of this, I have finally gathered the courage to pursue modeling professionally, and I put in an application to be a model at Sculp agency. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed modeling for our own photoshoots, and I think I am ready to take it to the next level.

When I was a kid and used to think about what I wanted to do when I got older, I remember knowing that I wanted to be in the creative industry- and that still hasn’t changed.

There’s something amazing about your childhood dream beginning to come into fruition. I can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store.

-H

When people ask me what I do, I usually tell them “many things.” I work as a personal stylist and shopper for Google’s innovative new app, Tailor; I (obviously) operate this fashion blog and our online store; and I am about to embark on two new adventures: interning at a fashion house and pursuing modeling professionally.

When I want something, I will do whatever takes to get it.

For a long time, I yearned to work in the fashion industry, but being from Arkansas, I didn’t know quite how to do it. So, in 2017, I took some leaps of faith and planted the seeds that have blossomed into the opportunities I have before me now.

I want to learn the ins and outs of the fashion industry from every angle: designing, marketing, modeling, merchandising–all of it.

So, this year I am doing all of it. With my master’s degree under my belt at last, I can fully focus on growing in both my craft and my character (yup, I did just borrow that line from my cover letter).

We are almost to the one-year mark of the blog that started it all, and I would not have traded this past year for the world. We’re moving up, and I’m so grateful to all of you reading this because it would never have been possible without you.

-S

Sabrina’s Wearing:

Hannah’s Wearing:

| Goodwill Turtleneck Sweater (similar) | Goodwill Knit Pencil Skirt (similar) | Old Navy Burgundy Pea Coat | Goodwill Multicolor Faux Fur Clutch

Layer Your Way to the Best Winter Ever

Falling snow, freezing temperatures, waking up to ice on your windshield, what’s not to love about winter? (Alright, we get it.)

BUT, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the cold a little as you count down the days until spring. How, you ask? By expertly layering your clothes.

Most people hate the cold, but I love it.

I can’t get enough of the glistening Christmas lights and winter accessories that make their first appearance right about now. Yet, I would be lying if I said I loved everything about winter. I am not a fan of the the unpredictable weather of Arkansas, nor do I love when it gets dark so early in the day. It makes it almost impossible to gather the strength to leave my warm, comfortable bed every morning.

The best way I have found to face the winter cold with a smile on my face is to layer it up. I personally tend to stick to mostly neutral hues with an occasional pop of color, and I add visual interest by mixing different textures and patterns. But if you like to inject more color into your winter wardrobe, feel free to mix and match classic and unexpected color combos to your heart’s content.

One last thing to keep in mind: in places like Arkansas, the temperature can go from 30 degrees in the morning to 60 in the afternoon, so wear layers underneath that are stylish. That way, you can peel off layers if you get warm and still feel fashion forward!

-H

I love a good sweater/jeans/ankle boots outfit as much as the next girl, but after months of wearing almost exclusively that one outfit formula, it can start to feel a little drab. Considering we still have at least two more months of sweater weather ahead of us, I had to find a way to make my ensembles a little more interesting.

One of my favorite ways to breathe new life into a sweater is to layer it with a dress. For this outfit, I layered a fitted turtleneck under my favorite LBD, but I also love layering a sweater over a dress to make it feel like a skirt. This is the perfect solution for all of you ladies who are not sure how to wear a dress in December without freezing to death!

Finally, don’t put yourself in a box when it comes to layering. Style your ankle boots with long socks to get that layered feel and keep your legs toasty. Layer the hood of your sweatshirt over your beanie for some modern, skater-inspired vibes. The more you layer, the warmer (and snazzier) you will be.

-S