The Winter Wardrobe Essentials List
PC: Florré
I try, and fail, every year to embrace the wonders of winter. I picture snow-kissed hills and boughs of holly but in reality, it’s bleak, wet, gray, and miserable. But the purpose of this story is not to put you in a gloomy mood. To the contrary, I’m taking you with on my journey to (once again) attempt to romanticize winter, and it all starts with the right wardrobe.
I started this season off on the right foot—I purchased this Frankie Shop coat which, honestly, has been a game-changer. The coat really is the outfit, on top of being actually warm enough to wear with nothing but a T-shirt underneath. Now that we’re in December, though, I’m making a note to stock up on more cashmere sweaters, neck warmers, gloves, and thermal tights. The goal is to have an immaculately curated winter wardrobe, so that when my mood is even lower than the temps outside, I can blindly throw something together and still look chic.
My winter wardrobe essentials list looks something like this: a stellar long coat (check), fuzzy black snow boots (that aren’t ridiculously chunky), heattech base layers (thank you Uniqlo), leather gloves, cashmere balaclavas, and endless sweaters of all types (hoodies, zip-ups, and pullovers). You likely already have this, but some wide-leg pants that can be layered over tights are vital too. And if you don’t, it’s okay, I found everything you need to build a winter wardrobe from scratch, below.
*Oh and word of advice? Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to winter gear. The right fabric, weight, stitch, etc., will literally be the difference between catching a cold and staying healthy. So while it may feel a little painful to splurge on a cashmere sweater or wool coat, I promise you it will be worth the investment—take it from someone who went the cheap route year after year, until now.
The Essential Outerwear
Helsa coats have been on my mind, day and night. I couldn’t help but put two of its designs in this roundup. Plus a stunning scarf coat by Rue Sophie and of course, an Aritzia Super Puff.
The Essential Sweaters
When it comes to affordable cashmere, Aritzia does it better than anyone else. My advice? Stock up on a bunch of their sweaters. I’m also including a famously soft Almada The Label turtleneck and something from my new favorite brand, We Norwegians, below.
The Thermal Base Layers
These base layers are the true heroes of winter. I have a few of these Uniqlo Heattech tops, and despite being rather thin materials, they magically keep me warm through the evenings. Fleece-lined tights have been on my wishlist too, and I’m finally getting some this winter.
The Wide Leg Pants
You need wide-leg pants in the winter. Nobody wants to squeeze into scratchy skinny jeans when it’s snowing out. Slide into some leggings or tights and then slip these cozy bottoms over.
The Cozy Accessories
I recently got the below Aritzia cashmere neck warmer, and it’s the perfect alternative to balaclavas, if you don’t like to cover your entire head.
The Winter Boots
I’m obsessed with these Gucci horsebit leather boots at the moment. I’ve put in a request to the shopping gods that I would stumble upon them at the Woodbury outlet someday. In the meantime, I’m also thinking of just getting some mini Ugg boots for quick errands around town, and more ergonomic trekking boots for walks with my dog.
