By Serena Najjar ’14, Staff Writer

It’s a crisp autumn day in October and while I am enjoying the last few days of coatless weather, its time to stop and consider that the cold deadness of winter is soon to arrive. Hopefully I will be able to prepare you for the cold season but still keep you chic and in style.

Lets talk about coats. First there is leather, with innumerable styles available: Leather motorcycle jackets, bomber jackets, leather blazers or sport coats. For those of you who prefer not to wear authentic leather, coats can be made from vegan leather or pleather which look and feel very similar to the real thing. Wool is an alternative option to leather, can be used to make various coats and is a common material for outerwear. You can find so many different styles of wool coats. The two most popular styles of wool coats are topcoats and pea coats, which come available for both men and women. Next there is the trench coat. Over time, the trench coat has turned into one of the most fashionable coats. This classic can transform an outfit, making it the perfect protection on a rainy day. Now, for those days where the air is so cold you can get windburn, a parka is a practical choice of outerwear. A Parka is a puffy jacket usually with a fur-lined hood. This casual coat ranges from cropped to knee-length. When it starts to snow, your Parka will be your best friend.

No outfit is complete without accessories, and a scarf and hat are essential. Scarves come in all sorts of materials and in the fall and winter you will want to find the thicker and heavier ones rather than ones made of satin or linen, which are lightweight fabrics for spring and summer. There are three types of cold weather scarves: wool, alpaca, and cashmere. Wool, warm and long lasting, is made from the fleece of sheep and animals alike. You cannot go wrong with a classic and easy wool scarf. Alpaca scarves, made from the fleece of the alpaca, are similar to the wool scarves but are warmer and much, much softer. Lastly, cashmere is a soft and opulent fabric made from the fleece of a goat. It may not be the warmest scarf, but it is definitely chic. When paired with a coat and hat, you should be fine against the brutal weather.

Many types of hats are suitable for winter: the beanie, wool packer, bomber, ski, and for the posh extremists there is the Cossack. The beanie is the most common winter hat. They are warm, lasting, practical, and come in the most varieties of fabrics, colors, and fits. A packer hat is more of a masculine hat than feminine. Packer hats come in various fabrics but in the cold season, the only acceptable packer hat is one made of wool. A variation of the packer hat is the fedora, a more commonly used hat. These hats are fashion forward and at the same time can protect you from rain, sleet, or snow. The bomber hat is a statement piece perfect for blizzards. It is lined with fur — your frostbitten ears will be thankful. Like the beanie, ski hats are a popular and traditional style of hat. For those who would prefer a more high fashion option, the Cossack is a fabulous choice of headgear. It’s made solely of fur and is the best choice when it comes to being warm and elegant.

Dressing warm doesn’t mean downplaying your fashion sense. All of the items listed come in various patterns, colors, and styles. When paired correctly with other clothing items, these cozy accessories can really become you’re own and individual to your own style. Stay warm, stay chic, and soon enough the budding of spring will arrive and you can take off that beanie and unzip that parka.