How-to styling guides are great, they make getting up in the morning and putting together your look for the day a little easier. However, they do work on the assumption that you already own all the must-have items for the season and that you really just need some guidance on putting it all together. For many, these how-to guides miss an important first step; the what-to-buy guide. So let’s take the first step together, here’s a “what to buy for winter so that you can properly style yourself” guide. This first of our 3-part series will focus on clothing (part 2 and 3 will shed light on footwear and finishing). Let’s get started!
1. Jackets
When buying a jacket this winter there are three Ps to remember: puffer, parka and plush. Puffer jackets are a great blend of style and practicality, their padded construction is sure to keep you nicely insulated from winter’s icy winds while their quilted design – especially when colour blocked – will have you feeling ski-ready.
Parkas have their design heritage firmly rooted in colour weather exploration – those faux fur trims do actually have practical purposes! However, this does not exclude it from a modern urban lifestyle; it’s just as suitable for the everyday commute as it is for a trek through some icy wilderness.
Lighter-weight parkas make a great cover-up when the weather is more chilly than icy, but if you’re looking for something with a more casual feel try a half-zip anorak instead.
Jackets with a plush texture have a distinctly different feel (literally and figuratively) to the season’s other main jacket styles. While puffers and parkas feel modern and technical, plush jackets have a comfy retro vibe about them. Fabrics and trims to keep an eye out for are corduroy, shearling, borg and teddy.
2. Knitwear
This winter is truly the time to go bold with your knitwear patterns, but if you’re worried about looking like you’re trying to pull a Christmas in July avoid any patterns that involve snowflakes, reindeers or – and this is really important – Santa Claus.
If you’d rather give the patterns a skip and would prefer a knit with a cosier – almost cocooning – feel, look out for options in a waffle knit, cable patterns, shawl collars, half-zip necks or roll-necks.
3. Sweatshirts
This season’s must-have sweatshirts are bright and bold; they’re ready to grab your attention with their use of bright hues, bold branding or both. Full tracksuit options are also not shying away from colour.
Should you need a break from all the bright colours, try a palette cleanser, the always awesome grey sweatshirt is the perfect option.
4. T-shirts
T-shirts follow sweatshirts’ lead by employing bright colours and bold branding to make their mark. If you’re looking to be bang-on-trend – and if you’re reading this, you more than likely are – look out for long sleeve T-shirt options with print, tape or logo detailing down the sleeve. Very nineties, very retro!
5. Jeans
Jeans are a wardrobe staple and through the seasons they have gone through a host of styling changes; rips, abrasions, fades and washes have all have their time in the styling spotlight. This winter, we’re paring back all those details and going for a clean and classic look. While fits will remain a personal choice, it’s the clean surface of the jeans that is the important thing this season. You don’t have to completely abandon your favourite ripped jeans, but do try to keep the flashes of knee and thigh to a minimum.
6. Chinos
Chino fits, like jeans, are a matter of personal choice, but remember more fitted styles work better in a work or smart-casual environment while looser fitting styles – especially when paired with a sweatshirt and sneakers – are more relaxed and casual. If you’re looking to hit the dadcore trend on the head, pair some loose fitting or pleated chinos with a patterned jumper and some chunky-soled (dad) sneakers.
We hope this guide has shed some light on what to buy this season. Now you’re ready to go off and build your new winter wardrobe.
Check out what’s trending this season in Winter 2019.
