It was just 36 hours ago that I was in Austin, Texas, enjoying the warm sunshine and swimming — yes, swimming, outside in a non-heated pool.
Then a winter front moved in and now it’s in the teens.
Weather is weird, you guys, and I’m pretty sure that’s the case everywhere. If I were to ask you to raise your hand if the weather where you live is weird, I bet most all of you would raise your hand.
Anyway, whenever the temperatures drop below freezing, I have no desire to get dressed. I just want to wear workout clothes — the warm kind that you’d camp or hike in. I’m currently trying to pep talk myself out of that rut.
But I’m curious to see how it goes this winter — if I’ll give in to my workout wear side or if I’ll try to push for “cute” outfits. Perhaps I’ll pay attention to why I want to wear workout clothes when it gets cold, and apply that information to cute outfits, essentially blending the two. No matter what, there’s something to learn.
Anyway, let’s talk about three parts of this outfit:
(1) On top, I’ve got a soft, fitted base layer, a thick sweater, and a down vest — essentially my go-to formula for layering right now. I should be wearing a coat of course — a vest alone is not warm enough for the temperatures right now — but I still don’t own a winter coat yet. However, I’m narrowing down my search and closing in on one, just in the nick of time.
(And thank you for all of your coat advice on the last post! If you’re in the market for a warm winter coat, you should check out the comments from that post.)
(2) BUT. Despite the lack of a coat, I’m upping my cold-weather game here with this toasty beanie. It’s 100% cashmere and it was an investment, for sure. But, ever since the winter front moved in, I’ve worn it any time I’ve been outside and it’s kept my ears and head warmer than any other beanie I’ve ever had. Plus, it slouches really beautifully while staying put on my head. V important.
(3) On bottom, I’ve got thick socks and waterproof boots. I’m not sure if I’d go so far as to call them true winter boots, but they are lined with fleece, so they are warmer than just about any other shoe I have. I got these boots last winter, as my first step into warmer boots, and they’ve been excellent. Comfortable, soft, and easy to walk in.
So tell me, when it gets super cold do you still try to dress cute? What are your favorite pieces in your closet that keep you toasty and cute?
xo,
Liked today’s outfit? You can shop it and support Unfancy at the same time by using these affiliate links:
1 | Beanie by Madewell (on sale)
2 | Vest by Marmot
3 | Sweater (old) | similar | similar | similar
4 | Black jeans (old by Joe’s Jeans) | similar (made responsibly)
5 | Socks by J.Crew
the title of this post is so great! I am raising my hand nice and high {it was -30 on Saturday and is supposed to be 30 degrees above zero today} i have those same sperry boots. they are basically worn on the daily. such a cute and warm outfit!
XO Lo
thoseprettypieces.com
Oh my word! What a huge difference in temperatures. 30 degrees probably feels like Hawaii compared to 30 below! :D
I dress warm, love layers, scarves, hats, gloves, a nice warm sweather, an under layer if it is scratchy, and Irish wool socks. I have lace up boots by birkenstock when it is cold.I have a Michael Kors puffer jacket that is divine. It is very lightweight and warm.
Love this outfit! Looks so snug :) <3
UK weather is really weird (unpredictable) too! Last winter it was unseasonably warm until January, so Christmas felt weird as we were all still in autumn jackets. This year, we had a freezing spell in November, so out came the down-filled coat and warmer, longer boots. It’s been milder recently and this week has been really foggy. Definitely a challenge for the capsule wardrobe!
I would add to the others who recommended uniqlo heattech, they do a regular and an extra warm, which I haven’t tried. As well as the tops, I have several of their leggings with a high waist to keep you extra warm, great on their own but also under jeans in the really cold. Other than that, down-filled coat, sheepskin/shearling lined boots, wool layers and a ski hat that is knitted and fleece lined.
Ah, they sound so cozy! Thanks Tanya. :)
I’ve heard concerns about Uniqlo manufacturing conditions. Does anyone know more?
