How to Create a Winter Wardrobe Using Basics
Winter is here. It is cold outside, but that doesn't mean that you need to sacrifice your style in the name of staying warm. I think it's really about having the right pieces in the right fabrics in your closet that's going to serve you through the season.
In this article we will look at how to create a winter wardrobe using basics. These are really going to be the foundational building blocks of your wardrobe, and then you can add in things like fun color, texture, and personality that kind of play a supporting role in your outfit to help showcase your style while still staying warm and feeling cute. I have about 10 pieces that I want to go through today, so let's get into it.
Focus on Fabrics
Some things to keep in mind when it comes to your winter wardrobe is you really want to make sure you're focusing on fabrics. So if you're out shopping or looking to fill a gap in your wardrobe, always look at what the fabric composition is of the garment. You really want to make sure you're focusing, for the majority of the time, on natural fibers that are going to be moisture-wicking, insulating, and that naturally keep you warm. So things like wool, merino wool, cashmere, silk, alpaca, and even cotton.
Never want to go beyond a 70/30 mix of natural fibers to synthetic. If you can get 80/20, even better. But let's say you're looking at a wool blend coat and it's majority acrylic or polyester. I guarantee you it may look cute now, but it is not going to wear well over time. You're going to sweat in it and then you're going to be freezing.
When it comes to winter dressing, staying warm is the name of the game. And for the most part, polyester, acrylic, synthetic is not going to do that for you.
1. Winter Coat
I think I just want to get straight into the hero pieces of a winter wardrobe, and that is a winter coat. So I think it's a lot of fun to get a really nice base wool coat in black, camel, cream, or gray. But I think you can also have some fun here when it comes to things like shape and silhouette, because especially if you live in a really cold climate, the coat is sometimes your whole outfit.
Which is why I love a really chic, beautiful wool overcoat, because not only is it going to keep you warm, but to me they really act as a wardrobe valve to dial up anything that you're wearing. You can be wearing the most casual kind of athleisure outfit, throw on a wool overcoat, and you are going to look chic and put together.
2. Blazer
Since we're talking about layering pieces, the next wardrobe staple of mine is a blazer. I love a blazer as an added layering piece. It really adds a lot of structure and elevation to any look in my opinion. And in the winter especially is when I really lean into my thicker, more heavyweight wool blazers.
Again, when it comes to blazers, I think you can have a lot of fun.
Some other things I make sure I look for in a blazer, especially in the winter, is that it is lined. A lot of the time they will be lined with viscose, but I also have blazers that are lined with silk and even cotton to make it even more breathable. And silk actually can be quite insulating and keep you warm, so that is a really nice option to have in the winter too.
But I think a blazer is such a wardrobe hero because you can, again, just like the wool coat, you can layer it over anything. I love wearing it with a t-shirt and jeans. I love layering it with skirts, dresses, even with my more casual athleisure gear. I think a blazer is so chic, and if it's a wool one especially, it will keep you warm.
3. Cardigan
But I can also appreciate that not everybody is a blazer person, and that's where I think a cardigan is another great option. I like a cardigan as an additional layer, and I will often wear them layered underneath my coats and my blazers just to add a bit more depth and dimension into the outfit.
I tend to like a cardigan that's made of cashmere, not only because it feels really soft and luxurious, but a lot of the times, at least the ones that I like, tend to be a bit thinner and lightweight so I can layer them the way I like to. But they don't feel so funky and they still keep me quite warm.
So I think when it comes to a cardigan, just like your coat, your blazer, all of that, you can really play around with things like shape and silhouette to make it feel a little bit more elevated and not so basic. And I think it's in looking for those specific details in your pieces that's really going to help create a wardrobe that is functional but still feels really chic and stylish.
4. Good Bag
Next is a good bag. No matter the season, I want a bag that feels chic and functional at the same time. I want to be able to carry my life in it. I want it to look cute. I want it to elevate my outfit, and I want it to last.
5. Knitwear
Winter is incomplete without knitwear. I think it's nice to have a variety of knitwear that comes in different colors, shapes, and weights. So I think it's important to have a mix of thinner, more lightweight sweaters that will still keep you warm—so think your merino wools, cotton, and cashmere—and something that's a bit heavier, more cozy and oversized.
This is also where I like to play around with necklines, so having some cozy roll necks or turtlenecks. The v-neck silhouette has been popular for the past few years, and I really like a crew neck silhouette as well.
6. Accessories
When it comes to creating a really good outfit, I think accessories are truly the key. So adding things like jewelry, belts, bags, sunglasses—all those pieces can really add a nice finishing touch and personality when it comes to your outfit. And I think this is just as important when it comes to your winter wear.
When it comes to hats and scarves, I think it's really important to, again, go with things like wool and cashmere. And with my more elevated gloves and mittens, I really like cashmere and leather in gloves. The leather itself may not keep you warm on its own, but a lot of the times they are fleece-lined or even wool and cashmere-lined again.
But when it comes to scarves especially, I see so many that are made of polyester and acrylic. And yeah, they look cute, but they are not going to keep you warm. So do your best to get those natural fibers.
7. Tailored Trousers
Getting into bottoms, I love a pair of tailored trousers all year round. But in the wintertime is when I'm going to be reaching for my more wool or wool blend trousers. So not only are they going to have a nice shape and structure to them, it's going to feel really polished and elevated. You can wear them out to events or to work, but it's also going to keep you warm because of that fabric. So you can really say how important fabric is when it comes to winter dressing.
8. Denim
I love denim all year round, but in the winter and colder months is when I tend to reach for my darker washes of denim. So I love colors that are a bit more rich and refined, like a raw indigo denim, dark wash blue, black, or even gray denim.
Denim is extremely personal, so it's a bit difficult to recommend an exact shape or silhouette.
9. Winter Skirt
And this I think is an underrated winter staple, but that is a winter skirt. There are two options. One is a silk skirt and the other is a wool skirt.
10. Boots
And we can't talk about winter wardrobes without talking about boots. I think a nice pair of black boots that do still have some decent tread but still feel a bit more chic and elevated is a great staple to have in your wardrobe. These go great with skirts, with dresses, with jeans, with trousers. Get something that you like that goes with everything.
And then it's really nice to have, especially if you like to wear skirts and dresses in the winter, is a taller boot like this. I think it adds a really beautiful shape and silhouette. It can really create some beautiful long lines in your outfit, and they can act as a bit of a layering piece because of the taller shaft on them.
Bonus: Heat Tech Layers
And the final unsung hero of winter dressing: heat tech. Heat tech layers are so thin and so lightweight, and they are an absolute essential when it comes to winter dressing. They really do a great job at keeping you warm. You just throw them on as your base and just get dressed as you normally would. They are truly the perfect base layering piece without adding any extra bulk, and they last surprisingly long.
Thanks for reading, If you have any suggestion feel free to comment down