Alright, I’ve pretty much had enough of these crazy below-average temperatures..Polar Vortex, can you not? The thing I hate most about this kind of weather is my inability to dress even remotely cute because I’ve made staying warm a priority. But I’m sick of living this way! I have a social calendar jam-packed with events that my down-filled parka just isn’t invited to, so how do I avoid getting frostbite?
I’ve been trolling all of the major fashion sites trying to find some tips for staying warm without wearing eighteen layers, and although there are some articles out there – they all require you to purchase new things (can you say corporate sponsorship?) I don’t know about you guys, but I’m still recovering from my Christmas bills so I can’t necessarily afford to buy a whole new Alaskan-inspired wardrobe (especially because I don’t live in Alaska, and I refuse to believe that the temperatures will continue to chill [litereally] at the -30 mark). So like any desperate fashionista, I’ve come up with some of my own tricks to keep my outfits cute but cozy.
Make Leggings Your Best Friend: I used to think leggings went with everything…. Now I know they go with everything because I literally wear them with every outfit (although they’re not necessarily visible). Jeans, dress pants, khakis – winterize your bottoms by slipping a pair of leggings underneath, trust me, this layer makes all the difference. Now if you want to wear leggings for the sake of wearing leggings – layer 2 (or more) pairs on top of each other (a bit of a mission, but still humanly possible).
Layers are Better when They’re Invisible: It doesn’t take a genius to know that layering is key for winter – but you can only take this so far, and sometimes too many layers is just too much when you’re spending most of your time inside. Disguise your layers by wearing an extra fleece sweater under your fashionable, but not so much functional, pea coat, and slip it off with your coat undetected. And you know those awesome Under Armour tees you wear to the gym? They’re designed to regulate your body temp, and although this usually means keeping you cool while you sweat, they can also keep you warm. Slip one of these under your blouse to keep you warm in the office (I seriously wonder if my boss even knows what a furnace is)
Two is Always Better than One: You know those nights out when you feel like you just need to wear a skirt? Don’t let the weather stand in your way! Layer two (or more) pairs of nylons on top of each other to make them a little more functional for this kind of temperature. Bonus: if you get a run or tear, it pretty well goes unnoticed thanks to the second layer. Although this trick can’t even compete with snow pants, at least it will make the walk from the cab to the club that much more bearable.
Industrial Wear is Actually a Thing: Lucky for us, we live in an era of cute boots. And thankfully they’re pretty much made for these cold temperatures! You know your dad’s huge, construction-worker type wool socks? You can totally get away with wearing these in your cutest boots – no one will ever know, and your toes will stay warm. This is uber important to me because I believe that once my feet are cold, there’s no hope for the rest of my body. And the lower the temperature, the more pairs you can (try) to wear at once.
Travel Mugs Can be a Staple Accessory: No, I’m not just looking for another reason to drink more Starbucks, but toting a hot drink along on your travels is an easy way to warm yourself up. And this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to up your caffeine intake just to avoid frostbite – herbal teas, hot chocolate, hot apple cider – the possibilities are endless! Taking a sip of your drink whenever you feel a chill coming on is an instant fix for frostbite.
They’re Called Infinity Scarves for a Reason: I think we can all agree that there’s probably nothing more uncomfortable than that frigid winter air on your neck. But seeing as those cozy infinity scarves are now the hottest trend, you can get away with layering these wonderful inventions right up to your nose. Or wrap yourself up and you’ve got a makeshift cardigan – the bigger the better, right?
So sorry ladies, you can no longer use “it’s too cold” as an excuse for wearing your sweatpants every day. Don’t let this unfortunate polar vortex render your wardrobe obsolete.
Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash
I have tried to put this idea into a working format before, but you seem to have done it in a very professional manner and made it easy to understand.