Fashion
5 tips to get out of your winter wardrobe rut
PHOTO: Pexels
Fashion
5 tips to get out of your winter wardrobe rut
Are you as bored of your winter wardrobe as I am of mine?
Don’t get me wrong—I actually love bulky knits over jeans, sweater dresses over cozy tights and turtlenecks, toques and camp socks. But this is the time of year when I start to get a little tired of my winter go-to's. It’s the time of year when I feel like I’m in a bit of a fashion rut. But, I'm determined to find ways to keep it fresh because—let’s face it—we likely have several more weeks (maybe months) of winter weather.
Here are five ways I’m hoping to spice up my own outfits in the next few weeks—and if you have the right elements you won’t even have to pick up anything new. Though, you (erm—I) might want to.
1. White on white
My favourite way to break out of a style rut is to embrace a monochromatic look. It's a great way to make a visual impact, while still staying true to whatever shapes and silhouettes you tend to favour. In the winter, there's nothing more impactful then wearing white on white. Partly because it's seen as daring (all-white? how do you not get it dirty?) but also because white is typically seen as a summer shade (it isn't, though we all tend to wear darker colours in the winter). While you could keep to the same hue for your accessories, I like to mix it up with browns and tans to keep it light, but not blinding. If you're not into a full white look, embrace the monochromatic tip instead. Wear head-to-toe grey or red.
Sweater, $90, evernew.ca. Wide leg pants, $40, hm.com. Jacket, $228, aritzia.ca. Michael Kors bag, $298, michaelkors.ca. Boots, $140, aldoshoes.com.
2. Shop your summer closet
They key to wearing some of your summery pieces in winter is, of course, layering. I'm a fan of picking up a summer skirt or dress and pairing it with a chunky knit and knee-high or over-the-knee boots. Add a great winter jacket and you've got a killer winter look that feels fresh thanks to some great layering. Bonus points if you do a little print-clashing (a stripe and a dot can go together) or have fun with colour and texture. Think a silky slipdress under a thick knit and leather boots.
Sweater, $115, jcrew.com. Skirt, $80, zara.com. Jacket, $190, evernew.com. Boots, $100, callitspring.com. Purse, $99, poppyandpeonies.com.
3. Colour-blocking (or just colours in general)
If you're anything like me, you tend to favour neutrals year-round. I'd be lost without my trusty denim jeans, grey sweaters and white t-shirts. But, I find that breaking out a fashion rut, especially in the winter, sometimes requires a dose of colour. For me, this means pulling out my bright red sweater which I love but almost never wear. Maybe for you, it means picking up a yellow knit or a kelly green bag or a millennial pink coat. If you're still feeling apprehensive, try layering colours in the same family, but keep the brights to a minimum. Opting for khaki-toned pants but wearing other pieces in shades of pink, red and burgundy is such a standout look. Red not your hue? Try navy, cobalt and periwinkle or lilac, plum and raspberry.
Pants, $50, zara.com. Sweater, $60, hm.com. Coat, $170, evernew.com. Boots, $190, lechateau.com. Bag, $165USD, everlane.com.
4. Dress over jeans
Whenever I feel like my outfit isn't interesting enough (or if I'm just bored of my regular go-to outfits) I always layer a dress over skinny jeans. I'm not sure why, but it instantly makes me feel put together and prepared for the day—even if it's just the same old skinny jeans I wear most days and a sweater dress I've had for years. Playing with proportion is always a great way to update your existing pieces. The dress over jeans trick is my go-to because it can work with so many different shapes. As I mentioned, I usually opt for a sweater dress over skinny jeans, but you could do a shirt-dress over wide-leg trousers, a t-shirt dress over boyfriend jeans or a minidress over cropped pants. The possibilities are endless—and it almost always looks fresh.
Dress, $50, zara.com. Jeans, $164, jcrew.com. Boots, $170, cougarshoes.com. Hat, $19, joefresh.com. Bag, $39, joefresh.com.
5. When you're truly stuck, add accessories
When you truly can't find a way to break out of your rut, it's sometimes not worth fighting. There are days where I really can't be bothered to wear anything other than jeans and a t-shirt or slouchy trousers and an oversized sweater. If that's where you're at, my best advice is to add one stand-out accessory. I'm partial to many-layered necklaces myself (I never met a gold pendant I didn't like), but adding a pair of bold earrings or a great patterned shoe or a knockout bag or even a red lip is a great way to feel a little better about your wear-it-way-too-much outfit.
Sweater, $160, bananarepublic.ca. T-shirt, $20, zara.com. Joggers, $35, hm.com. Boots, $125, gapcanada.ca. Earrings, $115, ilovebiko.com.
Recommended
Comments