I love this outfit, I did a post about dressing somewhat stylish even when you’re drowning in layers haha! Love those boots, the weather in the UK is all over the place as well. Thanks for sharing x
ALittleKiran | Bloglovin
Wow I can’t imagine dealing with that weather!! I feel ya, but I do still try to dress cute when it’s cold. If I resort to leggings and Uggs, I feel like I let winter win. My favorites are fleece tights/leggings under dresses and sweaters, long sleeve bodysuits as my base layer, and tall boots with wool socks. Recently I also got a couple HeatTech shirts from Uniqlo and they are so awesome!
xo,
Laura @ http://www.thriveorsurvive.us
Sounds comfy and warm, Laura! :)
The weather in Tennessee was super weird this past weekend. On Friday it was 48 degrees, Saturday it was 70 degrees, and on yesterday it was 28 degrees and below (we even had snow ❄️ ).
Those boots are awesome! That’s one thing I really miss about American style here in Italy. No woman would ever walk around in those, and I wish they did!
xx, Marie
You can be the first, Marie! ;)
Such a cute way to style a puffer vest! Makes me want to try this look for myself. Also, I recently got a Madewell beanie too – the “softest beanie” – and while it sure is soft, it’s not all that warm, but goes great under a hood!
Where I live (London, UK) is pretty cold but I get around it by wearing thick mini skirts (or any length of skirt, really) with fleece-lined tights and a sweater. That’s my tip for staying cute in winter! ;)
It’s a good tip, Gwen! Thanks. :)
Your top layers sound perfectly warm and your feet too. But my question is, don’t your legs get cold wearing just jeans? Or do you add some fleece leggings underneath maybe?
You look super cute by the way!
Hey Alicia, I used to layer up on the bottom too, but I haven’t in a long time! If I knew I was going to be spending a chunk of time outdoors, then I definitely would want to wrap my legs in fleece tights. But usually, if my head, torso, and feet are warm, it’s good enough for day-to-day stuff. :)
-18 yesterday with windchill it was -40. Cold even for Minnesota, but my closet is pretty much all sweaters so there wasn’t anything else I could do!
Wow, Jess! That cold front is not messing around.
Dear Caroline,
Winter is not my friend when it comes to cute dressing.
I usually go for the hiking clothes as you said, but sometimes I want to dress pretty and not looking like a Laponian lady all the time.
I have a huge, long and cozy jacket. Boots with warm socks. Leggings underneath the jeans. Cozy sweaters with a fleece on top ( if it is really freezing). And that my go-to outfit when the temperature is under 25 degrees. And that is not always pretty and cute but it is keeping me warm.
For cuteness, I have some wool knit dresses long sleeve, cozy leggings with warm socks and boots and my long jacket where I am adding a belt around my waist, I leave my hair free and add a nice knitted hat. And there you go, styling the winter.
In Bucharest, where I live, the winter is indeed cold and lately long I might add.
I will return to my leather jacket most probably at the end of April… sad but true.
Thank you for raising this subject. The advises and opinions are more than helpful and inspiring!
Have a nice evening,
Andreea
Andreea, thank you for the thoughtful comment. Sometimes the “cute” has to be sacrificed a little for “comfort”. You do what you need to do to survive the chilly winter! :)
Definitely raising my hand – I’ve been in Philly, NY, and now settled in Boston, and the temperatures everywhere have been so unpredictable these past several years. My best investments for the cold weather have been a 3-in-1 long, down Patagonia coat (windproof, waterproof, AMAZING), and lots of Uniqlo’s heattech layering shirts, hats, pants, and gloves. Staying warm on top is easy now! The bottoms are much harder – I’d so much rather be in fleece-lined leggings or sweats. Uniqlo’s heattech pants are definitely my go-to for weather from 0-32. They’re warmer than leggings and look like actual pants, but are still very comfortable (and stretchy!).
Hey Julia, I’ve received a lot of recommendations for that 3-in-1 coat. Sounds great! :)
I need those boots! Can you tell me if they’re true to size when wearing thick socks or should I order up a half size?
