Coat: Levi’s (similar & similar) | Sweater: Free People (similar & similar) | Jeans: Cheap Monday (c/o) | Boots: Nordstrom | Sunglasses: Nordstrom | Necklace: Etsy | Lips: NARS

Winter coats are life, especially here in Chicago. After the temperatures dropped so low school was cancelled this week it really had me thinking about investing in another heavy jacket. This long black coat has been a lifesaver for me since I bought it last year. It’s hard to find a coat that is cute and withstands the wind off the lake!

Last week, I headed down to the Gold Coast to meet Blair for a work date at Starbucks. In case you haven’t tried it yet, do yourself a favor and get the white peppermint hot chocolate! We snuggled up with our laptops upstairs by the fire and worked all afternoon. I wanted to be comfortable and warm and this classic look is my go to for just that. 

An over sized sweater is always the answer during winter and I loved the cable knit detailing on this free people one. I paired it with a skinny jean – I love the high waist on this pair and my classic neutral booties. What do you always turn to? 

Since the bitter cold had me longing for warmth, I found myself online shopping for yet another coat. I was going through my internal checklist while shopping and thought it might be helpful to share!

Make sure it has a hood: Some winter coats like my beloved gold puffer is adorable but not having a hood is horrible when it gets bitterly cold. Even when I’m wearing my beanie it helps so much to have the hood on, adding that extra layer of warmth.

Fleece lined pockets are life: You may not notice the difference until you try it, but trust me it helps. Even when I have my gloves on I can notice such a difference in how warm my hands stay. 

Go for the length: I think anything to your knees or below is great and the longer the better. Anything shorter will make your entire body feel cold!

Expensive doesn’t equal warm: Just because a coat is trendy or seen everywhere doesn’t necessarily mean it’s warm. A lot of affordable brands have great quality coats so if you are on the fence head into the store and give it a try! 

Hope you guys are staying warm and getting excited about heading home for some holiday time this weekend!