During the frosty months towards the end and beginning of the year, you may be more concerned with keeping warm and dry than committing a possible fashion faux pas with a multitude of shapeless, bulky layers. But thanks to the diversity of stylish winter garments available, any woman can strike the right balance between snug and fashionable that goes beyond donning parkas and knits with pom-poms.
Your Perfect Pair of Jeans.
If you haven’t found your favorite pair of denim threads yet, then now is the perfect time to be on the hunt. Jeans may be in style year-round, but its usage as a warmth-inducing layer as well as a chic staple makes it all that much more essential to your winter wardrobe.
Even better, with so many variations in fits, cuts, colors, washes and brands it’s easy to find the pair that seems tailor-made for your body type – all you need is the time, patience and willingness to sift through a few pairs in the dressing room.
If you’re not sure where to start in your denim quest, the most ubiquitously flattering types are those with a medium rise and medium width, with either a straight or slightly flared boot cut leg. Another style that offers women of all shapes and sizes a sleek silhouette is the recently popular skinny jean (just make sure it doesn’t fit too tightly at the waist), as its snug yet stretchy material not only boosts your assets, but also provides the coziness of a veritable second skin.
Tights and Leggings.
These limb-warming necessities are crucial for layering and transforming your dresses and skirts into winterappropriate fashion statements. While you can never go wrong with dark, muted colors such as black, brown and grey, don’t be afraid to experiment with different textures such as lace, fishnets, and other decorative varieties when implementing tights into your outfit. To keep your look sophisticated however, patterned and brightly hued tights should be the focal point of your outfit and not clash with any other statement pieces (such as a lively jacket, shoes or bag), so just remember to keep the rest of your apparel polished and simple. Tights and leggings look best tucked into booties and boots, or worn with flats and low heels. And remember, ladies – leggings and tights should never be worn as pants, at least not with tops that don’t fully cover your derrieres! Also, tights can be useful for providing extra heat without the bulge, and can be covertly worn under your pants for those extra cold winter days.
Statement Outerwear.
If you’ve been wrapping yourself in that dependable, black or charcoal-colored coat for more than a few years now, then this is the season to venture out of your pragmatic comfort zone and experiment with statement outerwear. With such a stunning variety of coat, jacket, blazer and cape styles available, colder weather is just an excuse to channel your inner celebrity. Military-inspired trends, belted trenches and the classic pea coat are among a few of the diverse options available. Bright colors – such as cobalt blue and fire engine red offer opportunities to highlight your figure against the backdrop of the cooler, fainter hues of winter, as do zoological prints such as cheetah, leopard and python. If you’re a bit reluctant about sporting such a bold look but still want to have a bit of fun with your outerwear, then look for these prints and colors in the detailing, such as the cuffs, collars, buttons or hems. Also, be on the lookout for faux fur embellishments to add an effortless elegance and luxuriousness to your appearance.
Knee-high Boots.
Boots are every woman’s best friend, and don’t worry knee-high boots may be the standard, but an inch or so above or below the kneecap are fashion-friendly as well. To keep this footwear as versatile as possible, it’s best to stick with neutral colors such as black, gray, mahogany and tan – you can always experiment with variations in buckles, straps, buttons and other adornments if you want extra flair in your step. Boots should always fit very snugly around your calves at least so there not a unflattering, wide gap around them where cold air can wander in. And if snow and ice and are regular visitors in your region, wearing flat-heeled, equestrian style riding boots or wedges can give to the comfort and stability you need to brace the elements. For a long-legged and streamlined appearance, you can tuck your slim cut bottoms into your boots or even drape wide-leg trousers over them paired with a bodyskimming top for added sophistication. Tunics, wraps, a-lines, empire-styles are best types of dresses to wear with boots, as long as there is a few inches of visible leg between the top of your boot and your hemline (covered in tights or stockings, of course!).
Chunky Knits.
No garment is more indicative of winter charm then body-enveloping, chunky knits. To wear these cozy pieces without looking puffy or bulky however, it’s important to make sure the rest of your clothing is closefitting, long and lean. Donning a lengthy knit sweater or sweater dress with either skinny jeans or over tights and boots are is an ideal match. To further emphasize your shape, create a focal point by cinching either a skinny or chunky belt around your waist.
By: Sara Ferrer