Stay warm and on trend

Slaying and staying warm at the same time may appear challenging during windy London winters, but we’ve got you covered!  

London winters are harsh. Period. Whether you’re from a chilly wonderland like Finland or a tropical paradise like Mauritius, coping with the winters in London is not easy. And slaying your game during the winter is even harder when all you want to do is look like this on some days.  

It’s not news that layering is KEY for surviving the winter. The more layers you wear, the more you trap the heat in and around your body. But how do you layer and STILL look good? Here are a few tips that will help you never get out of style ;) 

1. GET YOURSELF SOME GOOD PAIRS OF THERMALS

There’s no superhero quite like a pair of thermals when the temperatures drop below 10 degrees. Thermals come in many basic colours - from black to nude to white - and in different thicknesses too. A good pair may be a bit pricey, but investing in them will keep you cosy and comfortable for multiple winters. Uniqlo Heattechs are possibly the best, but affordable options are available at various stores offline and online.

Ideally, thermals are thin and snuggly that fits your body like a glove. So buying the right size is important.

2. COATS, MUFFLERS AND GLOVES

In London, you gotta be prepared for anything and everything. Rainy winter days are possibly every Londoner's worst nightmare. And an umbrella doesn’t quite stand a chance on rainy, windy winter days. Buy yourself a warm coat that serves as a windcheater or a coat that is rain-resistant. Puffer Jackets often do the job!

While bright colours might be the only happy thing you may look for in the cold winters, try out neutral shades for your coats, jackets and mufflers. Black is, of course, never out of fashion. But you can try out white, off-white, grey, brown and nude shades too! The best thing about basics and neutrals is that you can pull them off with any outfit and look classy each time.

Ideally, one should have a puffer jacket, a windcheater, and a normal coat/jacket for the winter. Add in a good-quality woollen muffler and woollen gloves - and you’re sorted, mate.

Try checks patterns for mufflers - they’re a classic.

3. HEADBANDS, CAPS, BEANIES AND EARMUFFS 

Let’s be real, caps and beanies are hard to pull off. But a cold head or cold ears are never a good idea and a hoodie coat does not always help.

Every head is different and every face is beautiful - you just gotta find the right style for yourself and the right fit. Check out and try all the options before buying a cap that looks good on you. Try beanies, plain head caps, corkscrew hats (with a cute pompom at the top), baker boy hats and headbands.

The right cap should complement your face shape and your hairstyle. The best thing about them is that you can have multiple, in multiple colours (yes, colourful beanies and caps are cute!) - AND they look good with casual, hip-hop, semi-formal and formal outfits. You can also try out options in headbands and earmuffs if you’re not very comfortable with covering up your head entirely.  

4. OUTFITS 

Deciding what to wear on a normal sunny day is difficult as it is. Deciding what to wear when you have to layer up is difficult. The most basic way to tackle this would be to.. stick with the basics. Hustling to keep up with the fast-changing fashion trends is neither good for the planet nor your pocket.

Get yourself some basics. Basics may sound basic, but the best thing about them is that they always go well with each other - giving you a lot of room to try out different combinations. Try getting turtlenecks, full-sleeve t-shirts and blouses, jeans (black, blue, and grey in styles that make you feel the most comfortable), pants (straight, loose and tight) and skirts. When you get these in shades of white, grey, brown - or even really dark hues or really light pastels - they will complement each other like they’re made for each other. No, seriously.

Basics not only give you a lot of room for trying out different combinations, essentially never letting you out of style, but they are also available at every store, in all price ranges, and suit every body type. They are also easy to match for layering! 

5. BOOTS AND JEWELLERY

And lastly, to complete your look and make you look ‘put together,’ wear footwear that keeps you warm and jewellery that adds some shine. One of the (few) best things about winters is that you get to get your boots out!

Get yourself at least three good pairs of footwear (boots, sneakers and loafers) that only keep you warm but are also comfortable to walk in - so you can strut on the streets of London in style. Again, they are classics, meaning they go with every outfit. Grab some funky and colourful socks to add some drama to your look if you feelin’ adventurous.

Finally, add some jewellery to complete your fit - chunky rings and chains (in silver and gold) look really good on both men and women. But of course, this is optional!

Tania
Lilian Knowles House