The Winter Wardrobe: Dressing for the Outdoors

by Kathy Penney

Fashions come and go over the years. During the teenage years, the speed at which styles change simply adds to the ‘buzz’ of trend-setting but, in later years, it makes sense to opt for classic clothes that are a little more expensive but will not date, and, with the right maintenance, will last and last.

The chic French do not spend a fortune on clothes, and they do not slavishly follow every new trend that the fashion houses throw up. Instead, they purchase a few key items throughout the year, and ring the changes with their use of accessories. They keep their clothing in good repair so the items they buy last a long time.

It’s not long after the designers have finished their fashion week catwalk shows before the cheaper copies of the clothes that have been showcased find their way into the high street. While the designer versions of dresses are extremely expensive,  the copies are quite often vastly inferior – fine it you want a dress to last just one season, not so good if you want value for money.  It is better to spend more on fewer items, making sure you buy with quality in mind, than to buy lots of cheap versions that will fall apart at the first laundering.

A winter wardrobe needs a lot of thought because it needs to take account of  very cold weather as well as the more balmy days that autumn can sometimes bring.

A key item in a winter wardrobe, and one that will not date, is a full-length wool coat.  In a neutral colour such as oatmeal, chocolate brown, or pewter grey, it can be dressed up with the addition of a few simple accessories, such as a scarf, a brooch, or a handbag. These needn’t match; some great looks are put together using clashing colours.  The accessories can be changed each year for very little cost which means that you can change your look without having to go to the expense of purchasing a brand new coat every winter.

If the budget permits, a knee-length coat is very useful, too. This could be a raincoat in the classic beige, which always looks fashionable and, as with the full-length coat, can be enhanced with good accessories.

Footwear is important, too.  A good pair of winter boots is essential. Buy a pair that will work equally well with the full-length coat as the knee-length, and this will double their usefulness.  A pair of court shoes will be a good investment because they look good with any length of dress or coat.

Once the key items have been purchased, accessories come next and are the ideal way of ringing the changes.

The fashions in hats changes almost with every season but, as they are not as expensive as a new coat, buying – or, indeed, making, if you are handy with the sewing machine, knitting needles, or a crochet hook – one each winter will not break the bank.  The same goes for scarves, gloves, brooches, and handbags.  All can be purchased cheaply or made at home, and mean that you can vary the changes as often as you choose.  A bright hat and scarf will give a neutral-coloured coat a completely different look to that achieved if using pastel colours, and will make it feel like a new outfit.

Buy the best coat, boots, and shoes, that  you can afford at the time, and buy them with a view to making them last for many years. Once you have purchased the big-ticket items, the only money you will need to spend to keep yourself ‘on trend’ will be spent on inexpensive accessories. You will get through the colder winter months looking fashionable but knowing that you have a look that will last.

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2. The Perfect Curvy Winter Coat For You
3. Plus Size Pants Trends for Winter 2009
4. Money Saving Fashion Tips for Career Women
5. Top 5 Curvy Winter Wardrobe Essentials