I like to think of dressing for winter as a puzzle. Wake up, open the closet, pull out a giant sweater, and then create a look that I find stylish, but also warm and comfortable. It seems so easy, like there’s a perfect formula where you just plug in “blue sweater” and “black flares” and hope for an amazing outcome, but as it turns out, sometimes the perfect formula leaves us with something that feels like it’s lacking a little bit.
I love nothing more than a cozy sweater with a skirt or a pair of stylish (yet comfortable pants), but I like to think about taking that up a few notches, and then I’ll create an outfit that puts a new spin on some of the winter basics laying around in my closet.
Put a new spin on something you love.
Personal style is everything. If you’re anything like me, you keep pieces for a really long time. One of my favorite sweaters is this Bethany Mota for Aeropostale top that I bought in 7th grade, and it still brings me so much joy to wear. The easiest way to create any outfit is to pick one piece that you have and love and then work around that. If you have this amazing sweater you knitted for yourself during quarantine, rock that! Pick items that speak to you (bonus points if they mean something special; it makes for a good story) and then match colors and textures or whatever feels right to you in order to make the outfit you feel amazing in.
Fashion is at its best when you feel at your best, and the best outfits are created with that in mind. With the pieces that you already own and love, you are your own creative director, and if an outfit doesn’t come out the way you envisioned it, it’s okay, now it’s camp!
Layer like you mean it.
I think that layers are truly one of the best parts of dressing for winter. There are so many different combinations just waiting in your closet. That black turtleneck you bought for a Halloween costume? Throw a graphic tee or a colorful sweater over it, keeping you warm while adding some depth to your outfit.
With the weather fluctuating so frequently, picking a jacket or outer layer can be tough. Pair one of the lighter jackets hanging in your closet with a big scarf or a sweatshirt underneath to maintain the style aspect, while still taking an unexpected rainstorm into consideration.
Layering is an easy way to get use out of pieces that you might not necessarily gravitate towards all of the time. It is important to consider your personal impact on overconsumption as well, and using clothes that you already have is a great way to minimize waste and get as much use out of the pieces that you have. Rather than throw out last year’s
I’ll say it forever: STATEMENT. ACCESSORIES.
My personal favorite way to amp up a winter outfit is with bold accessories. Lately, tights have been my best friend, and I love how they just add a bit of dimension to whatever I am wearing. I have a few pairs that I’ve had, and pulling them out during fall and winter is one of my favorite parts of cold weather fashion.
Throw on some bold jewelry, some rings, a necklace maybe, to tie the entire outfit together. Also, it's really fun to pick out bags, jackets, and shoes that tie into certain pieces of your outfit; I love to pick a pair of sneakers that features one of the colors in my shirt.
There is a stigma around wearing outfits more than once (remember when Lizzie McGuire was called an outfit repeater?) but in reality, it is an integral part of dressing sustainably to rewear outfits. Staying “on trend” for winter is not about buying whatever microtrend TikTok is recommending that week, it's being confident and feeling good in what you wear, and putting together new outfits with pieces that you own.
Your wardrobe is literally bursting with new combinations. Think of as many new outfits as you can, maybe using a pair of pants you haven’t touched in months, or a dress you can tuck in and wear as a top. In fact, I personally dare you to come up with something new and wear it tomorrow (you will look awesome).
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