5 Things to Know About Dressing for Cold Weather

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You must have noticed it.

For the past few days, the thermometer has been showing temperatures close to 0. In the middle of January, nothing is more normal than to put on your favorite down jacket or a pair of gloves to face the winter cold. But when it comes to style and negative temperatures, we immediately feel less comfortable. 

Because the common belief is this: in winter, it is difficult to be stylish while being properly covered. 

In this article, I will prove the opposite by sharing with you 5 tips on how to dress for cold weather. Forget about 90s style winter sports looks for the office at -2 degrees; you will see that with a little common sense, seasonal pieces, and a few style principles, you can be trendy even when the climate is freezing!

1/ Wear seasonal pieces to face the cold in winter 

This advice may seem obvious, but it is still good to remind. In winter, to protect yourself from the cold and even the biting wind, you cover up with clothing suited to the season. 

Because it is not uncommon to see girls in heels and skirts on January 15 under the pretext of not neglecting their style. However, you can be elegant and appear well-dressed without compromising on essential criteria for the season: comfort and warmth.

To do this, we adopt clothes that are suitable for the climatic conditions. Here’s a small selection:  

• Coats: winter coats in wool, goose down, synthetic fur, leather, suede, knitwear, etc. Puffer jackets, long belted coats, faux furs, etc.
• Jumpers and vests: wool, cashmere, knit, fleece jumpers; wool or goose down vests; and turtleneck jumpers, another star of the season.
• Pants: wool, cotton canvas, velvet, leather, suede, flannel pants, etc.
• Shirts and blouses: flannel, wool, cotton, silk shirts; lace or satin blouses.
• Accessories: scarves, gloves, beanies, mittens, wool socks, etc.
• Underwear: wool, cotton, silk underwear; thermal underwear.

You will notice here that what is important in choosing clothing is its material. To protect yourself from the cold, focus on materials known to be protective and insulating. Cashmere, wool, viscose, velvet, or silk are good choices. They will keep you warm while preventing you from sweating.

2/ Dare to layer up to dress for cold weather

Having become trendy a few seasons ago, layering is ideal for combining style and comfort in winter. But before I present the advantages of this practice, let me remind you of its principle. 

Layering is a fashion technique that involves stacking clothing to create an outfit. It is often used to add warmth in winter or to create more elaborate looks. Layering generally consists of multiple layers of clothing, ranging from the layer closest to the body to the outermost layer. Each layer has a specific purpose, such as protecting from the cold, adding warmth, or bringing a touch of style to the outfit. 

It is an effective technique for creating multiple outfits with few clothes and adapting to temperature changes.

And for a few years now, it’s a practice that we see more and more in the streets, as well as on the runways. Here are its main advantages:  

• It allows for creating more elaborate looks: by layering clothes of different textures, colors, and cuts, you can create more interesting and original outfits.
• It is practical for adapting to temperature changes: layering allows you to protect yourself from the cold or cool off easily by removing or adding layers as needed.
• It maximizes existing clothing: by layering garments, you can give a second life to pieces that are no longer worn alone and create new combinations with your existing clothing.
• It allows you to be fashionable while being practical: layering is both a fashion trend and a practical technique for adapting to temperature variations.

3/ Be stylish in winter: choose fashion accessories that will elevate your look

We mentioned it in a previous article, accessorizing an outfit is the best way to add dimension and life to an outfit. 

Accessories are relatively easy to wear compared to clothing that can sometimes be harder to understand. They offer endless style combinations. And it’s a clever, even economical way in some cases to bring personality to an outfit. While clothes form the base, accessories are the detail that makes the difference.

And in the context of a winter outfit, they can truly bring that little sparkle that takes your outfit to the next level. 

So, here are a few examples of fashion accessories to wear to dressing for cold weather while staying stylish. 

• Scarves: this is the winter essential. To be ultra trendy, opt for an oversized model that you wear effortlessly over your shoulder. But don’t stop at trends, as there are other ways to wear a scarf beautifully. Otherwise, wool, cashmere, or even silk scarves are excellent options for staying warm while maintaining a certain elegance.
• Gloves: choose them in leather, suede, or wool. 
• Beanies: wool, cashmere, or faux fur beanies are a must-have fashion accessory to protect your ears and head from the cold. But you can also indulge in rising trends like the newsboy cap, beret, or even the balaclava!
• Socks: we sometimes tend to forget them, yet socks are essential when it comes to adding style to a winter outfit. Wear them with heels, in wool or cashmere, in sportswear style, colorful, printed… In short, there are socks for every taste.

4/ Wear knee-high or over-the-knee boots to protect from the cold

When it comes to shoes, while moon boots are making a comeback in fashion, there is another pair of shoes that also deserves to be pointed out. They are over-the-knee boots. Much more elegant and sophisticated than après-ski shoes, over-the-knee boots or knee-high boots are your allies for facing the winter cold while being well-dressed.

They are an excellent choice for winter. Here are several reasons:  

• They protect the legs from the cold: over-the-knee boots completely cover the legs, protecting the calves and knees from the cold.
• They are often made with warm materials: over-the-knee boots are often made with warm materials such as leather, synthetic fur, or wool, which add even more warmth to the legs.
• They are versatile: over-the-knee boots can be worn with various types of clothing, such as skirts, dresses, pants, leggings, etc. They allow for creating varied outfits suitable for different temperatures.
• They are trendy: over-the-knee boots have been a fashion staple for a few seasons and continue to be trendy in winter.

Moreover, over-the-knee boots come in different styles. You can find them with high heels, but also with flat or pointed heels. Patent, leather, suede, or synthetic. Monochrome or patterned. This allows you to create outfits that are both sophisticated or more casual. 

5/ Choose vibrant and bright colors to counter the gloom of winter

If there is one piece of advice we can give you to bring style to your winter outfit, it’s to bet on color. Often, during the cold months of the year, we tend to put our wardrobe into hibernation mode. Brightness and vibrant shades give way to cold and neutral colors like beige, gray, black, or brown. 

Yet no rule prohibits wearing colors in winter. On the contrary, it is a rather clever trick to brighten up your outfit and bring warmth to your wardrobe. 

Here are the other advantages you will find in wearing color in winter: 

• It allows you to stand out: bright and vibrant colors can help you stand out from the dark and dull colors usually associated with winter.

• You feel good wearing color: bright colors can help improve mood and make you feel more energetic, especially when the days are short and gray.

• You will bring originality to your outfits: vibrant colors can help create original outfits and step outside the usual patterns. You can also pair them with more neutral colors for a subtler look.

• It brings visual warmth: bright colors can provide visual warmth and help create cozy outfits that give the impression of feeling warm even in cold weather.

• It’s a way to have fun with your wardrobe: wearing vibrant colors in winter allows you to have fun with your wardrobe and change your usual outfits.

By applying these 5 tips, you should now know how to dressing for cold weather without neglecting your style or your legendary elegance. And I hope to have convinced you that comfort can rhyme with trendy and fashionable looks. Because wearing a down jacket and a pair of gloves has never stopped anyone from feeling beautiful!

Featured Image: © Sandra Semburg