How to stay stylish and warm during the cold snap
After a seemingly warm start to winter, when trench coats and cardigans have been more appropriate outerwear than puffer jackets, icy weather is now on its way. With it comes the joy of winterising your wardrobe. As an Arctic blast of air is set to sweep over Britain, with parts of the country waking up to a crisp layer of frost, temperatures will dip and so ensuring you have enough warm options is essential.
Making the right fashion choices is not only important from a style perspective, it’s also a practical consideration when there is a chance of snow over Scotland and the north of England.
In order to layer up and look chic, here are the styling tips that fashion insiders consider when wrapping up during winter…
1. What lies beneath
Before you even consider what coat to wear, take a moment to prep your underwear drawer. Uniqlo’s legendary HeatTech pieces and Marks & Spencer’s Heatgen are both based on synthetic fibres that are proven to keep you warmer than if you go without. By trapping body heat and moisture, then slowly releasing it back, you’ll stay toasty warm but never overheat. If you prefer a natural fibre, silk is the original thermal regulator. A camisole is the perfect cold-weather base.
Silk Thermal Vest, £38, John Lewis; Heatgen™ Medium Thermal Strappy Vest, £10, Marks & Spencer; HEATTECH Camisole Top, £14.90, Uniqlo
2. Layer it up
The building blocks for any cosy outfit begin with the right layers. You want garments that keep you warm but are thin enough not to add bulk. Anna Cascarina, author of The Forever Wardrobe, has a method when dressing for warmth. “My go-to is a fine merino roll-neck. I like to wear them under a chunky cardigan or jumper or even under a dress. A knitted vest gives your body an added layer of warmth, but allows your arms more freedom.” Other combinations Cascarina recommends are “a cardigan over a thin-knit jumper or a shirt over a T-shirt and knitted vest”. Always heed her advice to start with an item that is good enough to wear on its own – in case start overheating and need to peel off layers.
Roll-Neck Wool Top, £47, Arket; Janice cashmere sleeveless jumper, £180, Cefinn; Fine Babycord Impossibly Soft Forever Shirt, £150, Me+Em
3. The heritage knit
Traditional knitwear techniques and motifs from across the British Isles, such as Fair Isle, Donegal or Aran, are having a fashion moment this season as designers look to the influence of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Heritage knits are always a sensible choice for staying warm, although sometimes the weight of a super-chunky knit restricts movement. Victoria Stapleton is founder of knitwear brand Brora and has a solution: “This season we’ve designed some fabulous Aran knits which look dense and delicious but are cleverly textured to give warmth without weight. They drape to work with your body.” Ideal when reaching for another mug of hot chocolate.
Cashmere Aran Boxy Polo Neck, £625, Brora
Fleetwood Cardigan in Forest with Ecru & Peat, £595, Herd; & Daughter Cable-knit wool sweater, £350, Net-A-Porter
4. Top it off
Instead of a hat, the most practical choice (and for winter 2024, the most stylish) is a balaclava. A favourite with the street style set, the knitted accessory is a brilliant way to inject fun into serious winter looks. Rachael Wood is a co-founder of Chinti & Parker and is a fan: “Instead of buying separate pieces, balaclavas bring together a scarf and a hat in one.” So far, so sensible but Wood also rates the personality a balaclava can add to an outfit. “Quite often knitwear is hidden under a coat but having a statement accessory allows you an opportunity to have fun with colour and texture.” Scrunch the balaclava down around your neck when it’s warmer or slip it on under a hood if it’s snowing.
Wool-cashmere balaclava, £50, Chinti & Parker
Cable-knit wool and cashmere-blend balaclava, £180, Guest In Residence; Wool Blend Grey Knitted Hood, £39, Albaray
5. The boot rules
For any outdoor adventures in winter, your footwear has to be waterproof. Cold feet are horrible but cold and wet? Nightmare. Looking for waterproof boots doesn’t reduce your choice to wellies, though. Italian brand Geox have clever waterproof tech on their leather and suede styles to provide “perfect protection even in pouring rain” along with thermal insulation to help extremities stay warm. Barbour and Le Chameau also have waterproof leather options, then add a sheepskin insole for extra warmth.
Willow Knee-High Boots, £199, Barbour; Spherica Ec7.1 Abx Woman, £170, Geox; La Parisienne, £350, Le Chameau
6. The right scarf
Cascarina is keen on this season’s trend for triangle scarves and believes “they are great for layering over jumpers or coats”. The style also has the bonus of being a great size and shape to wear as a headscarf, tied under the chin. Although triangle styles are the number one for fashionability, don’t overlook a traditional long scarf, which you’re sure to have lurking in your wardrobe already. “Oversized chunky knit scarves are a winner during the winter months,” opines Cascarina. “The longer the better. You want them almost trailing on the floor to give that contemporary feel.”
Wool Blend Knit Bandana Scarf, £25, John Lewis
Pure brushed cashmere triangle scarf, £110, Cos; Cashmere neck tie, £125, Johnstons of Elgin
7. Cosy coats
“Puffer coats are here to stay,” says Nadiah Shukri, a senior buyer at Fenwick. They’re the cosiest outerwear option and thankfully show no signs of falling out of fashion. Once a casual-only cover-up, the puffer has shifted to become a catwalk favourite at Prada and Gucci. For pure performance in winter weather, nothing beats the duvet-warm swaddle of a puffer. “They remain a firm favourite [for Fenwick’s customers] when it comes to winter layering,” says Shukri. As well as classic styles in dark or neutral shades, she notes: “We’re seeing a shift towards more fashion forward, contemporary styles like the seersucker bow detail puffer from Ganni.”
Agora Puffer Coat, £375, Marella; Double fronted coat, £165, French Connection; Hooded long coat, £109, Zara