I have the boots in white with oatmeal quilting. I have worn them with socks of varying thicknesses with no problem. I wear a 6.5 in pretty much every shoe and that’s the size I have in these. Sizes are in accordance with other Sperry shoes.
During the winter I rely upon my coat, foot wear and accessories to make my outfit “cute”. The outfit formula would go something like this: a warm but stylish jacket, nice boots, leather gloves, a cute hat and scarf….
Hand raised!
It has been ridiculous here (Washington) the past couple weeks. We keep getting snow. We don’t normally get *much* snow, & a lot of years we don’t get ANY – just rain. But this year has been nasty.
I have a super awesome pair of Bass boots – thick leather, lined, lace up the front & zip up the side. Sadly, I went Christmas tree hunting this weekend & discovered they are NOT 100% waterproof! They are fine in the snow, but I cracked thru some ice in to some deep water & my feet got soaked. YUCK!
Sending you an “Amen!” from Portland. I was never so excited to wake up to rain as I was this morning. I don’t remember the last time we had four non-consecutive days of snow in a month, and the last time I remember snow really sticking around (pun intended? Maybe?) was 2008.
I have one pair of “snow boots” but learned this week that their traction is awful, which doesn’t bode well with all the ice we got, and they were a little too loose fitting to keep me properly warm. Also, I need some nice gloves…
It was -40 with the windchill here Friday night, and by Sunday it was 0 again (I think that’s 32 degrees in Fahrenheit). I do try to dress cute if I’m going out, but I think there are separate types of cute: summer cute and winter cute. Cuddly sweaters, knitted toques, warm mitts, cute boots and fitted parkas all fall under the winter cute category. Throw on a pair of skinny jeans or leggings and you’re good to go. Think Apres Ski everyday.
I feel like you would really like Wigwam socks – they have a ragg sock in wool, so it is warmer than the cotton camp socks. Plus all their socks are made in the USA, and they have a lot of fun styles. (PS i have no affiliation with Wigwam except I bought a pair of these https://www.wigwam.com/products/p-el-pine-socks.aspx?productid=2272 and think they are great! You can find them on Amazon, too!)
Those sound great, Joy! Thank you for sharing. :)
I always try to look cute, even when it’s freezing outside! I’ve realized that good accessories will always make you look stylish, even buried underneath a bunch of layers.
http://www.insearchofsheila.com
Good point, Sheila. Thanks for sharing your tips to cuteness! :)
Last year I got this beautiful coat from J. Crew and a cashmere beanie from Everlane and they have both been a lifesaver. I live in St. Louis so winter can be quite an ugly bitch.
https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens_category/outerwear/wool/chateau-parka-in-stadiumcloth/B3901
So funny you mention awful St. Louis weather. I’ve lived there 5 winters now and it seems like easy mild cold compared with my Boston/NYC/Philadelphia winters from my past. And my friends in Minnesota would laugh at me since they are even colder!!
I guess even weird weather is all relative.
Hand raised! I live in Nova Scotia about 5 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean so our weather is crazy. On Friday we were in a deep freeze at -31 C (-24F), Saturday it warmed up some and we had an unscheduled snow storm then Sunday it warmed up to +12C (56F) and turned into a rain/wind storm. Today is normal, sunny and about -6C (22F). This is why I don’t count my winter coats as part of my wardrobe capsule. I need about 4 different kinds of coats to get through a Nova Scotian winter!
haha your title couldn’t have said it better! It snowed in Portland and it was soo beautiful but now it is all melting :(
Super cute look! I love those boots!
http://www.themoptop.com
It hardly ever gets that cold where I live but it’s been cold with gust. This morning I was dodging trash cans that were swept into the center and sides of the road with last night’s wind.
I’m enjoying your layering ideas.
I have no idea how people get their beanies to slouch beautifully on the back of their heads without sliding off. Hidden clips? If you find out, let us know!
