Do you live in California?

Well, I don’t. And here in Wisconsin, winter started by dumping 14.5 inches of snow and made itself nice and comfy with daytime temps of zero degrees or lower.

For as freezing as it is for as long as it is, you’d think we’d have this winter business down. People would be crossing the street in snowsuits and ski masks. But that isn’t the case. On a good day, you might spot a reliable pair of boots. Asking the kids to put on a hat is like suggesting they jump in a snowbank face first.

This winter, choose warmth over fashion – or better yet, combine the two. Here are some trends I’ve warmed up to:

Snowboard pants. A much cooler look than the $20 dollar pair of poofy snow-suspenders, these pants are easy to move in and even come in patterns. I’ll warn you: they’re easy on the eye, but not on the budget, so choose wisely. These are a great neutral and also come in a pattern.

Cotton/wool blend socks. I am done with polyester socks. When my feet are freezing, I always know why. Read labels and test the ankle band while you’re at it – too tight and you’ll be cutting off circulation (another sock pet peeve of mine). We don’t need help with that in the winter.

Find and wear an adorable hat. I love my winter hat so much I almost can’t wait for winter to arrive. It’s from a pricey little boutique but worth every penny. (That’s me wearing it above – and here’s where you can find one.)

How do you stay warm in the winter? What are your favorite products and brands?