Picture this: Last night you picked out a stylish outfit that you can’t wait to wear in the morning. You wake up the next morning and pull off your covers just to realize that you can actually see your own breath in your apartment. You look at the skirt and tights you had picked out… and walk right past them to grab the nearest hoodie and leggings from your closet. Sound familiar? Well, same here. Every winter I watch my own style slowly disappear as the temperature starts to drop. I become less motivated to wear something “cute”, and more focused on not getting frostbite. That being said, a warm outfit doesn’t need to mean sweats! Contrary to popular belief, you can have style, warmth and comfort, all at the same time.
1. Focus on material
We’re at the time of year where I start to pass up my usual chiffon or silky blouses for all the knits. While a lot of people opt for a fleece hoodie, I always go for an actual knit, and this season there are a lot of stylish sweaters on the market. My favourite sweaters for this winter are either cashmere or wool, both materials that aren’t as bulky as fleece, but are just as warm. A thick flannel is also a good material to reach for during the colder months.
2. Dress in layers
This may seem obvious, but wearing layers is a simple way to keep warm. If you choose your layers right you can still look polished, rather than looking like you have 3 oversized sweatshirts on. Vests are always in style, and lately I’ve been really enjoying the ones with the faux fur look that are back in style for the winter. If you are going for a more preppy look, you could wear a button up or a flannel under a sweater or cardigan.
3. Accessorize appropriately
My go-to way to polish off any outfit is a warm scarf. Blanket scarves are the way to go – you’ll never catch me going anywhere without mine (it also doubles as a blanket for class). As for shoes, I’ve been opting for my over-the-knee boots a lot lately. These boots can even dress up a jeans and t-shirt combo, but also add an extra layer to keep your legs warm. Cute hats and gloves are also a must!
4. Follow the right trends
I have seen a lot of teddy bear jackets and cardigans trending this year, and I love it. Throw one of these over a black turtleneck, pair it with jeans, and add in some booties, and you have yourself both a stylish and warm outfit. Take it from someone who just bought a teddy cardigan, this is basically doubles as a socially acceptable, as well as trendy way to wear a bathrobe in public.
5. Undergarments that make a difference
If you can’t wear a sweater or leggings, this is always a good option. If I have a presentation or meeting, but the temperature is way below freezing, I’m always prone to putting leggings on underneath my dress pants. You can even wear leggings under jeans if you want to add an extra layer. Tights are also great for this, and you can also wear them with dresses and skirts as well. Lots of winter sports companies make thermal leggings specifically made to wear underneath regular clothing.
6. Your coat is everything
The right coat can be your secret weapon, I know mine is. I could be wearing my Pj’s underneath my J. Crew wool jacket, and people still think I look put together (trust me, I’ve tried). Having a nice jacket can make even plain leggings look like you put in some effort. Coats are something I tend to collect a lot of, but as I’ve justify it to my mom, I rarely take my jacket off. Going to school it Ottawa, means spending a lot of time in winter weather, and uOttawa hasn’t quite seemed to master how to turn their heat on yet. In my opinion, it is so worth it to invest in at least one good coat.
7. In a pinch…
When I am truly cold to the bone, and can’t shake the feeling that I may never get warm again, I have two go-to tactics. The first is coffee, if you have ever seen me on campus it has probably been in the Starbucks line. Having a cup of hot (insert your preferred drink here) can genuinely warm your hands (and soul). The second tip is probably less obvious and even less known – hand warmers. These little packets are a joy, and also how I get over my eternally-cold-hands syndrome. You can find them at Walmart and many other general stores for pretty cheap. I always ask for them on my Christmas list, and they make an amazing, useful, and cheap stocking stuffer.