Wearing cropped jeans or pants in mild Winter weather is quite doable, but when temperatures plummet, exposing your ankles is out of the question. In order to stay comfortable you need to cover them up. Here’s how I’ve managed to stay comfortably warm and pulled together in my cropped bottoms with temperatures between -6 and 2 degrees Celsius (34 to 21 degrees Fahrenheit.)
Thermal Underpinnings
It is essential that I wear long underwear and socks from Uniqlo in our frosty Winter because they’re warm, lightweight, cosy, comfy, wick away perspiration, and fit like a glove. I wear the long-sleeved tee, leggings and socks under my outfit. Here are the exact items.
Heavier Knitwear & Cropped Straights & Flares
A heavier knit, wool-rich pullover is warmer than a fine gauge one. I make sure it’s not too oversized, and structured in the right places, so that it’s not wearing me. Thinner turtlenecks and cashmere tees are another good option and I wear those a lot too. Here are my warmest pullovers and a few pairs of cropped straight and flared jeans/pants that have been in consistent rotation during our cold Winter. The exact items are represented in the collection.
High-Shaft Footwear
Pair cropped jeans and pants with booties that close the gap so that you aren’t exposing any skin. Ideally the top of your booties should overlap with the hems of your bottoms by just a bit. Straight and flared crops are ideal because the flare drapes over the top of the boots quite perfectly. Cropped skinnies would not have the same effect. Furthermore, weatherproof booties with thick soles and fleece lined inners are extra toasty. These are my go-to cold weather booties that have been getting a workout these last few months (all insulated with weatherproof spray).
Outerwear
Nothing keeps me quite as warm as a puffer coat, so I’ve been wearing both my short toffee puffer and long black arctic puffer quite a bit. But my red, chartreuse and cream coats are my warmest wool coats, and they’ve come out to play when working with clients or going out to dinner with friends. Here are the exact items from my wardrobe.
Winter Accessories
Scarf, hat and gloves are an important toasty finishing touch. I have an assortment that doesn’t match exactly, but works well together. Here are the exact items from my wardrobe that can be mixed and matched to work with my outfit.
Here I am putting the outfit formula into casual action with Sam at Whidbey Island last month. It isn’t visible, but I’m wearing a chunky red tomato red pullover under the puffer coat. My cream satchel works well with these Wintery looks because it picks up the cream in my hat and gloves, so it’s been getting a workout too.
