Cold-Weather Style: How to Outfit Yourself for Winter

Snow is falling all around you, children are playing and having fun, it's the season for love and understanding, and it's time to tie things up, everyone, as Shakin' Stevens phrased it. Although winter may be enjoyable, it can also be cold, rainy, and uncomfortable. Here's all you truly need to know about holiday fashion.

Your First Line of Defence

Obviously, warm and comfortable clothing is the order of the day throughout the winter. Don't wear them indoors; you won't feel the advantage, as your mother once said. She had a point, too. Winter clothing may be challenging due to temperature differences between inside and outside, leading some to believe that a bulky coat is sufficient. And, really, if there is snow on the ground, it is exactly what you need.

Get serious: choose goose down (or a more ethical option) and be done with it. The navy and camel overcoats are essential for business or formal occasions, while the peacoat is a versatile option. However, none will come close to shielding you from the elements like anything made specifically for climatic extremes.

Winterproof Your Footwear.

Sturdy Goodyear-welted boots with a military design, such as a rounded toe, toe cap, moc-toe, or heavy brogue, not only provide protection but can also withstand harsh weather.

Avoid suede and nubuck, since snow is not their friend; maintain your boots polished to avoid road salt slush from permanently staining the leather; and choose styles with Dainite-style, commando, or rubber-finished bottoms for grip. Wearing traditional leather soles might be similar to putting on ice skates.

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Step Up Your Layering Game

Given your huge, Yeti-esque form, one might argue that you've sacrificed style for sheer functionality. But there is an option, although one that requires more consideration. Since fall arrived, you've undoubtedly been more used to layering. Now is the moment to think about it like a true outdoorsman would.

The three-layer system comprises a base, middle, and top layer, with the hottest material put closest to the skin. Cotton is an excellent option for a base layer because it wicks moisture, and sweat that cannot leave from your skin quickly becomes chilly, but merino wool is the single most effective item you can wear to stay warm. It serves as a comfortable base for the remainder of your outfit.

However, it is much more efficient if the layers above it are built up in numerous smaller layers rather of one thick one (which traps heat). To layer, start with a long-sleeve shirt or tee, then add a knitted sweater, fitting cardigan, or sweatshirt. For a soft tailored look, add an unstructured blazer or overshirt. Finish with your winter coat.

The challenge is to pay close attention to each layer you put, since once inside, any of them might become the one everyone sees. You should also avoid adding so many layers that your movement is limited, or so few that you rely only on your outerwear for warmth.

Concentrate on Texture.

Personal style is, naturally, unique to each individual. Do things your way. But, if you're not sure, keep the colors of these different layers complimentary - after all, winter is the one time of year when navy, charcoal, and black don't seem out of place - and play with textures instead: coarse next to a smooth finish; slubbed next to a fabric with a shine.

With this in mind, you can wear practically anything casually and yet look great.

Top it off.

Putting anything on your head may lead to catastrophe, especially in men's style. Unfortunately, outside of the entertainment industry, males have acquired a reluctance to wear any kind of headgear that does not make them seem like a long-forgotten member of an EMO band. President John F. Kennedy must be held accountable. His dislike for wearing hats, which reminded him of his father's generation, seemed out of sync with the new dynamism of the 1960s, and messed up his election-winning bouffant, led to the demise of the American hat industry and the widespread association of structured hats with old dufferdom.

While you may not rush to wear a trilby, there are hats beyond the beanie - if a bonce sock can genuinely be termed a hat (accepting that it also has the virtue of protecting your ears). The watch cap, a shorter, more structured knitted woollen hat inspired by the style worn by US and Royal Navy sailors on watch, is a contemporary fashion trend. The peaked flat cap and pork pie hat are versatile designs that complement both casual and formal outfits.

Accessorise Wisely.

As an adult male, you should avoid anything with a pom-pom on it. It should go without saying. Similarly, child mittens that are fingerless or kept together by thread, as well as string-backed driving gloves, are not permitted unless you are driving a Jensen Interceptor.

Having said that, you should invest in gloves and a scarf. When you're bundled up against the weather, your accessories might reveal more about your own style. Think lined leather for gloves and silk or pure wool for a scarf. They should not show your team support, but color and pattern may go a long way here, particularly if the rest of your clothing is more somber.

Scarves, like ties, may be tied in a variety of creative ways. If you are prone to lose your scarf, we propose the so-called constrictor knot. It's designed to be quite tough to undo once tightened.