Layering season is here, and winter’s biggest trends are as stylish as they are warm. As we prepare ourselves for snowy city streets and holiday cheer, we must also prepare our wardrobes and embrace a sense of elevated comfort. This season, we see a mix of Nordic coziness, quiet luxury, and playful statement details, which creates a perfect blend of practicality and runway-level styling. In season is your ultimate guide to the pieces taking over sidewalks, runways, and your For-You page this winter. Sit yourself down with a nice cup of hot chocolate and read along as I break down every top, texture, and trend that’s dominating winter 2025 to take you from college student to fashion icon.
Tops
Faux fur jackets and coats
Returning this season is my favorite luxury staple, faux fur. From cropped early 2000s silhouettes with fur collars/cuffs to full faux mink coats for that old Hollywood feel, we see this dominating winter 2025. I love an item that can be dressed up and down depending on the occasion, whether that’s winter street wear or a fancy holiday party. Look for more inspo on TikTok under #winterluxery or on the runways of Michael Kors and Saint Laurent. My personal style suggestion is a cropped fur-trim jacket with denim and heeled boots if you want that Y2K feel, or go full glam with a trench-length mink coat and some long leather gloves (more on these later).
Shop it: Abercrombie, Aritizia, Stand studio
Graphic Knit Sweaters
I am in love with the cozy but playful vibes of this trend. The graphic knits are back with nostalgic logos and my personal favorite mascot, the Ralph Lauren Polo Bear. Not only are we seeing these take over Ralph Lauren’s Holiday campaigns, but the trend is taking over my winter Pinterest boards and TikTok for you page as creators style novelty knits with mini skirts and knee-high boots. If I were you, I would lean into the preppy aesthetic by pairing it with a pleated skirt, dark denim, or layered over a nice collared blouse.
Shop it: Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Zara, Depop
Argyle Sweaters
Speaking of preppy, this classic winter academia print is back, but this time with richer, deeper winter palettes like navy, green, and burgundy. This trend might be hit or miss for a lot of people, but when done right, I believe it looks so chic and polished. It’s the perfect way to add pattern to your winter wardrobe while remaining warm, which is why I suggest pairing it under one of your coats with a tailored pair of bottoms.
Shop it: Aritizia, J.Crew, H&M, Ralph Lauren
Collared Polo Knits
In place of the usual classic button-up, we are seeing the emergence of polo knits, providing that sporty chic element to winter without sacrificing our warmth. I’ve been especially seeing Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber incorporate this into their more casual winter outfits, paired with straight leg jeans and layered under a barn jacket for an English countryside feel.
Shop it: Reformation, Everlane, Abercrombie
Bottoms
Lace layers
Lace is officially being reimagined for winter in the form of slip skirts layered under chunky knits. The emphasis of this trend is definitely on finding high-quality lace and satin that looks intentional rather than fast fashion. Simone Rocha and Dior showcased this look in their FW25 shows, and influencers have gone crazy over this soft, feminine addition to the winter season. Pair a lace slip skirt with a thick cashmere knit, suede boots, and a structured coat, and see for yourself the contrast this brings to your usual cold-weather style.
Shop it: Free People, House of CB, Zara
Shoes
Suede Boots
Suede is this season’s update to the classic leather boot. The soft and textured material is making an appearance in muted browns, taupes, and charcoals, meaning there is something for everyone. I believe these are the perfect addition to the outfit I listed above, or even with some more casual denim jeans. If you choose to invest in this trend, just make sure you research some good ways to care for the material as we get into the rainy season.
Shop it: Sam Edelman, Steve Madden, Frye
Slouchy Boots
These are giving me really strong 70s energy with the relaxed silhouettes and soft leather, which make these boots feel so effortless yet elevated. Both Saint Laurent and Khaite showcased this footwear option in their winter collections, fully embracing the slouchy but sleek look they provide. There are truly so many options, including oversized coats, mini dresses, midi skirts, or even worn over a pair of fleece-lined leggings.
Shop it: Zara, Free People
Alpine/Snow boots
Usually, we wouldn’t reach for these unless we were going outside to ski or have a playful snowball fight, but that is all about to change. From functional to fashionable, snow boots are now an everyday wearable shoe. I feel like this was heavily inspired by the reemergence of UGGs, as it pushed that comfort-forward style into mainstream winter apparel. Look into TikTok’s #apresski trend for more inspo or take my advice and try them with a pair of leggings, puffer coat, or wool skirt for cozy practicality.
