For many of us Winter means very low temperatures and our skirts and dresses go into hibernation until Spring. But if skirts and dresses are your silhouettes of choice, there are ways to wear them and stay warm despite the bitter cold. I have used most of these strategies in frigid February temperatures at New York Fashion Week. 

Longer Lengths and Winter Weight Fabrications 

It helps enormously when skirts and dresses are made of warmer fabrications like wool or wool blends, and are lined for extra insulation. Longer length skirts and dresses, on the knee or longer, keep you warmer too. 

Warm Knitwear

Although a skirt might look best with a shirt or blouse, you’ll feel warmer all round when you pair it with insulating knitwear. By all means layer knitwear over a shirt or blouse (flannel shirts are particularly cozy). Wear chunky or fine gauge knitwear in fitted or fluid silhouettes. Partially tuck the pullover for a little structure if that’s what’s required. 

Fleece Lined Tights

Fleece lined tights are the warmest tights of all. Like WOW warm. They are widely available in black and some colours. They do create an opaque look, which might not be the effect you’re going for. I don’t wear opaque tights at all because I prefer the softer visual effect of sheer hosiery. In that case I layer two pairs of hose — a nude pair with a sheer patterned black pair — for extra warmth. 

Knee-High Boots

Skirts and dresses look great with all sorts of short fashionable booties, but I’ve found that the leg coverage of knee-high boots keeps you much warmer, especially if the boots are lined with a cozy fabrication and the soles are thick. I’ve also worn socks over two pairs of hose to keep my feet from freezing. 

Thermal Undergarments

Wearing a long sleeved thermal undershirt over your bra and under the rest of your top layers is highly effective. I’ve found that Uniqlo’s Heattech products, which come in an assortment of warmths, work best. I haven’t tried wearing thermal leggings underneath skirts and dresses, but it might work if they are suitably covered. 

A Jacket Under Your Coat

Some may find this uncomfortable, but a jacket over your knitwear and under your coat has a very insulating effect. The jacket must be relatively streamlined and definitely not bulky. It also requires a roomier coat. Most of my coats can accommodate fluid, fine gauge knitwear and a streamlined jacket underneath them. 

Warm Finishing Touches

Top it all off with a super warm coat (wool or puffer), hat, gloves and scarf when you’re out and about. It’s amazing how much warmer a scarf and hat keeps the rest of your body. You can also get hand and foot warmers that slide into gloves and shoes. Upon the recommendation of a friend, I will be looking into those products the next time I’m in arctic temperatures. 

These skirt and dress wearing strategies aren’t as warm and practical as wearing jeans and wool trousers with thermal leggings, smart wool socks and boots. This is the reason I generally stick to cozy jeans and trousers during the coldest months of Winter. But you might not be as sensitive to the cold as I am, you might have milder Winters, or you may need to stay warm for your commute, but spend most of your day in a warm indoor environment. Or you may just LOVE to wear skirts and dresses in defiance of the polar vortex.

Do you wear skirts and dresses during Winter, and if so, do you have any extra tips on how to stay warm while wearing them?

An exhibition about counterfeiting fashion, Pantone has announced it’s Colour of the Year 2015, Julia-Louis Dreyfus is the new face of Old Navy, and other style stories that made the rounds this week.

• On Monday, Victoria Beckham won Brand of the Year, and Emma Watson was crowned most stylish at the British Fashion Awards 2014. 
• A new exhibition at the Museum of FIT is devoted to the history of counterfeiting fashion.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the new face of Old Navy. She will star in their commercials for the next half year.
• Pantone’s 2015 Colour of the Year is… Marsala, a hue that falls somewhere between rose and brown. 
• New Balance and Kate Spade Saturday are bringing out a collection of colourful graphic patterned sneakers.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that there are companies who hire people to break in your raw denim for you? Hiut Denim in West Wales is one of those companies. They “employ 50 denim breakers to wear in jeans before they’re sold, or auctioned, to customers”. Check out this Guardian article to see how it works.