I do still try to dress cute in the freezing weather here in MN. I find I start feeling bad about myself if I go into a streak of yoga pant dressing. I think the formula where you have at least part of your body in somethiing more fitted helps, as does a down coat with a belt for waist definition. I think having wool or cashmere socks is key. I wear my black short/ medium Sorel Caribous or my tall gray North Face boots a lot in the winter for practical reasons– traction and warmth. I also like wearing my Splendid turtlenecks under sweaters or my slightly sparkly Aerie cowl neck turtleneck sweatshirts, which are a really good marriage of cozy and stylish.
Those are great suggestions, Lisa. Thanks for sharing! :)
So, here’s the deal with the “I just want to wear workout clothes…” situation: They SCREAM comfort, and wintery days scream FOR comfort. Workout clothes are like a base layer, but not. You feel cozy because they are usually slim fitting, therefore they keep the heat close. You can easily throw a sweater and beanie over it all and get away with a look that nobody would assume is your workout gear. I personally have a VERY hard time transitioning to normal clothes after I’m already in the workout gear. I’m queen of “let the sweat dry up and get on about the day”. Gross…I know, but once again, throw a comfy sweatshirt over it and bam! I definitely feel like I need to be going somewhere besides my normal errands in order to put real effort into an outfit. And for the record, my weather isn’t very extreme. SoCal…and when it dips near 60*, I’m FREEZING!!! Hahaha! Typical west coast temperature tolerance. Adorable outfit by the way…but yeah, I’d skip the jeans and just keep my leggings on!
That’s a good point, Carolyn. You can throw a nice sweater and beanie on over your workout clothes and it just looks like clothes. A pretty good way to go, if you ask me! :)
Are you looking for an outdoorsy winter coat? Not like the puffer coat or sherpa jacket from your past capsules? Seems like a puffer coat could work well with an outfit like this but only if it is warm enough. As always, thanks for your posts!
As a fellow Texan, I sympathize with scrambling for outfits to survive this cold front! It blew into my area while I was two hours from home with a suitcase of button-downs and thin Paige Denim jeans :/ Let’s just say that trip was cut short. I’m heading over to the comments of your layering post to read about coat-recommendations now…I guess that’s what I get for procrastinating the purchase! haha.
Cute outfits mostly fall by the wayside here in the winter because it is so very, very cold. Just a couple of days ago it was -42 F. Wearing anything cotton, like jeans, is downright dangerous. The bummer part is that on these cold, dark days I long for the pick-me-up of a put together outfit. Instead it’s parka, parka, parka. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get that same feeling while bundling up. Let me know if you figure it out!
That Madewell beanie is excluded from all promo codes. :(
global warming :(
Thanks Caroline for the post :)
For the base layers: I used to wear heattech from Uniqlo until I discovered merino wool base layers. I love that it’s a natural fiber and also, heattech used to smell funky on me sometimes. Merino wool leggings and fitted base layer tee do the trick for me :)
I agree about merino vs heat tech. I don’t find they smell but I also don’t feel they keep me truly warm. They don’t breathe well (and I find the same with fleece) so I much prefer to wear natural fibres. Wool is amazing and it stays warm when wet, not to mention more environmentally friendly etc. I have been known to wear a plain black skiing baselayer under a cute dress to go to work in a cold office!
Love your blog, Caroline! My cute outfit for cold weather is jeans, base layer t and sweater, black quilted LL Bean jacket with olive and raspberry plaid turn back cuffs. Raspberry suede hat with black shearling lining…super warm. Black leather gloves and raspberry purse. Aquatelia waterproof patent leather loafers. Plaid flannel lined and super comfortable for walking.
Will there be a Winter Style Series?
Last week i got a pair of leggings described as ‘cosy’ and boy they are. So cosy I went back the next day for another pair and basically have not worn anything else since for my pre/ post work wear. So right now my life is scrubs or cosy and I’m ok with that!!
