The worst thing about winter is trying to find cute pieces that are also warm. Having grown up in Wisconsin and living in Michigan the past 7 years, places that regularly get sub-zero temps, it’s safe to say I’ve got years of the struggle underneath my belt. By now I’ve learned that as the temps start to cool I should take inventory of my wardrobe to make sure I have all my bases covered for stylish yet warm pieces to survive the winter. Usually I snag a good coat, a great pair of shoes and of course textured tops like this teddy sweatshirt. Adding texture is one of my favorite ways to give an otherwise simple look some interest. Even when you’re rocking shades of brown and beige, texture really makes a statement. Truthfully I was on the fence at first about this particular sweatshirt. It comes with a drawstring to turn it into a crop style but it’s a much wider cut so there’s a lot of extra material that billows over which can be unflattering if done wrong. I was also disappointed that the inside wasn’t the same material that’s on the outside. What convinced me to keep it was the quality for the price and its versatility. The fabric isn’t itchy or too thick to make it unbearably hot and it doesn’t shed. It’s so comfortable that I’ve been wearing it with just about everything in my closet. Layered over a crisp white button up dress with cute knee high boots to grab a drink from Dessert Oasis during the warm fall evenings. Hastily thrown on over my brown sweatpants with some sneakers lookin like a lost teddy bear as I walk Ana through the colorful trees in the park, kicking up the yellow leaves as she chases after a squirrel. Or over another long sleeve tucked into some chic high waist pants that show off my figure as I run to the office to test some samples from my sustainability projects. To me that’s really what makes a great purchase worth it is when it’s comfortable, functional, stylish and you just can’t seem to wear it enough!

Keep scrolling to shop this look and my teddy sweatshirt picks.