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Winter has officially started to rear its head.
Whether you are planning an upcoming ski holiday or simply looking to dress suitably for low temperatures, now is the ideal moment to review your winter wardrobe.
Dressing for cold weather rarely carries a stylish reputation, with practical warmth traditionally taking precedence over design.
However, functional attire can still look refined, and skiwear is no longer restricted strictly to the slopes.
“People are dressing ‘Arctic chic’ without actually going to the slopes,” notes Alyson Taggart, seasonal style expert at Damart.
Whether you’re heading skiing, looking forward to the apres, or just want to be cosy and stylish on your next dog walk, this season is all about fashion-forward layering…
Get your thermals right
“The key thing for dressing in winter when it’s cold is layering,” explains Taggart – and it’s important to get right, as that is what’s going to be right next to your skin.
“With thermals and base layers, it’s important that they’re breathable, it’s important that they offer you insulation – so they’re warm, so they don’t make you sweat.”
For Taggart, it’s vital to look out for stretchy materials – particularly suggesting polyester and polyester blends – because “they’re more durable and they’re washable”. Merino wool also works, she suggests, but there’s one key material to avoid.
“Cotton actually retains the heat, retains the moisture, so if you’re outside and it’s cold and you’ve got moisture, you’re going to get colder and colder.”
Layer, layer, layer
The key to successful winter dressing is all about layering – pieces you can easily put on or off, depending on how cold it actually is.
As a blueprint, after your thermal layer Taggart suggests going for “knitwear or a fleece, then ultimately the last layer is a waterproof coat or jacket”.
And she recommends choosing that final layer wisely.
“If it’s quite a big puffer jacket, don’t go for volume before mobility because you’ve got to be able to move.
“Whether you’re skiing or walking the dog, it’s making sure that you can move freely and feel comfortable in it, and almost not feel the weight of it.”
Elevate your look
There are simple ways to make skiwear more fashion-forward – whether that’s leaning into thoughtful touches, or picking up some of the season’s biggest trends.
Thermals are no longer grey and lifeless, with Taggart recommending “feminine” accents such as lace detailing along the neckline.
“So when you come indoors and start taking off your jumpers and your other layers, you won’t look as if you’re necessarily wearing underwear – it’s almost like a top,” she explains.
Plus, she’s a big fan of adding a splash of colour with your thermals: “That’s what makes it not look underwear-y, it makes it look a bit more elevated.”
Quarter-zip fleeces and jumpers are another popular style at the moment, with Taggart suggesting they’re perfect unzipped to showcase a flash of lace or a pop of colour underneath.
In terms of trending colours, Taggart says there are two ends of the spectrum this season: on one side are the “soft creams, pale blues, more neutrals – like beiges and browns”, and on the other are “bold colours” like royal blue, bright red, touches of greens. “It’s just about how bold you are as a person,” she says, while adding: “Monochrome never goes out of style – we are still seeing that black and white dressing is going straight into autumn/winter.”
There are some “definite trends” within skiwear that will be big this season, according to Taggart, that can help keep your winter look on the cutting edge.
One is retro styles – think jazzy jumpers and fun patterned knitwear – and another is “tonal dressing”, AKA dressing entirely in one colour. All-red looks are set to be particularly popular this season, perhaps a nod to the late Diana, the Princess of Wales’ iconic skiing fashion.
But this doesn’t mean you have to go buy an entirely new outfit just to be on trend, with Taggart saying: “It’s mainly about investing in a capsule wardrobe that you can update yearly – so you can put a really nice, bright jacquard knitwear with it or a pop of colour, rather than actually having to rebuy your outfit every year.”
That’s why Taggart says plainer ski jackets with subtle patterns are an excellent buy, as they can be updated with other items and accessories every year. This could be anything from quilting to an inside print, or fur detailing and a detachable collar.
