It’s cold just about everywhere in the country right now. If you’re not cold you live in one of the few cities that hasn’t been hit by the Polar Vortex, also known as January 2014, you are a human heat pump or are going through menopause. Seriously, is there any good reason it needs to be as cold as it has been? Here in New York City we have already exceeded our average snowfall and we’re not even out of the first month of the new year.
Getting dressed when it is freezing cold comes with its share of challenges. First, you’re just cold…all the time, until, of course, you go into some store, office or home where the heat is pumping so high that, as the dry air is shriveling your skin to bits, you assume someone is trying to defrost half a side of beef in thirty minutes or less. Then you’re just overheated and sweaty, which is a lovely combination for when you head back outdoors. To make matters worse, layering up is a nightmare. It’s actually exhausting to get dressed and head out into what has become a bleak, gray and icy landscape. When it is this cold fashion sort of takes a backseat and we rely heavily on things that not only keep us warm but offer us comfort. Yet between our low levels of Vitamin D, the gray weather and repeating the same stalwart comfy sweater over and over again, it’s easy to get cranky, to feel uninspired and blah. For today’s One Item, Five Fashionable Ways I decided to do something about this and offer my tips on how to look stylish in your favorite winter sweater. After all, we’re not even close to being done with this cold weather and if we don’t figure out how to be warm and stylish soon, and get 5000 IU of D3 in us STAT, we’re all goners.
Layer
Maybe it is because I am finally 40 but I can’t deal with wool sweaters or overly warm clothing. Instead I’d rather dress in layers. This is not to say I am not dressing warm enough, I just don’t want to overheat. I love my sweaters but rare it is that they are 100% wool. To stay warm and dry look for fabrics that are designed to insulate your body while wicking perspiration. A company like Uniqlo has been on the cutting edge of creating affordable warming fabrics that are thin and not bulky.
Invest in cold weather clothing
Doing fashion on the cheap can be fun unless you want the pieces you are buying to play a functional role. I have found that I am willing to invest more in clothing and accessories that are designed to keep me warm and dry. For example, I recently invested in a pair of Sorel boots which has been the greatest purchase I made this entire year. More than likely you will want items like snowboots, winter coats, hats and gloves to last for multiple seasons, so it is important that you take the plunge and buy the best you can afford. My Sorel boots may have set me back $150 but I probably won’t buy another pair for at least a decade.
UGGs are not for snow
When I see people walking around in the snow in the classic UGG boots I want to run up to them and tell them that those boots are doing absolutely nothing to protect them from the snow or inclement weather. First of all, classic UGG boots are technically house slippers, not shoes. Americans have decided to make the classic UGG boot style an outdoor shoe, but it isn’t. Secondly, even if you spray these boots with protector spray they will not be waterproof. Third, these shoes have absolutely no traction whatsoever. It’s not safe to walk around in snowy conditions wearing UGGs. For dry frigid temperatures they’re fine, but not for snow.
Warm your legs
I have a tried and true full length down coat that hasn’t failed me in over a decade. Yet, this year it has been so cold that even a full length down coat hasn’t kept me warm enough. I actually considered leg warmers. Do you know how cold it has to be for me to consider these? It’s easy to forget out our legs when we want to dress warm. A 3/4 coat or short jacket doesn’t offer nearly enough coverage to warm your legs. If you live in a cold weather part of the country and need to walk a lot, like I do, getting a coat that will cover your legs can make a huge difference. If need by look into a pair of long johns or fleece tights that you can wear under your pants.
How to Look Stylish in Your Favorite Winter Sweater
Now let’s talk about how to make that cold weather sweater stylish. Here are five looks using one sweater, additional tips on how to keep yourself warm and some cold weather brands I highly recommend.
Look #1
You can easily dress up and keep it cozy by adding slightly elevated components to your look. Here, I paired this sweater with a pair of black leggings. These leggings from Uniqlo are great because they are ponte which is a very beefy and warm fabric. Next, dressy all weather boots. Okay, if you have an unlimited budget check out Aquatalia. I’m not going to lie, these boots are expensive, but they are waterproof and insulated. Keep your eyes on Aquatalia. You may be able to find sale or a way to get them at an affordable price.
Instead of a hat I chose to style this outfit with a faux fur headband, like this one from San Diego Hat Company– a great solution for nights out when you want to keep warm and avoid hat head at the same time. Lastly, for those moments that you need to check your smartphone but want to keep your fingers from freezing off, check out tech gloves that let you do it, like these from UGG. To further bring in the teal, which works beautifully with burgundy and adds some pop to the outfit, these earrings by Blu Bijoux elegantly finishes the look.
Look #3
Tired of jeans but are looking for a new way to do casual. Grey and burgundy is a no-brainer combination and these leopard printed jeans from Mango act like a solid but are a bit more interesting. For warmth (but, remember, not inclement weather) a pair of gray UGGs are great for frigid temperatures. Plus, they add much needed comfort when we’re miserable, regardless of how ugly they are. I don’t know about you, but something about slipping my bare feet into my UGGs when it’s freezing feels like the equivalent of sipping on a hot bowl of soup. Next, in freezing weather, making a fashion statement often goes out the window. Yet it doesn’t have to. This fur flap hat, like this one by Jaxon Hats, adds function and style to an outfit. Faux fur has come such a long way that it often adds just as much warmth as the real thing. Plus it’s much more humane.
Don’t stop there. This outfit is popped with sunny yellow using a pair of gloves by Fratelli Orisini that would be so lovely with whatever color your coat is. Imagine a blue coat with yellow gloves, if you will. And even if you remove the gloves, the outfit still has a third splash of color with a pair of yellow earrings by Kate Spade.
Look #4
Another popular boot brand for inclement winter weather is La Canadienne. The brown boots are stylish enough to not look like they’re for snow and cold but offer you protection from the elements at the same time. With an olive pair of pants, like these from J. Crew, you get yet another color to wear with this sweater. For a surprise of color, unexpected orange is added to the palette with a necklace from Blu Bijoux, an orange and brown hat by Topshop and brown gloves by Echo.
Look #5
For pants with heft, corduroy is a great choice. Add some color by pairing this burgundy sweater with these teal corduroys from Patagonia. Color isn’t just for summer. This casual outfit is finished using the same pair of UGGs, teal hat and orchid gloves from the previous looks and, if you need some additional warmth, a gray infinity scarf can be added, like this one from Nordstrom. Because there is so much color in this outfit, simple gray earrings from David Aubrey finish the look.
I know you’re tired and sick of the cold, but these little extra steps can make a huge difference in how you feel. You can be stylish and comfy cozy and these tips on how to look stylish in your favorite winter sweater will definitely help.
