Urban Cool

how to wear a parka over 40

OK, I know, this is the third post featuring this camo parka this autumn…

I have practically lived in this parka for the past month. It has kept me warm and dry in this unpredictable, windy and rainy weather. So, I decided to to feature it again, this time in a more urban setting. Because a parka is not just for countryside outings. It can do urban cool, too.

The trick is not trying to hide or soften the utilitarian look of the piece by styling it with heels or a contrasting feminine, frilly dress. Besides, I never wear heels. Or anything frilly. That’s because I have a serious case of  frill allergy.

OK, fine, I know there’s no such thing as a frill allergy. It’s more a case of frills-related PTSD (= flashbacks of my childhood spent in frilly dresses) that makes me dislike anything too ‘girly’. But I’m digressing here…

I decided to stay true to my slightly edgy style and added just a little bit of a punk rock vibe to give the outfit a cool, urban look.

urban casual over 40

Urban Camo 1300 x 1000

The Punk Rock vibe is supplied by the sequinned skull on my old cashmere sweater, of course. Yep, I think we’re fast approaching the ‘cashmere season’ (that sounds so much nicer than winter, don’t you think?)

Talking of winter cashmere season, I think it’s time to get the cashmere out and ready. Which should be easy, given that I never quite managed to put all of my cashmere clothes away for summer… Too many things to do, or maybe I just ran out of energy half-way through the process. That’s another way of saying I was being lazy…

I know, I know… That’s not what you’d expect from a style blogger. Any style blogger worthy of the name would be hell-bent on primping and maintaining their cashmere meticulously. But guess what, life happens, something else comes up, and then you’re just too busy. And then all of a sudden it’s July, and you’re in the middle of a heatwave. And I think we can all agree that sorting out your cashmere clothing is the last thing you want to do then. So, you just close that closet door and pretend you don’t see the pile of sweaters still waiting to be put away…

Urban Camo 1300 x 1000

Outfit details:

parka: Makia /cashmere top: Zadig & Voltaire (old) / cords: Marks and Spencer (old) /

bag: Chanel / shoes: Nero Giardini / scarf: Shanghai Tang

 

What do you wear when the weather turns colder?

 

Tiina

PS: remember my Nordgreen watch review? I have a special Black Friday discount code for you: TIINA35 will get you 35% off till 27 November.

Linking up with:

Not Dead Yet StyleElegantly Dressed and StylishHigh Latitude StyleStyle ElixirA Labour of LifeCurly Crafty MomFashion Should Be FunColor and GraceThe Wardrobe StylistNot Dressed As LambStyle NudgeLiving on Cloud NineA Well Styled LifeElegance and MommyhoodPosh Classy MomNancy’s Fashion StyleShelbee on the EdgeA Pocketful of Polka Dots Style SplashThe Fashionista MommaTina’s Pink FridayFake FabulousMummabstylish 

18 Comments

  1. 22 November 2018 / 11:24 am

    I’m loving your parka and your style wearing it. And also love your skull cashmere top, it’s a fab piece to add that punk-rock vibe! . Great accessorizing too, as usual!
    I never wear heels, but I’m learning to embrace some frilliness and even pink color which was like anathema to me for ages!.
    besos

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 November 2018 / 6:48 pm

      Thank you!
      Oh, I love pink, too! Especially hot pink. It’s a (relatively) new colour for me, too, as I’ve only ben wearing it for the past 5 years or so. I never liked pink as a child (I preferred red), but now I think it’s a very flattering colour. Maybe I should give frills a chance, too…

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 November 2018 / 6:48 pm

      Nothing beats cashmere. Especially when it’s cold. Thanks, Maria.

  2. Arlene
    22 November 2018 / 3:36 pm

    It’s Thanksgiving day here and it’s freezing!! Wish I had your camo parka! I love it. I do have a nice warm down coat that I will be wearing later and it’s the coat I always choose whenever we are having these horrible freezing cold days. I am like you – don’t wear heels and don’t like “frilly” . Love your cashmere sweater. Also, can you tell me something about not putting away your cashmere sweaters? Do you ever have a problem with moths leaving tiny holes in them? I actually stored my winter sweaters in a tightly covered box with cedar chips and when I took a couple of them out to wear, they had tiny holes in them. How could a moth get into a box that’s plastic and has a lid and also filled with cedar chips? Just curious. I was so mad that the sweaters were ruined. Cheers from Arlene (US) NJ

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 November 2018 / 7:04 pm

      Oh no, moths! That’s awful, so sorry to hear that.
      I’ve been very lucky so far (touch wood… cedar preferably…), I haven’t had any moth problems. I only managed to put half of my cashmere away before summer, in plastic boxes, with plenty of cedar chips all over them, just like you. I always wash my cashmere clothes before I put them away, and when I fold them I also add cedar chips between the folds. And I sometimes put them in special moth-resistant plastic bags, although they leave a rather unpleasant smell on the clothes. But I always run out of time (or energy / motivation) halfway through the process, so some of my cashmere sweaters were in my wardrobe all summer… And yes, we do have moths here in summer (late summer, when it gets dark again), and I’m a bit paranoid about that and insist on closing the balcony door and all the windows in the evening (not very practical when there’s a heatwave, though). I have scattered cedar chips all over my wardrobe, too.

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 November 2018 / 7:05 pm

      There’s a cat in the window?!? I didn’t even notice!

  3. 23 November 2018 / 4:34 pm

    I adore this outfit, Tiina! I couldn’t be happier with a camo jacket, skull cashmere sweater and scarf. No need for cashmere where I live, but I enjoy it on you.

    • Tiina
      Author
      23 November 2018 / 7:09 pm

      Thanks, Kim! I will be living in my cashmere sweaters for the next 6 months, so there’s plenty more to come…

  4. 26 November 2018 / 3:15 am

    Such a cute knit, it’s so fun with the parka as well. I don’t always pack everything away in my wardrobe with the change of season either, although I did go through the other week and box away my winter pieces!

    Hope that you have had a wonderful weekend! We went on our annual girls pre-Christmas shopping trip yesterday, finished buying all our Christmas gifts and had some fun together 🙂

    Away From The Blue Blog

    • Tiina
      Author
      28 November 2018 / 12:03 pm

      Thank you! The cashmere top is several years old, but it’s still one of my favourites.
      Oh, that shopping trip sounds fun! It’s always good to see your friends, right?

    • Tiina
      Author
      28 November 2018 / 12:04 pm

      Thanks, Bernie! It’s a (relatively) new one, I got it this autumn as I’d been thinking of getting a parka for ages. it’s just so practical.

    • Tiina
      Author
      28 November 2018 / 12:05 pm

      Thanks, Ruth! Edgy and sparkly, that sounds good.

  5. Jess
    4 December 2018 / 12:08 am

    Ok you had me laughing at “Frill PTSD! ” or an allergy to frills? I do love the camo print and this dark green shade looks great with the purple. I paired camo with pink the other week and like how it turned out.
    happy Holidays!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

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