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Weather trumps style?

Helena

Veteran

Hi there, perhaps I am just venting at the apparent early onset of winter, but I really feel like giving up on style altogether! At least where I live, with the exception of perhaps 2 months a year, it is either blistering hot, or bloody freezing, and neither of these is particularly conducive to great style, at least for me. I could have a closet full of great layering pieces, cool blouses, gorgeous boots, and they will get maybe 6 - 8 weeks of wear / year. I am thinking of ditching it all in favor of warm sweats and fleeces for winter, and simple tanks and short for summer, and just be comfortable for a change! I am not talking here about self-care - I have no intention of looking poorly-groomed - but am talking about clothing decisions. I know there are ways to tweak both summer and winter looks, but truly, they all involve some compromise on what genuinely makes sense for the climate imho.

Anyone else feel this frustration where they live? Going to put some wooly socks on now!!

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from AnnieMouse

Anonymous

I totally understand, and I'm not even way up north. In winter, I have to bundle up, so out come the thick sweaters, etc. I never can seem to get warm enough. In the summer, my office is cold so I can layer, but I have to be careful because of how hot it is outside and at my house. I just hate going from the hot outdoors into the cold indoors, or vice versa. It's hard to know exactly what to wear. And where we are, the temps fluctuate a lot. It can be cold one day and warm the next. SIGH....

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Ha! I was just in toronto last weekend and I couldn't help thinking how incredibly stylish everyone looked in their layered jackets, sweaters, scarves, and tall boots. I love the fall weather and I think the clothes are so flattering and lovely! Of course your loungewear has to be warm and cozy but there are loads of options for streetwear.

PS - I couldn't help myself I bought a Zara Parka from the QSW store!

Emily

Veteran

I feel your pain. Southwestern Ontario's weather is a study of extremes. I am pretty sad about putting my pretty sandals on the shelf until next spring.

The bit about the gorgeous boots getting 6-8 weeks of wear has me a bit confused, though! I think in our climate you can easily rock boots from October to March...

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I keep moving between humid hot and snow. Rinse, repeat. I feel like a slave to the weather sometimes and relish the temperate times (summers in Tahoe, winters in FL) that I rarely get.

gryffin

Veteran

You sound so frustrtated. I understand how you feel since I have about a 3 degree comfort zone and I have Raynaud's so my feet and hands turn blue and get painful on even limited exposure to cold. I don't know how other people handle the issue but being a "uniform dresser" has really made my life easier. First, I am a leggings girl...always black, I wear warm knee socks underneath and boots of all heights but typically knee high and OTK in winter. For really cold days I wear my Ugg Belcloud or similiar and they are also waterproof. On top merino tunic (light, non itchy) with gap tank underneath and long blazer. Outerwear for extreme, I have a down parka which could double as formal wear. At home I sub out for a lighter tunic and long sweater usually belted sometime with a huge Vince oversized cardigan on top of that and the Merrill encore nova with the fleece lining. In summer sleeveless tunics, long pendant, leggings (long or capri depending on where I am), great belt and cut out booties as sandals. I keep a blazer for the office. Comfy as sweats but kind of upgraded. I must admit I really need to expand my warm weather options. I think I am better prepared for cold at this point. Good luck you will figure it out. Think of your favorite sweat and fleece outfits and see if you can find upgraded dressier fabrics but with the same comfort and warmth level, same with summer. Hang in there!!

Helena

Veteran

Boots yes - gorgeous boots, not so much. I am born a Toronto-girl but currently live north of - it's Sorel country up here, and though they've made improvements, to my eye they are still in the not-horribly-ugly to ugly spectrum!

When I lived in the city, I didn't have trouble rocking the winter styles, but my life in the city mostly involved running from apartment to subway to office. It's a good bit colder and snowier and outdoorsier in my current location and lifestyle!

Perhaps it's a weather/lifestyle combo that's causing my pain Looking forward to seeing folks' WIWs for the winter, esp. those in cold climate and casual-dress lifestyles!

Helena

Veteran

Gryffin, thank you for your amazing suggestions!! Will be writing up a shopping list off that!!

Emily

Veteran

I'm with you on the sorels. I have a similarly styled pair of timberlands out of necessity for dog walking/shovelling snow. Could your dressy boots work with ski socks hidden underneath, and waterproofing spray?

