What I Wore- Summer Dress in Winter

I know this is not true for everyone, but I love warm weather all year long. In Southern California we get a week of rain here and there or some very blustery wind. We always have 70-80 degree days thrown in sporadically throughout the winter and I am really ok with it. I know others of you may miss extreme weather but not this girl! I lived in Northern Indiana for 5 years so I think I can speak from the heart when I say I am ok with only the sporadic colorful trees in the fall, Christmas lights on Palm trees, swim days in February, and ridiculously hot days when it should be cozy and warm. Downside? (or upside however you look at it) I don't have a cold weather wardrobe. I have a hard time justifying the money for a nice coat or a trendy winter item.
Hear is how I solve this problem....I make my warm weather clothes work for cold weather. Here is one example of how I do this.

Pretty self explanatory, yes? Summer dress + tights + cardigan + scarf + boots= appropriate for winter. All I would need is an incredibly warm coat for when I am outside (if I lived in Indiana still) and this would totally work even in the bitter cold. 

Please excuse my ridiculous poses, I was at a 5 year old birthday party and I was feeling a little bit silly.

Dress and Scarf: Anthropologie, Cardigan: Macys, Tights: No idea, Boots: Steve Madden, Headband: H&M

So do you have any secrets for making your clothes work all year long? Do you love winter? Our differences are what make the world go 'round so share your thoughts! xoxo- Christie