H&M dress, Asos checkered shirt, Elizabeth and James sunglasses, Whistles loafers

Mixing patterns is a new challenge of mine. This trend is easy to get right, very easy to get wrong.

I suggest to look out for a mutual colour that will collaborate the pieces, as well as adding a bit of monochrome (so black, white or both) to provide bait of consistency with what you would normally wear. As a beginner, you don't want to project something that is too 'out there crazy', at the end of the day you still want to project your own identity through the clothes.

T by Alexander Wang top, Sportsgirl leggings & flats, Clare Vivier Clutch, Kookai scarf

Got to love snuggly day-wear such as this thick scarf from Kookai on a cold Melbourne day, a piece which never disappoints as it is not only great at keeping me warm but also compliments many other staples in my wardrobe. 

It may seem surprising but I find that warm / cold wardrobe colour palettes impact the way you feel and therefore in winter I often choose to wear more vibrant lively colours as oppose to the blues and greens.

Overall this is a good way to up-do a casual outfit - replace your jersey leggings with leather or leather like material, put away the monotone flats and get some pattern / vivid coloured ones and add on a staple scarf and clutch whose colour can match various other colours in your wardrobe (my suggestion: either earthy or your blacks/whites/greys).