How to Dress Warm & Stylish in Winter

OKAY. Enough is enough. It is COLD here in Ontario, Canada. It's -29 C with a windchill of -38 C. WTF.  I really don't like cold weather, but have been living with it all my life so I've picked up a few trusty tips along the way. And what is knowledge if it isn't shared? When it comes to cold winter weather there are a lot of general basics to follow like layering, investing in a decent jacket and warm winter boots (like Sorels), or my personal favorite reverting to elementary school habits: indoor + outdoor shoes. I also tend to adjust my makeup on really cold days: I don't wear mascara but generously apply lipgloss and lotion. Here are some ideas of how I usually wear my winter coats while looking fashionable from last winter. Below are some of my tips for how to dress warmly while staying stylish on the coldest days of winter.

1//  Doubling Coats. Sounds strange, right? But this silly hint actually works. If it's really cold out and you have two mediocre wool coats, wear one over the other as long as one is large enough to do so without stretching. I have a wool coat from Joe Fresh with a hood that I like layering under my long navy wool coat. Together, they keep me cozy on these -30 C days. I wouldn't try this with ski coats. That wouldn't turn out so stylish...but boy-oh-boy you'd be warm!

2//  Infinite Scarves. I just discovered these this year! I've always had a run-of-the-mill scarf that  didn't do much of anything but keep my neck hidden and compliment my coat. But this winter I crocheted a giant circle scarf which can double as a hood and be wrapped three times around my neck. It is glorious. It also doubles as a leg blanket when I'm waiting in my car for it to warm up :) If you haven't tried an oversized scarf before, definitely find or make one. And I find circle scarves keep you bundled up much better.

3//  Did I mention doubling coats is amazing? Also wearing a belt on the outside of your coat can make your coat(s) look more put-together.

4//  Hats and Mitts. How could you ever leave your home without? I know hat-hair isn't very stylish, but I think it goes a long way protecting your hair if you walk a lot. And finding a good pair of mitts can go a long way. I tend to look for ones with additional lining of wool roving or double up wearing gloves under the mitts. This is a MUST when I'm cleaning off my car: then I usually wear ski mitts with gloves underneath. Also, a hot drink goes a long way to keeping your digits toasty. Not to mention your belly full :)

5// Tuck It In. Loose ends? Tuck them in! I can't stress enough how much this helps: tucking socks into boots, - wearing boots, in general -  sleeves into mitts, shirts into pants, hair into shirts (faux bob, anyone?). Makes such a difference. And mostly when you arrive somewhere you only have to spend 5 seconds putting everything back as it was. And bonus: you're 90% warmer.

6//   Sweaters. Good quality sweaters can go a long way. Not only will they last longer, but  they'll keep you toasty wherever you bring them. You don't have to spend all your budget on them either - think clothing swaps and thirft stores! And when it's this cold, layering sweaters can make all the difference. Turtlenecks, button up shirts, long sleeve tee shirts, tanks, tees....the list is endless - layer away!

Well I hope this helps some of you folks out. Keep warm everyone!

Xxxo,

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