Helena

Veteran

will try it! ski socks and hidden layers (e.g. tanks, etc. to block out drafts!) will be a critical part of my strategy!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So interesting! Why can't you wear your great layering pieces and boots in the winter? I don't understand?

Helena

Veteran

I don't know, I just find they don't really keep me warm enough ... any stylish boots I've ever had are great until the weather goes below 0C (which is has already *sob*) after which time they are more or less useless and something UGG or Sorel-esque is needed - which are just not pretty to my eye. Same for layers that are truly weather-appropriate (which I'm also not a layer person really, I prefer one-piece solutions, so that might be partly to blame) - I just find that when it's really cold, pretty stuff is never quite warm enough esp. when compared to my big Roots hoodie! I'm a very cold person though, so possible I'm just too wimpy. Or am not shopping at the right place!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I think I understand better now. You run super cold.

You need Angie's Uniglo Heattech under-layers. She swears by them. If not that, then some other super fabulous long underwear. For slightly less cold but still cold temps, go for silk. For true cold, then one of the technical solutions.

Also, warm wool socks. Smartwool is great. Even the thin ones do a job on insulating.

And a fantastic, high quality, serious puffer coat. You might have to buy it at a gear store but it doesn't have to look like gear. My puffer is from Montreal gear maker Lole…but it almost passes for a "fashion" coat. Angie gave it the thumbs up. And it is WARM. Seriously warm.

And yes, I suspect you might have to accept dressing in layers. But you can do like Angie and make the layers relatively invisible by going for the long underwear.

I love layers, so I guess that's what makes F/W dressing feel easier for me than spring summer. In super cold weather I might layer a camisole, shirt, pullover or jacket, scarf, and winter coat. Or I might wear the sweater AND the jacket plus the coat. I don't find my feet get terribly cold in good quality fashion boots with wool socks. If the socks are not wool, forget it -- frozen!!

Layers are only uncomfortable if the cuts are wrong for your body or for each other (i.e. if the shirt is cut in such a way -- or made of such a fabric -- that the pullover feels "bunchy.") I hate that bunchy feeling with a passion (a passion!!) so I don't tolerate it.

Glory

Veteran

I am a bit further north than you and even Suz so a bit colder and wetter. I spent years being and miserable. I believe the key to happiness is high quality winter items.
For me this means excellent quality coats and boots.
I have 2 puffers that I alternate. Both are knee length. One is black Canada Goose and last year I purchased a pink knee length one from Verbio.
I have a few pairs of boots but the two that I rely most on are both from Pajar (Canadian made). One is a lace up ankle boot and the other is a tall boot. Both are leather with genuine sheepskin lining. I have had the boots for over 5 years and they show no signs of giving up yet. I went up 1/2 size in both boots to allow for heavier socks. The only time my feet have been cold in these is when we dip into -30 c. I spent tons of time outside.
None of the these look like gear. I got the thumbs up last year for the pink coat but I did buy it at a sports shop.

Peri

Veteran

Absolutely! I rarely love my summer clothes, I just try to survive the season.

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

I am still learning how to be stylish in winter, but I can say things got a lot easier once I accepted that I won't ever feel as cozy and warm outside as I would had I stayed inside and wrapped in blankets. I am not saying that you must freeze, but, hey, if you are outside, temperatures are below 10 negative (Celsius) and your face is not covered in a ski mask... it won't be that comfortable. Expectations adjustment is the better solution for balancing warmth and style IMHO.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I hear ya. For me it's salty slush, not so much the cold (Nova Scotia). When I first moved here I put all my leather boots away, they were just getting wrecked. And carrying boots to work to change into seems silly. Although I do find that more companies are actually making warm, waterproof, stylish boots. You just have to find them!

Helena

Veteran

Great suggestions from all, thanks - there is a Marks down the street which I will try for some warmer underthings as well as your suggestion Suz which I will look up - and yes, not be SUCH a typical Torontonian and be so wimpy ... you did say it MUCH more politely than that, but let's be honest!!

Glory

Veteran

TG - Marks just put out a flyer today so you might get some discounts

catgirl

Veteran

I hear you. By the end of winter, I feel totally desperate. This is why we go to Hawai'i for two weeks in early spring.

Boots and jackets, baby! Also am a huge fan of cozy cashmere beanies - I even wear them around the house.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

No -- I totally get this! Just because I find it easier (in some ways) to dress in fall/ winter doesn't mean everybody does!

Me, I struggle in the heat and always feel totally uninspired and unfashionable in the summer. So just wait a few months. I will be the one complaining then!

