As Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals simultaneously caused wardrobes to grow and bank account balances to shrink, the silver lining is all the winter staples we were able to get our hands on.
Winter fashion means trading in strappy, heeled sandals for chunky, heeled booties and finding different ways to layer in order to brave the steady dropping temperatures while still looking fashionable in the process.
Outerwear becomes the fashion favorite for these colder months. Puffer coats, longline trenches, denim, leather and faux fur jackets are bound to keep you feeling warm and looking cool. When shopping for an outerwear piece, the most important thing is to keep it neutral with a color and style that is able to be worn with every outfit, but that still looks unique.
“I try to find statement coats that stand out,” senior Tianna Johnson said. “But I also love simple, edgy coats like my favorite little black leather jacket.”
The great thing about winter fashion is all the possibilities for shoes that come with it. Ankle boots can be worn with cuffed denim boyfriend jeans or with a dress and a pair of tights. A more fashion forward substitute for wearing tights in cold weather is styling a dress or skirt with over-the-knee boots. Whether suede, patent, velvet or metallic, boots come in all different shapes and sizes and they are all equally loved. Your shoes should always stand out from the rest of the outfit, so don’t be afraid to branch out and buy boots in an animal or floral print.
“Booties can make a boring outfit instantly fashionable,” sophomore Abby Strusowski said. “I just bought these glittery booties from Forever 21 and I can’t wait to jazz up my all black outfits. I only brought a small portion of my boot collection to school with me, but booties are my favorite thing to wear in the winter.”
Winter wardrobes don’t have to be boring despite the gloominess that surrounds this time of the year. Some winter basics to keep on hand are oversized knit sweaters, turtlenecks, good pairs of blue and black jeans and the classic cardigan. Adding subtle pops of color to these basics is the key to bringing some life into winter style. Instead of sticking to the same black leggings every day, try wearing a pair of leather pants with a tucked in grey cotton sweater and a camel colored trench coat.
Of course, the discussion of winter fashion wouldn’t be complete without mentioning its many accessories. Top off the ideal winter outfit with an oversized knit scarf, a fun beanie or even a baseball cap on those effortless, relaxed days. When it comes to jewelry, keep it simple but still noticeable.
The 1990s choker has certainly been cycled back into style as Kerry Pieri, writer for Harper’s Bazaar magazine, writes, “The choker, of the velvet, metal, rhinestone or leather variety, has been seen on the necks of models-off-duty, everyday cool girls and, of course, North West as of late.” This timeless accessory makes it even easier to dress up an otherwise casual winter outfit.
If there’s one thing that sets winter fashion apart from spring, summer and fall, it’s versatility – both in clothing and in style. Just because something might not be “in” according to the Anna Wintours of the fashion world, that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be worn.
“I like to have fun with my style, especially around the winter when I can layer a bunch of stuff on top of each other in a very fashion-friendly manner,” sophomore and avid fashion lover Brianna Castro said. “I feel like people take fashion too seriously these days. Just wear what makes you feel good.”
