Oh, the holiday season! Watching the snow falling outside your window while you're cozy in your room, sipping peppermint hot chocolate.
Being from California, I never experienced anything like this, so having a white winter is very exciting for me. I love everything about the season except one thing — the cold. I guess I am just not quite adapted to the Midwestern climate yet. I was startled when it flurried in early October, and then again when the temperature reached 60 degrees in early November and ended up snowing two days later.
Needless to say, the weather patterns (or so I have heard) have been all over the map this year. These drastic climate fluctuations make it difficult to determine what to expect, and more importantly, what to wear. Now, I could spend this entire article explaining the proper way to layer and how fabulously in style you will be if you layer correctly; however, I have a feeling you've already read that article too many times to count. Instead, I'd like to explain some key pieces to own and why they are so essential to staying warm and comfortable this winter.
The first accent piece I recommend is fold-over mittens. These are gloves that have the fingertips cut off and have a mitten top buttoned down that can be folded over when desired. They're great because you don't have to keep taking them off and putting them on, not to mention that they look adorable. If you aren't planning on being inside for a while, I recommend bringing another pair of regular gloves to wear under the fold-over mittens to keep your hands extra-warm. I have a great pair of coral pink ones with a black button from J. Crew that I often layer over my black leather gloves. You can buy these fold-over mittens at many stores, but J. Crew is currently carrying them in a variety of colors.
The second accessory I recommend purchasing before winter conditions worsen is a fuzzy pair of earmuffs. Macy's is currently carrying a great pair of black and chocolate brown ones that are incredibly soft and fit snugly against your ears to keep them nice and toasty. Likewise, Sherpa hats (the ones with furry flaps to cover your ears) keep you just as warm and stylish. And while you may still be thinking that your grandma's Patagonia aqua-blue fleece headband is going to be gracing the pages of Vogue any day now, I think it's a safer bet to stick with fur (or faux fur) this season.
While we're on the topic of fur (or faux fur), the next piece I want to discuss is a fur-lined zip-up sweatshirt. Out of all other pieces this season, this is my absolute favorite. Owning a fur-lined zip-up is a great investment because they make layering easy. The fur lining keeps heat insulated while feeling extremely soft and comfy against your body. You feel as though you've wrapped yourself in a fur blanket, which is an amazing feeling. The hoods on the zip-ups are also commonly lined with fur and feel absolutely wonderful against your ears and face when you put your hood up. If winter conditions start to worsen, it's a good idea to wear some sort of puffy down jacket over the sweatshirt to maximize comfort and insulation. Juicy Couture and Abercrombie & Fitch both make great fur-lined zip-up sweatshirts.
Fur-lined boots are also a great investment this winter. While it seems like the obvious choice, there is so much variety in boots this year that picking the right pair can seem impossible. In past years, UGGs have been the overwhelming choice, but I think we can agree that those are better tucked away in the closet for a while, next to the clogs. An alternative choice is the Calvin Klein "Pam" Bootle, a short, fur-lined boot that is stylish and warm while still being different.
If you are a die-hard UGG fan, and you absolutely can't live without your warm, fuzzy, hideously overworn boots, yet still want to maintain some style, at least invest in the chocolate brown pair or the ones with the fur strips on the outside of the boot.
If it still seems impossible to break old habits and get out of your fashion rut, the easiest way to ease in to making your closet more diverse and stylish is by adding accent pieces. Fur (and faux fur) is in this season, so, in the interest of keeping your wardrobe up-to-date, it is probably best to invest in some of these items. They also help in layering and in keeping yourself comfortably warm, while leaving you able to remove them easily when transitioning between the cold climate and hot classroom. So put a Nat King Cole playlist on your iPod, say goodbye to cold walks to class during brisk winter mornings and say hello to cozy, warm, blanket-soft pieces that will keep you insulated and comfortable all season long!
Sydney Burdick is a freshman intending to major in fashion journalism. Got fashion problems? Direct questions or comments to [email protected].
