7 easy ways to wear vintage and still stay warm in the winter

Back in late 2013, I penned a post called Ten Cold Weather Vintage Wardrobe Staples that was inspired by no small part by the scads of comments that I get from fellow vintage fashion fans around the world regarding how to keep sporting old school styles when the temperature is chillier than that of a snowman convention.

If you haven't read that post yet (or want a refresher) I encourage you to check it out, as every last item listed there remains a firm favourite of mine for cold weather dressing. I continue to receive quite a few queries about this topic and as such thought that while winter is still out in full force, I would share some drop dead simple tricks that I use to stay warm when the mercury plummets.

Hailing from Canada, I know a thing or two about cold, snow, ice and the lengthy season that is winter, so each of the following seven tips is one that I employ on a regular basis myself throughout the chilly months of October to April. Of course they can be used any time of the year, if it's nippy outside, and aren't in any way specifically tied to Canada itself.

So without further ado, while I stare out at a heavily snow covered landscape this morning, allow me to share some of the easy-peasy things that I do year after year to keep stay warm, comfortable, and stylish no matter how cold it gets!



1. Sport a warp, shawl, real or faux fur stole, or cape over top of your winter coat. So often we think of our coats as the last and final layer in the war on hypothermia, but they need not be. Many a stylish mid-century (and earlier) lady knew the chic fashion power of further staying roasty-toasty thanks to the addition of a shawl, thick scarf, wrap, cape or the like atop her coat or jacket and it's a trick that we'd all be wise to weave into our own cold weather looks, too.




2. Layer thick tights, long johns, or leggings underneath your pants and long skirts/dresses. This is a lifesaver of a tip for me personally, as I'm loath to part ways with my skirts and dresses during the icy months. When it comes to pants, almost any time the temps are 10C or colder, I slip on a pair of tights or long johns (I haven't owned leggings since I was in grade school, but sometimes I think I should pick up some just for this purpose), usually with socks over my feet for further warmth, and find it helps to keep me many times warmer than if I only had trousers on.




3. Take a cue from polar explorers and mountain climbers everywhere and stack up your outfit in multiple thin to medium weight layers, as opposed to one or two bulky, potentially airy options. Atop my undergarments, I'll usually opt for a full slip and/or a camisole, a thin tee and/or knit, my main garment(s), a cardigan or sweater or blazer/suit jacket, and winter coat, plus a scarf, hat, gloves, boots, and potentially a pair of tights or long johns underneath, as touched on in the point above. This approach often creates less bulk, while also keeping air out and thus helping to trap more of your naturally generated heat close to your body.




4. Wear winter weight gloves inside of a real or faux fur muff. The gloves alone are a good and very natural start, but the muff ups the icy temp protection factor a great deal and almost like having a tiny portable (insulated) house to keep your hands in while you're out and about.





5. Put a lid on it!!! Your head that it! :) A huge percentage of body heat is lost through your noggin, so try to keep your head covered when you venture out. If your favourite vintage winter weather appropriate hats (think sturdy felts, wools, and - if it's not raining/snowing - velvet in terms of material) don't provide enough coverage, consider slipping on a solid coloured fleece ear warmer band or pair of earmuffs in a similar or complimentary hue.





6. Opt for fur (real or faux) or thermal fleece lined boots. Both of my pairs of current pairs of (modern, but wonderfully vintage appropriate) winter boots are faux fur lined (and one has some at the top of the ankles, too) and goodness, does it make a world of difference. Either of their pairs partnered with thick winter socks keeps to keep my feet (which are prone to being cold in general) significantly warmer than most other types of boots I've tried over the years.





7. Turtlenecks are your friend! I know that they're not everyone's cup of tea, but objectively, a basic black, grey, or navy blue turtleneck looks great on a wide range of people, is easy to find at almost any price point, and will never go out of style. If you don't want it to be the star of the show, layer it under a button front shirt, sweater, cardigan, or even a dress and, optionally, top it further with a scarf or shawl, thus almost disguising that you're sporting a turtleneck in the first place, yet staying fabulously warm in the process.


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As you might have guessed before delving into the specifics of today's list, layering is a key factor in many of these seven tips. Obvious as the advice to layer may seem, sometimes it helps to be reminded of (or introduced to, as the case may be) certain ways to do just that, particularly if you're new to dressing for extremely chilly winter temperatures (for example, if you just moved from Florida to Minnesota and have never experienced really cold temperatures before).

During the winter, try to always have extra layers either on your person or within arm's reach. My husband and I aim to keep an extra coat, pair of gloves, and warm socks in the back of our car for each of us, along with our vehicle's emergency survival kit, in case we run into trouble on the road or just happen to find ourselves somewhere that is especially chilly. I also generally have an additional pair of winter gloves, some one-time-use disposal hand warmer packs, and lots of heavy duty lip balm in my bag, too, as each one can help a good deal when you're facing arctic like weather.

Just because it's so chilly outside that ice cream is shivering, it doesn't mean that you can't still look and feel great in your vintage wardrobe during the colder months. Think close fitting layers, high quality garments, longer length pieces, seasonally appropriate accessories, and footwear that can stand up to a blizzard.

With these sorts of things in place, you're bound to look sensational even when the temperate becomes laughably low and all you can daydream about is how amazing it's going to be to sport sundresses again in a few months time.

We'll get there, of course, but right here and now, don your favourite old school winter threads and keep safe, cozy, and warm (or at least warmer) with the help of today's seven cold weather vintage styling tips.