Here’s an easy holiday outfit formula that’s based on a sparkly sweater. Dress it up for a fancier bash, or dress it down for a casual setting. A sparkly sweater is a versatile piece that comes in handy, so if you come across one that fits the bill, buy it. It will probably save you from some holiday dressing stress later on. 

I’ve created three outfit combinations to get you started. The renditions on the left are dressier, while the rendition on the right dresses up a pair of distressed jeans.

Here are the components: 

Sparkly Sweater: Metallic knitted pullovers in gold, bronze, silver and pewter are a slam dunk. But sparkly sweaters in black, navy, burgundy, charcoal and blush are fun too. If you don’t have a sparkly sweater, try a sparkly upscale sweatshirt or top with sequins. Choose any silhouette as long as there is glitz and shine in the top. Wear the sweater untucked if that looks best, or partially tuck with a belt. 

Bottoms: There are many, many silhouettes of bottom to wear with a sparkly sweater so do think outside the box. I’ve kept the colours solid, but patterned bottoms are another way to go. 

• Dressy: Pair a sparkly sweater with a pencil skirt or flared skirt. A feathered skirt is a fun idea, as are silky harem pants or upscale track pants. Jacquard pants, cigarette pants, cropped pants, dressy flared trousers or culottes are more options. You’ll find that black bottoms work well with most sparkly tops. 

• Casual: Pick a pair of jeans in any style or wash of blue denim. Black, grey or white jeans are further options. If coloured or patterned jeans work with the sparkly sweater, go for it. 

Footwear: Choose dressy footwear for either rendition. After all, this is a party. If you’re going to wear boots, err on the dressy side. Think pumps in black or a metal, or any other type of festive shoe. Animal print footwear tends to work quite well too. 

Accessories: I vote clutch all the way, and a whimsical style adds a humourous dimension to the outfit. Add a belt if your outfit looks better with one, and wear hosiery for warmth and a dressier touch. Remember that nude knee-highs work well with pumps and jeans if you want to look bare-legged but prefer the insulation. Fascinators are a festive way to finish off the party look. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired. 

Top the whole lot off with a jacket or coat that’s weather appropriate. And by all means wear this outfit formula during the day. Daytime sparkle is completely mainstream and as strong a trend as ever.

10 Ways to Shop Charitably This Season: The Huffington Posts lists 10 brands that use part of their profits to give back to the community.

Refinery29 did some research and presents The Smart Girl’s Guide To Loyalty Programs.

BoF reports that in an effort to entice customers to use their services, PayPal and Google Wallet are offering holiday deals and discounts.

Fab Links from Our Members

Laurinda reports that Australian TV anchor Karl Stefanovic wore the same navy blue suit for a year to show the different dress code requirements for men and women. Now he is auctioning off the well-worn suit for a campaign to end violence against women. Update: Deborah kindly let us know that the suit was sold for $10,000. The guy who bought it owns and runs a resort that specializes in wedding events and he is going to have the suit available for hire. Any money made from it will go to the White Ribbon organization.

Approprio enjoyed this wonderful video about the craftsmen of London’s Savile Row, home to the last of the bespoke tailors in Britain.

Several forum members have expressed interest in dressing for your personal contrast levels. Milehighstyle (Linda) points us in the direction of Imogen’s post with photos and detailed explanations of how it all works.

Dianthus found Accidental Icon’s post “Clothing Matters As In Grey Matter” very interesting.

Angie loves Catherine’s killer tartan scarf outfit. Simple, on trend, practical, comfortable, and equally dramatic. She would also like to share Sally’s list of clothing resources for tall gals.

Laura stumbled upon these location-enabled jackets for navigating around Paris.

Carole loved Imogen’s recent post on determining if an article of clothing will date quickly.

In this era of fast fashion, Vildy would like to share an article that talks about the Japanese tradition of Boro: items of clothing sewn from hemp that “would be maintained throughout the owner’s lifetime, or perhaps even longer”.

Suz was fascinated by this short history of why Asians wear surgical masks — aside from the obvious fears of pollution, that is.

Lyn D. recently thrifted a Mulberry handbag, and wanted to share the Festive Film on their website.