Stay warm and stylish this winter
When suddenly there is a cold snap and temperatures plummet below freezing the temptation is to bring out your inner frump and resort to wearing trousers, layers of thick jumpers, woolly socks and fur boots to keep warm. But there are more stylish ways to dress for the cold.
Clients regularly come to me for a summer coat to wear to an event but often don’t think about couture when looking for a winter coat. For some reason we are more inclined to except a bad fitting winter coat using the excuse it’s all about keeping warm.
Yet we don’t have to go into fashion hibernation, style and fit is just as important at this time of year. And with our climate you will spend more time in a winter coat than a summer outfit.
All the same dilemmas come into play when looking for the perfect coat: sleeves aren’t the right length, the waist falls in the wrong place, it fits on the hips but is too big on the shoulders, the list goes on.
A winter coat is harder to alter especially if it is tailored or top stitched so it is worth considering couture. When you arrive at a restaurant or meet someone in the street it is your coat that creates first impressions.
In terms of investment dressing, no other item of clothing will give you more wear. A good coat will last for decades and if you choose the right style and colour it will always make you feel good.
Gloves, hats and scarves are an easy way to individualise your look, and there is so much choice with tassels, pompoms, colourful stripes and Shetland patterns. Woolly hats with a fur pompom on the top are seriously on trend but not everyone can carry these off – in winter you will see me sporting a 1920’s-style cloche hat.
If you prefer a more classic look, leather gloves come in a myriad of beautiful colours and teamed with a faux fur collar exude glamour…
When temperatures dive I often wear a pair of chunky tights – in my style book, tights are always colour co- ordinated – and a skirt made from a winter weight fabric!
Your skirt needn’t be long to keep you warm, a knee-length skirt in a tweedy wool – think Chanel signature tweeds – will keep you cosy and on trend. Add a Chanel style tweed jacket will always be snug and stylish.
One of my clients has commissioned this style of jacket in different fabrics as it’s so easy to wear over dresses, with skirts or trousers and always adds a sophisticated flair to an outfit.
Then all you need to add is a pair of smart or casual boots according to your personal choice and the occasion. For warmth, comfort and casual style, I love my Geox ankle boots. Layering is a must – either overtly with contrasting cuffs and necklines of a favourite top setting off your jumper or hidden and giving warmth discretely under your outfit. One thing it doesn’t have to be is bulky and restrictive.
I wear a fine knit thermal top with long sleeves under my favourite Joseph thick knit jumper. I stick to black underneath my jumper as it looks smart enough if I need to remove the jumper should I get warm when I go inside.
If you are worried about losing your waist under a baggy sweater, you can always add definition with a belt. This is also a good way to add an individual style statement.
Remember, just because the sky is grey it doesn’t mean you have to dress in grey! There are no rules that say you can’t wear pretty blues or pinks in the winter – and if this is cashmere so much the better!
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