As I discussed in my last post, living in Canada has really put a wrench in my plans for many a cute outfit. The fact of the matter is for a good roughly five months of the year, a fairly heavy coat is required to stay warm. Too many times have I thrown a clunky winter coat and a pair of random team Canada Olympic mittens (why did we all have these?) over what would otherwise be a fashionable outfit. Coming into my twenties has made me realize that this doesn't have to be the case. You can feel cute and keep warm at the same time. Here are my tips to do so.
Scarves are Your Best Friend
For some reason growing up, scarves were never a thing that I considered adding to an outfit aside from when it was an entirely pointless infinity scarf from La Sensa Girl or American Eagle. Maybe it was just a symptom of the times - the 2010s were all about minimal clothing and mainly sheer fabrics. The 'coolest' people wore no winter coat, but if they had to it was army green and impossibly cinched at the waist. Wearing an unnecessarily clunky scarf that actually provided warmth was thus a major no-no. But I am older. And wiser. Thankfully living in a time when scarves the size of small throw blankets are undoubtedly on trend. So I say take advantage of this while you can. A large wool scarf, or a similar material, can make an otherwise nonsensical jacket for cooler climates much cozier.
The trend over the past few years has been to wrap one of the scarves around your head to fashion a balaclava. As a university student walking between classes through the winter months, this has been a godsend. However, if the balaclava style isn't exactly your vibe, just throwing on a massive scarf haphazardly under your jacket can make you look effortlessly chic and keep you warm at the same time.
Some of my favourite places for scarves such as these are Aritzia, Simons, and Ssense. The most popular or trendiest brand for these scarves over the past couple of years has been Acne Studios with their infamous multicoloured scarves. If you enjoy a pop of colour in your wardrobe I recommend picking one up, however, if you tend to lean towards neutrals I would play it safe with this one. I suspect the colourful scarf trend will be on the way out in the next few seasons.
Tights
For a long time, I had feared that my generation had a permanent disdain for tights that would never waver. But the past couple of years have proved me wrong. I suspect we greatly have the pandemic to thank. Just look at the shift in trends and styles in 2020 that were a result of a period of isolation. We wanted to express ourselves more than ever with bolder and bolder fashion choices. Yes - some of them were misses. But we all loved that House of Sunny dress it the moment didn't we? The point I'm trying to make here is that the new burst of creativity in fashion that was sparked by the pandemic has opened doors for more exciting and out-of-the-box ways of dressing. Many new aesthetics spring up daily and one of the most monumental in the past two years was the ballet core aesthetic. Pale pink tights making a comeback was probably the most outrageous tight trend that could have occurred, making something as simple as a black sheer pantihose far from out of the ordinary. This is a long-winded way of me saying that tights, a beloved layering staple, are here to stay.
Pair them with anything to keep you warm. If you are going for a night out with the girls or an evening date, wear them with your favourite skirt or dress. If you just want an extra layer on the day-to-day, wear them under jeans with heels for a fun sheer detail to your outfit. For an extra layer of warmth, finish your outfit with a pair of knee-high or calve-length boots for an added layer of protection from the crisp winter breeze.
Footwear is Everything
I am not sure who told me that keeping your feet warm is the best way to keep your whole body warm. Matter of fact I don't even know if it's true or an urban legend. But either way, I have chosen to believe them. I beg of you - do not go trudging through the snow in your UGGs. Trust me - I know you think they are the coziest boots that you own. This may be true when they are worn as slippers or in the fall when temperatures have yet to drop below zero. However, the fact of the matter is wearing your UGGs in the snow and slush, no matter how much you spray them, will both ruin your shoes and only make you colder.
The most important thing when it comes to winter footwear is to buy boots that are built for cold temperatures and snow. They don't have to be the Columbias that your mom made you wear in middle school. There are many brands that make very cute winter boots that are both practical and stylish. A great example would be the Moon Boots that have been on everyone's social feeds over the past couple of years. If you, like myself, prefer something far more toned down, try to find a waterproofed version of a classic silhouette. Doc Martens offers a variety of their styles in winter-proofed versions. Other places to check out would be The North Face, See by Chloe, Isabel Marant, and Roa. I have also heard rumblings that Timberlands could be making a comeback so if you're into that, hop on the wave now and get the most out of yours.
Layers Layers Layers
If you are the type of person who hates wearing traditional winter coats my best suggestion to you would be to layer. Layer on layers. Wear long sleeves under your sweaters. Wear sweaters of the chunkiest variety. Wear long johns, yes I'm sure those still exist, under your jeans and your sweatpants. Tuck your scarf into your coat and buy coats that have shearling lining, even if they must be an impractical material such as wool or canvas. Buy the coziest socks that you can. No one needs to know that you have massive Indigo reading socks on top of your crew socks stuffed inside of your boots. It will be our little secret. Who needs to wear a puffer when you have many cozy layers of warmth between you and your chic wool oversized trench?
Gloves
This is my official petition to bring back leather gloves. Growing up I always thought the the transitional period from when a girl becomes a woman included the symbolic replacement of old TNA mittens for a pair of elegant leather gloves. However, I was severely disappointed to discover that this wasn't the case. Most people my age, myself included, still keep warm with mittens. This is totally acceptable and still cute, but I think with the latest 90s revival of quiet luxury we should bring back the leather. Who doesn't want to be able to use their fingers and keep their hands warm at the same time? Plus, something tells me you might even be able to type with them on. Benefits everybody. Hurts nobody. Plus can you imagine the cohesiveness that a black leather bag, black leather gloves, and black leather boots would bring to a neutral-toned winter outfit? A girl can dream.
Keep Your Ears Covered
Whether it's with a beanie, toque, fur hat, earmuffs, hood, or balaclava, the best way to keep your head warm in the winter is to keep your ears toasty. If you want to keep your hair from getting messy, I would opt for the ladder three. If you intentionally want to masque third-day hair, go for one of the first three. Headwear is also a great way to accessorize in the winter when otherwise outfit-completing accessories such as jewelry get covered up by layers of clothing. Having hats, or whatever you choose to wear, in a variety of colours and styles can make what would otherwise be another taxing layer into a fun and welcomed addition to your winter fit.
That concludes all of my ideas to help you stay warm and stylish this winter season. For more content from me check out my TikTok @VanillaDarling and leave me a comment here on what you would like me to write about next.
Talk soon,
- Vanilla Darling Xx
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