During this time of the year, amidst final exams, the brink of winter and the longest, coldest days of the year, many Fashionistas tend to either hibernate until the worst is over, or stick to basic blacks and neutral tones to get them to and from their destination. And while I find it essential to have a black or navy blue wool coat in your closet at all times, I always find it fun to splash your mid-winter wardrobe with some color!

Take a cue from this Fashionista. Her simple jeans-and-sneakers ensemble is an easy go-to during the last few weeks of classes, when all you care about is finishing that paper and listening to Christmas tunes on Spotify while you make up a Christmas list (and, yes, I already made mine weeks ago). However, she separates herself from the crowd by throwing on a cozy bright purple belted coat. Just because the weather is telling you to bundle up and lie low doesn’t mean you have to shy away from vibrant colors. In fact, many designers chose a brighter palette when designing for their fall 2011 collections. The Row showcased glorious works of fur, but also shook things up with its mustard colored blazers and coat dresses. Victoria Beckham also played with the most vibrant colors by including a lemon yellow gown and candy-apple red coat, channeling a bit of Jackie Kennedy. 

Amongst a crowd of black yoga pants and CU sweatshirts, this Fashionista channeled the runway and fended off the winter blues in her candy colored coat. Zara and J.Crew both offer an extensive collection of vibrant coats this winter, so don’t be afraid to add some sunshine to those gloomy study days!