Shop it: UGG, Sorel, Moon Boot
Accessories
Belts over Coats
Everyone who has ever tried to dress cute in the winter knows that in order to stay warm, bulky layers are the way to go, but belts over coats are the perfect way to reclaim your cinched silhouette without sacrificing comfort. Belting coats transform bulky winter outerwear into something tailored and actually wearable. It only gets better because it is so simple to execute, just grab a leather belt and wear it over any wool, trench, or faux fur coat to get that hourglass shape you’ve been missing every winter prior to now.
Shop it: Aritzia, Zara, H&M
Baker Boy/Newsboy Caps
As a girl who has struggled to find a hat that looks good, I’m really looking forward to giving this style a shot. This ’60s and ‘70s-inspired trend is giving winter outfits a bookish editorial edge, and I am obsessed. So far, my favorite ways I’ve seen it styled are with a long wool coat and chunky scarf, but I’m convinced that this could go with pretty much anything on this list, so hang up those classic winter beanies and try this out instead for a more elevated look.
Shop it: Brixton, ASOS, Urban Outfitters
Long Leather Gloves
They’re dramatic, they’re elegant, and they’re just a little bit vintage. Of course, I’m talking about leather opera gloves. From Prada to Saint Laurent, this item has been taking over cold-weather styling and the holiday red carpets. Surprisingly, this high-fashion moment is really wearable and will add a romantic touch to those special holiday moments. Dress it down with a classic wool trench, or dress it up with one of those faux fur jackets I mentioned earlier.
Shop it: Nordstrom, Dents
Big Oversized Scarves
Scarves have always been a winter staple, but this year, it’s all about being as oversized, dramatic, and chunky as possible. I would pair it with a long coat (everything at this point pairs with a coat) or with a monochrome outfit for a little extra dimension. You can find so much styling inspo on Pinterest or just by experimenting with different items in your closet.
Shop it: ARKET, Aritizia, H&M
Colors/Prints/Fabrics
Classic Prints
As always, you can never say no to tradition, and these are some patterns that have been resurfacing for generations. Patterns like houndstooth, plaids, and pinstripes are dominating the season thanks to the ongoing preppy influence, but with more of a winter polish. Any one of these patterns would look great paired with some solid closet staples to get a nicely balanced look.
Shop it: J.Crew, Ralph Lauren
Bright colors
This season, people are looking to beat the winter blues by adding some pops of color into their wardrobes. Saturated hues like cherry red, cobalt blue, and sunflower yellow are going to break up the typical winter neutrals and make our outfits more unexpected and bright. Brands like Moschino and Versace experimented with the style in their collections, so take some tips from them and have some fun with it.
Shop it: Zara, H&M, Free People
Animal Prints
We’ve seen animal prints the past couple of seasons, but this winter the prints are taking a more playful, whimsical, and bold take on the trend, as well as being unexpected. Animal prints like deer, cow, and dalmatian (Cruella Deville, anyone?), plus more classic prints like zebra and cheetah, are available in any wardrobe piece you can imagine. To me, this heavily screams Disney movie meets fashion, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this looks like on the street.
Shop it: Revolve. Amazon, ASOS
Big Sequins & Sparkles
It’s the celebration fabric of the season, and even though it’s not an everyday material, I still look forward to seeing it every year. The oversized sequins, crystal embellishments, and heavily encrusted bags return for the holiday season, and they are as sparkly as ever. Check out some New Year’s Eve Pinterest boards if you really want some inspo for the party season, because there’s no better time to shine like a disco ball than New Year’s Eve.
Shop it: H&M, Zara, Anthropologie
Aesthetics
Ralph Lauren Christmas
This is my favorite thing in the entire world. The rustic luxury meets holiday nostalgia aesthetic means cozy fireside knits, snow lodge plaids, heritage prints, suede boots, and classic Americana styling. This is more than just fashion; it’s a lifestyle and one I am dying to live. Check out the Ralph Lauren 2025 holiday campaign for more inspiration, or the collection Ralph Lauren created for Team USA of the Winter Olympics. Overall, Ralph Lauren just captures everything that winter 2025 is about, and a lot of what I’ve already mentioned in this article falls under this aesthetic. The styling is classic and chic through and through, and nothing screams the holiday season more than Ralph Lauren.
Includes:
- Cable knit sweaters
- Shearling
- Suede boots
- Bright pops of red
- Heritage prints
- Leather gloves
- Newsboy caps
- Winter layering