No one seems to mention wool layers so I am commenting for the first time. They are the most perfect base layer. They are warm, fitted, thin, so can be under anything, they don’t smell, they breath and feel fine, dry fast, even if you get sweaty, unlike cotton. Oh, and fine on their own, thick enough to be modest. They last forever. I have a couple of Icebreaker shirts I invested in 10 years ago and I still wear them almost every day all fall, winter, spring! Icebreaker, smartwool, are great, and I think Patagonia has some too now? Not itchy! It is great for workouts, outdoorsy stuff, and regular life, cozy or dressed up. Wool is perfect for winter. Breathes when it is warmer than you dressed for, and the best for cold days.
I live in Boerne, TX, north of San Antonio, and, yes, that cold front was crazy! And in true Texas fashion, it’s supposed to be 70 on Christmas. :) I lived the first 29 years of my life in the SF Bay Area, so the idea of drastic weather changes is so foreign to me! Even after living here for 7 years! I employ this tactic (warm hat, vest, cozy boots) for my 11 month old boy, but I need to purchase these kind of layers for myself. Thanks for the tips!
Here in New England “weird weather” is how we roll. :) Oddly enough, I wear skirts often in the winter because — fleece lined tights. They feel like your best sweat pants, but look polished. And skirt + tights + boots + sweater = tres winter chic. Keep in mind, of course that the skirt material is either wool (on the dressier side) or thick knit (more casual).
I really get your instinct to wear workout clothes that you can hike/camp in. When winter hits I immideatly want to wear hiking/camping clothes because I feel cosy, cute and “rugged” in them. Like I could fell a tree and then go to a cafe in the same outfit.
The one difference is, I don’t really hike and camp in workout clothes. I go straight for sturdy leather ankle boots, skinny jeans, and fishermen’s sweaters. The same things I wear camping in the fall (when I’m still dressier in the city) become my main winter style when the season changes.
Pretty much your outfit from your Layering Decoded post! Actually, I saw that post and was like “Oh weird. Caroline is wearing my clothes!” To me, that outfit is adorable.
And if you swap the flat chelsea boots for cute booties (keeping the wool socks!) it is an entirely different outfit in seconds. (Like your Causal Holiday Gatherings post.)
You’re better at winter than you think, Caroline! The very fact you own more than one pair of *flat* boots means you’re practically a pro. I say this as a Canadian.
Funny, I have the opposite thing going on. I love wool sweaters or sweater dresses, oversized chunky cardigans, scarves and tall boots – and I can only wear them without melting when it’s super cold outside :). My workout and lounge clothes, on the contrary, are mainly cotton or lightweight synthetics so they are actually less appealing when it’s truly cold. In other words, I feel cuter in winter than in summer wear. And my best advice for battling the cold is a) layers (so there’s no cold drafts) and b) wool, which isolates way better than most other fabrics, including uniqlo’s heattech. In line with the ‘column of color’ advice that you hear for,looking taller, I think of cold-weather layering in terms of a ‘column of warmth’: make sure there’s no patch of naked skin between your thermal vest, fleece-lined pantyhose and wool socks. And then add at least two layers with a minimum of one in some type of wool. Merino or cashmere for a slim and sleek look, any other for that cosy winter feeling :).
I missed the comments on the last post, but I wanted to tell you — I just recently got the Aritzia cocoon coat and it’s FANTASTIC. A true wool-cashmere, the outside is very soft (unlike J Crew’s shitty wool coats) and quite warm, solid sturdy buttons, and a fantastic length that is over the butt (even my giant butt). And they have it in a gorgeous camel color ;) Their other coats (I tried on 3) seemed just as nice but this one nailed the minimalist, simple, dressy-enough-for-a-winter-holiday-dress, casual enough for jeans look that I really wanted, plus the length. It’s been a dream these past few really cold days. I know you have a parka so a nice classy coat is a really fantastic addition for those times it’s cold but you need to dress up!
I have the same boots! I’ve been wearing them way more than I expected this winter. A tip for anyone whose feet are on the smaller side: the Nordstrom kids’ department has the same ones (they might be slightly shorter? not sure) for much less. Currently, $69.95. I’m a 7.5 in women’s, so my feet are not crazy small, and a 6 in “big kids” fit perfectly.