Also, I do have one serious winter bugbear and that has to do with bookending in winter. It's really difficult for someone with light hair and light colouring. All the boots and pants that are halfway practical to wear are DARK. So I end up wearing all darks-- and that is too dark for me. Or else I wear dark on bottom, light on top, and that is too severe and does not cohere. Urgh.

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

My last winter uniform was, actually, a "winterized" look: t-shirt + wool or cotton sweater + leather, polyester or wool shorts + 100 tights + tall boots (wool socks came on top of the tights if the boots were unlined or I was running colder on a given day) + shearling jacket.

I plan on being more "traditional" this winter, due to some routine changes (a.k.a new office job). This means I bought a new black jeans, a corduroy jeans and a wool pencil skirt. I also plan on incorporating vests to my winter outfits... (since shearling jackets or coats feel uncomfortable if layered over blazers or leather jackets)

Aquamarine

Veteran

I need my feet and hands to be warm or I am miserable. A few years ago, I started buying Smartwool socks. They are pricey but so worth it for me. You can get different weights for various shoes/boots. They seem to hold up pretty well...I don't put them in the dryer, however.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Aqumarine... also try Icebreaker socks. They last way longer than Smartwool (my smartwools seem to wear out in the heels and balls of my feet. I do love them though).

dustt

Veteran

Chiming in from Michigan - frost on the roof this am - so it was below freezing this morning - can't live without the silk long underwear top and bottoms for pants top only with some SERIOUS tights for skirts!! and cashmere turtlenecks!! - then I can put some extra layers on only if I feel the calling - wool dress pants - cashmere - boots for outside shoes for inside carried in a stylish - coordinated tote!! - oh and a pair of grey cashmere fingerless gloves are always in that tote bag too!!

qfbrenda

Veteran

It sounds like they have winter sorted for you. For summer, my basic "survive the heat" formula is dress + sandals.

Gaylene

Veteran

Personally I think you can dress for your climate and personal comfort--and still look good if you are realistic about your lifestyle and needs. You've got lots of good tips here from other ladies so I won't be adding to the list, except to second the tips about silk long johns and Icebreaker underpinnings and socks.

I used to wonder why people complained about being cold downhill skiing until I took a closer look at some of the so-called ski gear they were wearing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you live in an extreme climate, functionality has to be as important as fashion. And many designers and manufactuers have really stepped up their game in the past few years. Check out some of the Canadian companies located in Montreal and see how well fashion and functionality can co-exist.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Hey, I just saw Sorels featured in this month's In Style - it was a Hunger Games-inspired spread. Maybe you could go for a badass archer look I agree with the suggestions for undergarments, socks, etc, they can really make all the difference for comfort. You may need sweaters, blazers, etc., in a couple sizes to make it work, too - size up a blazer so you can wear multiple layers under it for the super cold months.

Freckles

Veteran

I may be lying to myself that the Pajar and Blondo with sheepskin lining are fashionable but nothing beats them for warmth.
For me, nothing keeps me warm except wool. My duvet is even wool. I think cashmere is the warmest for the lightest weight and then comes lambswool and then merino. Also the closer to the body fit of your base layer really improves things.
I hate elastics on my waist so am going to go to the tailor to see about snap in linings for some of my pants. As the weather cools down I can add them and take them out as it warms up. Seems sensible to me for someone who can't wear the long underwear thing due to needing a really loose fit around the stomach.
Wool blazers are amazing but alas I wear sweater coats as they are longer and keep the butt and legs warm too.
I do cheat and wear fleece as an apron over my cashmere when doing dirty household jobs or going to a hockey game under a jersey but neither of these are fashionable locations anyway and you just take it off when you quit doing that.
I find the really old fashioned cross country wool ski socks that went up over your knees really warm under pants for an extended outdoor or arena location in the depths of winter.
For the summer I don't really have an answer. I am not a sleeveless skirt/dress wearer even though I find them very attractive. It is the humidity that really gets me. Was looking for linen as some of the other fabbers recommended but didn't find anything that ticked all the boxes last summer.

Edit...meant sleeveless top or dress/skirt wearer.

AnnieMouse

Veteran

I'm in awe of all y'all that live in colder climes. I'm in what's generally considered to be a pretty temperate climate, and waking up to 35°F this morning was misery to me!

Having said that, as a cold natured heat loving basker, I'm taking notes on all of these tips to keep me warm this winter!