Winter Fashion: Unraveling the Skill of Layering

Winter Fashion

Unraveling the Skill of Layering

by Athena Wu

Welcome to Layering 101. Knowing how to stay warm while flaunting fashionable looks is an essential skill to have in these colder months. Throwing on an oversized coat might seem like the easiest solution at first until you realize they hide the entire outfit. Layering, on the other hand, allows you to show off all your favorite clothes. It turns a wardrobe of twenty items into a hundred outfits. Below is a glimpse into the world of layering and how you can rock every item in your closet this winter.

The Base. Let’s start off easy. The base for your outfit is nothing more than a simple top. These tops are solid-colored, tight-fitting, and generally have long sleeves unless you’re in southern California. Think ribbed shirts, turtleneck tops, thin sweaters, and collared shirts—you want lighter tops, as opposed to heavy, bulky ones. When choosing the color, it is best to stick to neutral or pastel colors that won’t clash with outer layers.

The Splash of Individuality. With layering, you don’t have to reluctantly cycle through the same coats every week. You get to wear all the styles you want. It’s time to bring out the color in your closet. While you have to remember to match it to the base layer, the variation is still infinite. Contrast the base with vivid colors, textures, and patterns. Wear those summer cami dresses, cami tops, or overalls over your base, or throw on your favorite knit sweater, sweater vest, or graphic tee.

The Bottoms. While the huge variation in possibilities is still there, this is where we get pickier. If you haven’t heard yet, skinny jeans are in the past, and its polar opposite, wide-leg jeans, are at an all-time high. Wide-leg and straight-leg pants, leather pants, and maxi skirts are an easy go-to. Keep the color neutral for a more casual look, or, if you’re feeling bold, put together a monochromatic outfit and match it with your top. However, keep in mind not to clash patterns or designs. Given your top and bottoms, one can be wild if the other is simpler. It’s all about balance.

Cherry on Top Now, this is the fun part: the jacket, the shoes, and the accessories. Let’s start with outerwear. You can never go wrong with the puffer jacket or vest, but if you want to change things up, remember one thing: oversized. Oversized corduroy jackets, trucker jackets, and wool jackets (or shackets) are some of my personal favorites. Of course, in winter weather, there is no escaping the classic wool overcoat, but that is its own outfit, in and of itself.

Boots Let’s talk shoes. Knee-high boots are a wonder if you’re wearing a dress or a skirt, but they don’t quite work with baggy jeans. My top recommendations are combat boots and platform shoes, which elevate the look further and elevate you physically, not to mention the power and confidence they exude.

Extra Heat Regarding accessories, the selection is neverending. Gloves, tights, scarves, leg warmers, and earmuffs can all be stylish ways to keep warm.

Remember that this is just one way to layer out of many. After all, layering is essentially just mixing and matching patterns, fabrics, and colors. Don’t be afraid to go wild this winter. After over a year spent indoors, it’s time to get a little crazy.