Winter Lookbook

So this post is something I've wanted to do for what seems like an eternity now. I've always been in awe of the fashion bloggers I follow (both male and female) and the variety that they showcase in their outfit posts. So much so, in fact, that I shied away from clothing-orientated posts simply because I was a bit embarrassed that I only bought my clothes from Topman, ASOS and second hand shops. Recently I've realised, though, that I care more about the personal style I've carved out for myself than the brands and labels that I wear. With that epiphany-esque enlightenment in mind, I thought I'd share a few looks with you that I feel illustrate my style best!

Look 1: Check Mayhem

Coat: Zara / Jumper: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Ralph Lauren (second hand) / Scarf: Winchester Christmas Market stall / Jeans: Topman / Chelsea boots: Dr Martens / Tote: McQueen at the V&A / Phone case: Sighh / Watch: Daniel Wellington

Something you should know is that when I get dressed in the morning, I style my entire outfit around what coat or jacket I'm going to wear. Black jeans tend to follow (97% of the time) and then I fill in the rest of the gaps depending on the accents of colour.

I recently bought this coat in the Zara sale (*swoons over half price savings*) and instantly became obsessed with it. I love the subtle greyscale check and as you can see, it started somewhat of a snowball effect with me piling on two additional checks (three if you count my phone case (I do)). I wouldn't have it any other way, though. The more check, the better.

Look 2: Toddler Man-Child

Jacket: 'Vintage' store find *shudders* (Blue Rinse, Leeds) / Roll neck: Topman / Jeans: Topman (ft. DIY sandpaper rips) / Weekender bag: Fred Perry / Chelsea boots: Dr Martens

This jacket is my everything. I own another one that's very similar to it and I find that they're ridiculously easy to style as the statement piece in a monochrome outfit. That, and the fact that they're so cosy and comically oversized really lends them well to the whole Peter Pan 'I-don't-want-to-grow-up' thing that I have going on.

Look 3: ...Too much tartan?

Coat: ASOS / Turtle neck: ASOS / Trousers: Topman / Brogues: Topman / Bag: ASOS

The eagle-eyed amongst you will recognise most of this outfit from the iconic photos Cat and myself took last year. I'm somewhat of a serial outfit repeater and I can safely say that I've gotten an awful lot of use out of this one. The fact that the tartan in my trousers and bag match PERFECTLY despite being from different places will never cease to satisfy me. In fact, it makes up for the small rip in the left knee that happened when I fell over when walking to campus one day. Smooth. Sassing around Exeter's cathedral green in this outfit was definitely a high point in creating this post.

Photography credit goes to the wonderful Yvette, otherwise known as irony-completed on the YouTubez. As well as shooting this post, we also filmed a lookbook video for her YouTube channel; it's going to be up in the next few days so you should definitely subscribe to her to make sure you don't miss it. Vetty's YouTube | Twitter | Instagram.

Thank you so much for reading this post, it really means a lot to me. I'd love to do more posts like this in the future so hopefully you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together!