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The Week

The art of dressing

Winter dressing needn’t be drab. Just because it’s cold and you need to layer up doesn’t mean you have to give style a toss. And you shouldn’t dress in flimsy or weather-inappropriate clothes just to look stylish either. Nobody looks good when they are shivering. Yes, it’s definitely a little harder to dress up and up your style game when it’s freezing outside (not to mention we tend to get lazy during winter too) but with just a little bit of thought and some basic pieces, you can jazz up your winter outfit.
By The Week Bureau

Winter dressing needn’t be drab. Just because it’s cold and you need to layer up doesn’t mean you have to give style a toss. And you shouldn’t dress in flimsy or weather-inappropriate clothes just to look stylish either. Nobody looks good when they are shivering. Yes, it’s definitely a little harder to dress up and up your style game when it’s freezing outside (not to mention we tend to get lazy during winter too) but with just a little bit of thought and some basic pieces, you can jazz up your winter outfit. Here we give you some advice to make practical winter wear fashionable. 


Play with colors

Winter has us dressing in blues, blacks, and gray. It’s not unusual to see people clad in these colors head to toe. Add clothes in colors like mustard yellow, maroon, purple, and green to your winter wardrobe. You needn’t revamp your entire wardrobe either. Just a single piece or two in colors that pop will be enough to make you look good the whole season. Also, sticking to a single color tone will not work during winter so make sure you incorporate a few colors while choosing your outfit for the day. However, when in doubt, stylists also recommend sticking to black, white, and camel. An outfit made up of these colors will always feel stylish. 


Style a hat 

People usually refrain from wearing caps or hats because they think they will get ‘hat hair’ but if you want to stay warm and still be fashionable during winter, especially when you are outside, then a hat is a must. Apparently, you lose 40 to 50 percent of body heat through your head so it really makes sense to keep it as warm as possible. It means you can wear fewer layers on the rest of your body and avoid that tight and uncomfortable feeling. There are different kinds of hat available in the market. Choose a soft one in a basic color that goes with most of your outfits and be ready to take on the cold in your best avatar. 


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Make a great pair of boots the highlight of your outfit

Nothing says good winter style like a great pair of boots. Boots can take your outfit from drab to fab with minimal effort. Invest in a pair of over-the-knee boots and show them off by pairing them with a short dress. Ankle boots work really well when paired with cuffed jeans or a warm cashmere dress Even on those days you don’t feel like spending more than a minute putting an outfit together, just pull on a pair of boots and you are good to go. Also, it isn’t really necessary to get black boots, as many tend to do. There are quite a few good color options to choose from. We recommend camel and maroon.


Don’t underestimate the power of belts and scarves 

Belts do more than just hold your jeans in place. If you have a neutral tone coat or jacket, then you can use a belt in a vibrant color to cinch it at the waist. This trick will work for any coat style. Even bulky coats look good when belted at the waist. 


Just like belts, scarves too can make your winter outfit look good. Scarves can be worn in many more ways than simply wrapped around your neck. You could tie it around your head, use it as a belt on top of your jacket or loosely knot it around your shoulders. There are some really great ideas on how you can accessorize a scarf on Pinterest. Browse for ideas and get creative. But it would be a blunder to not make the best use of this fashion accessory during winter. 


Wear a watch and some jewelry 

It’s natural to give accessories a miss during winter. After all, what can you see amidst the bundle of clothes? But accessorizing your winter outfit isn’t all about what others see. It’s also about how they make you feel. The right accessories can not only make you look good but also give you the confidence you need as you go about your day. You can wear a pair of oversized earrings or layer on some necklaces over that turtleneck you have on. Additionally, it’s also a good idea to wear a watch. It’s a practical thing to do. And a big dial poking out of your coat sleeves looks really cool too. Rings are also ideal winter accessories. A big chunky one (on nicely manicured hands) can take the focus away from the bundle of clothes you have on. 


Maintain your clothes

Quite often you will find yourself pulling on that favorite sweater without much thought. Make sure your favorite items look good and there are no loose threads and that your sweater isn’t pilling. There couldn’t be a bigger fashion faux pas than old clothes that look like they have lasted one too many winters even if they are snug and comfy. Simply use tweezers to pull loose threads to the inside and use a disposable razor to get rid of the pilling. Be careful not to cut through the material though. Stretch the portion you want to clean and gently run the razor blade over it.  


Experiment with your look 

It’s easy to pick similar jackets and sweaters and go for a sort of replica kind of look day after day during the winter season. But resist the urge and experiment with your winter ensemble. If you find yourself wearing jeans with a jacket and accessorizing it with scarves on a regular basis, then maybe you could break that look by opting for a knee-length dress, stockings, and ankle boots on some days. If you are more of a boots person, then you could experiment with various types of jeans and skirts that look good with boots instead of always pairing it with dresses. You could use a weekend to try to put together different looks with the clothing items you already have in your closet. 


Carry some beauty essentials 

Winter can wreak havoc on your skin and make-up and that, in turn, can make your carefully put together outfit look bad. Carry a concealer stick to touch up your makeup whenever you feel the need for it and always keep a mirror handy for that too. Keep face wipes or tissues in your bag to fix runny mascara or kohl. And never, ever forget your trusty lip balm to keep your lips smooth and soft no matter how chilly it gets.

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