Looking chic while remaining cosy is an art, but there are a few items that will make it considerably easier on those cold winter mornings.

Key items for winter dressing

1) Natural fabrics

Our love affair with wool continues. As Alex demonstrates, natural fabrics look beautifully minimalist when layered together. The added benefit is that these fabrics don't need to be thick and bulky as a thin layer does much the same job as a thick one (those alpacas know what's up).

2) Thermal layers

If 100% wool products are a little out of your price range, then a good thermal layer works wonders. These under-layers sit right against your skin and are the first wall of protection from the cold. They are also skin tight, and will therefore be invisible under your clothes.

3) Colour palette

A trick to layering up without appearing bulky is to keep the colour pallette of your outfit within one spectrum. Concentrate on textures rather than colours, or like Elena, pick one key colourful item and build the rest of your outfit around it.

4) Hats

An obvious one, we lose heat through the top of our head, and with the range of hats in shops there is no excuse. Choose a natural fabric like wool to avoid hat hair.

5) Proportions

Legs don't get as cold the top half of the body, so to even out your proportions, keep your trousers skinny. If wearing skirts I sometimes wear two pairs of tights for an extra bit of warmth that no one will know about.