If it’s cold enough to need those top layers (which, to this California girl, is 55 degrees), there is no way those pants are going to keep you warm. And they are too tight to wear leggings under.
That’s my issue, that come winter, everything has to be oversized and I always feel frumpy. Even a pair of fleece lined leggings aren’t warm enough on their own, there has to be a layer over it. Now idea how people with ‘real’ winters do it.
I find that I dress better when it’s cold lol. I find that being cold gives me a legitimate idea to experiment with layers and even if they all don’t make sense, at least they serve some purpose.
It was just -30 where I live in Canada, before we hit this warm spell of -5, so I have to admit I find it amusing to even think about how to look “cute” when it is really, truly cold (and sorry, but I don’t consider the freezing point to be that cold at all).
Basically, I think of TRUE winter dressing (there is also a couple feet of snow on the ground here) in two ways: the first is that you’re wearing a cute outfit somewhere underneath all those practical layers, one which will be revealed when you get inside. To work I wear the tights I’ll be wearing with a skirt, but pack the skirt and wear windbreaking pants overtop. I’m wearing the work blouse, but with a fleece pullover on top. Over top go wool socks, wool scarf, puffy coat, hat, heavy-duty mittens, and heavy-duty boots. Nice shoes go into the work bag. In other words: it doesn’t matter what you look like on the way; you’re just trying to survive here.
The other, more tricky approach, is when you have to walk somewhere, like to drinks with friends, and you don’t have a car so you can’t underdress for the sake of fashion. For these occasions, my “nice” outfit consists of tights, slightly cropped slim pants (they can be slim-fitting if they’re stretchy to fit the tights underneath) that show a bit of the coloured tight at the ankle, a nice shirt of some kind underneath my fleece layer, and a pair of “cool” boots that are both functional and OK-looking (Ilse Jacobsen is awesome for this). The key to dressing all this up is to pile on the jewellery, and bring a nice bag.
Basically, I smile every time a blog or a magazine posts “how to look cute in winter” posts, because “winter” for these folks often means an occasional sprinkle of snow, and temperatures maybe hovering at the freezing point. Of COURSE you can look cute in that weather, just layer on the wool! When you live in a real winter climate, these things start to matter less. I’m glad, Caroline, that your blog so often addresses practicalities, even if I don’t think you live through a real winter. ;)
What happened to the coat you had last winter? It was really nice! Is it no longer your style? Did you keep it or sell/donate it?
Oh I feel your pain! I live in Colorado and the weather will go from 60 degrees in the morning to 20 by the afternoon. And then the next day we’ll hit 70 and the day after it’s down to -10. Our weather is ALL over the place. It’s a challenge to dress for warm and freezing weather all in the same day. I think that’s why Colorado is always voted one of the worst dressed states in the country–we dress for the weather and less for the fashion sense. Socks and Birks or Ugg boots in the summer are a CO staple haha.
When it gets cold, I resort to cashmere. Feels like a warm hug from your comfiest sweatshirt, looks like you tried. I’ve the cardigan from Everlane and the boyfriend v-neck from Grana this winter, and so far they’ve been life-savers.
If you’re looking for a warm winter jacket that also possesses some versatility, I’d recommend the Tres Parka from Patagonia. A two-in-one jacket you can wear three different ways, you will be warm and still look city chic. Originally from Seattle, I use this jacket whenever I visit home, and when I travel abroad because it’s so reliable. Also, I think Patagonia is having their winter sale in February, so this jacket will be more affordable!
When it gets REALLY cold out (I’m from PA), I usually go for double layers- double socks, leggings under jeans, and thermal tops under sweaters. Long underwear is a godsend, and they make it in thin, stretchy, non-annoying material these days. Also, when I really have the urge to wear a skirt or dress in the winter, I go for tights on the more opaque side and boots that’re at least knee-high, with socks to match. I always wear spandex shorts under a skirt, but in winter they serve a second purpose of adding a layer of warmth. This strategy leaves my legs still relatively unexposed to the elements.