Tampabay.com
DECEMBER 21, 2009

Baby, it's COLD outside!!

LuckybrandhatBrrr...ish. It's finally feeling like winter, Florida-style.

When a cold snap moves in, the back of my closet comes out. I love nothing more than the chance to style my few cold-weather accessories -- which let's be honest, are about as much protection against the elements as I need in December in the Sunshine State.

Here are three reasons I'm cheering, even though it's Monday!

1. Scarves, scarves, scarves: A fuchsia mohair scarf is one of my favorite wardrobe pieces, and until today, it hadn't seen the light of day in a year. Need a new scarf?  Check out the beauties at Anthropologie (below), or support a local artisan and find a better deal at Etsy.com.)

Anthropologiescarf 2. Boots, baby: Knee high, over-knee, ankle bootie. Go as high or low as you want, but now is prime time to make a high style statement -- like this beauty from Dillard's -- a look that simply won't work when the thermostat is pushing 80 degrees again in a week.

3. Hat action: Truthfully, I'm not that into hats -- never have been, not even when I lived in more Arctic environs. But if hats are your thing, go crazy now. Nothing says girl-next-door hottie better than the knit hat/layered tee combo (and yes, you should keep it on indoors!)

What cold -- err, cool -- weather accessories are you sporting today?

Deal Diva Letitia

(Photo, Lucky Brand hat, $35, Macy's, Silent Snow scarf, $48, Anthropologie.)

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Emily Nipps As a sullen teenager, Emily Nipps refused to wear anything but black, olive green or burgundy, preferably ripped. She has since added color to her life but still experiments with her dark streak. A product junkie, she has tried tons of overpriced face creams and hair products but loves drugstore brands that work the same. She's an Aries and a bassist in a punk band. She has a pet pig, seven chickens, three cats and a rabbit. And just as many lip glosses. She can be reached at (727) 893-8452 or nipps@tampabay.com.

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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