This Week Fashion Forward goes to Cate Nelson (art and design columnist and fashionista) for some insight into winter fashions in Los Angeles. An East Coast native, Cate sheds some true light on the season’s possibilities with her veteran experience. Enjoy this weeks column by Cate Nelson.

In a city where the temperature rarely dips below 40 degrees…is there room for real winter fashion in Los Angeles? As a New Yorker I found when I moved to Los Angeles that the winters were so mild I nearly got rid of all my winter wardrobe. Wool sweaters, cashmere gloves, hats with ear flaps…Los Angeles just didn’t seem to warrant such protective gear. However, as the Grove whips out its yearly holiday setup…so come the down jackets, hats, scarves and everything one would expect from somewhere that had a real winter. I wonder…do Los Angelinos seek a distinct fashion when it comes to winter clothing?

As I walk around a city where the temperature changes from 75 to 45 in a day…I watch the fashion trend change from the daylight hours to night. People are still adorned with shades, vintage t-shirts and strappy heels during the day and at night is when they turn into true snow-bunnies. But what distinguishes a Los Angeles winter from a Manhattan one…are the accessories. New Yorkers tend to dawn the latest in long wool jackets and black is always the color of the season. Here, it’s the accessories that really give winter attire a true LA feel. Sure, hang that designer wool coat in the backseat but offer up a light cardigan or a colorful handmade scarf to the mix for some fashionable temperature control.

It’s all about accessorizing your not-so-snowy attire to suit the mild winters of Los Angeles. Instead of frost-resistent thermal gloves try a hip pair of fingerless gems instead. A morino wool scarf can be substituted for a blend or a silk. And because everyone needs a long mohair coat try wearing it with a lighter dress underneath. Layers are a must to survive the winters here because as soon as a couple drinks are warming your belly that cashmere sweater will start to feel like an inferno. An open cardigan though, or an off the shoulder cowel-neck will do the trick…keeping you warm enough and still fashionably “winter”.

When shopping for your winter wardrobe, it’s important to keep this layering effect in mind. A few staples of an LA Winter include those cute stripy calf leggings, a light scarf, a long sleeve dress that’s still breathable, an embroidered jacket with a furry collar, and what about the muff ?…there are endless options. Smaller details can also make a big difference. Darker shades of makeup and bigger, chunkier jewelry help to set a seasonal tone. Los Angeles has the potential for a distinct winter style if people remain open minded to color accents and accessorizing their simpler garb with decidedly “winter” relics.

There are some pieces of practical advice I would give to anyone looking to make this cold-weather season even cooler. I carry a garment bag in the backseat to hold my winter wool coat. That way when I arrive at the party I’ll have something to hang on the coat-rack as well as a timeless fashion to show that I am truly a “snow bunny” even if the snow here consists of the whipped cream atop your peppermint latte. And as you mix holiday drinks round the proverbial “fire” make sure you are toting a larger bag this season to hold those fashionable winter accessories. Storing winter attire here can be a challenge because really, it’s always moth season. So remember to keep things in plastic if possible or throw a couple moth balls in the mix. A not-so-stinky version of the moth ball…fresh lavender, protective and fragrant.

So my fellow Angelinos let’s ring in the new season and the new year the right way…with true Los Angeles style. Because although the temperature may be 40 degrees warmer than the East Coast winters I’m used to…I’ve found that Los Angeles is really where it’s at for versatile cold weather attire. We’ll show those cold climates some real winter fashion because after all….Los Angeles is Fashion Forward. Cheers!