Dressing in winter is always a little difficult. You have to somehow figure out how to wear many layers of warm clothes while still looking stylish. Here, a few fashion industry professionals show The Week how they dress up every day during the cold weather, balancing style with warmth and comfort.
Soniya Khatun
Model
20-year-old Soniya Khatun claims that her winter style is always comfortable and casual. She mentions that she prefers dressing up in streetwear inspired clothes that are easy to move around in. The model who is a third year BBS student also mentions that dressing up this way makes her feel at ease and snug—exactly how she wants to feel during the cold weather.
What is your go-to item during winter?
I would say hoodies and sweatshirts are my go-to items to dress up in during winter. Because these clothes fit pretty loose on your body, you can wear some warm layers underneath them to keep yourself warm during the chilly winter days. Also, they are very comfortable to wear and that’s what I consider super important while getting dressed. I also tend to wear leggings lined with fur on the inside a lot during winter.
How do you accessorize your winter looks?
I think the accessories I pick depends on the outfit I’m wearing. If I’m wearing skirts, I style them with a bunch of small rings. If I’m wearing hoodies, I manage my hair with cute little hair pins. Besides these, I’m always wearing a scarf during winter. I’m pretty dusky, so scarves in warm and nude tones compliment my skin. I also wear boots—ankle boots and thigh high boots to be more specific—and sport shoes during winter.
Your winter styling tip?
I think you can experiment a lot with layering during winter. Because it’s so cold out, you have to wear multiple layers of clothes anyways. So, why not have some fun while you’re at it. I think turtlenecks are super versatile for this.
Color preference during winter?
I’m on the duskier spectrum of skin tones so I avoid using a lot of dark colors like black because they make my skin look dull. I go for warm colors and nude tones the most.
What is a complete no for you during winter? And, what is a summer clothing that you wear during winter as well?
Wearing cami tops during winter is a complete no for me. I know some people layer it over turtlenecks during winter but I don’t like it. What I think cami tops do best is to show off your skin but if your skin is hidden anyways why wear it?
I think sweatshirts are more of a summer clothing but I wear them a lot during the winter too. I generally wear these over other warm clothes.
What would you wear
To a casual hang out: A pair of mom jeans, a turtleneck, an overcoat and a pair of white sneakers.
To a formal event or a party: A long coat with buttons down one side, a pair of sleek pants with a pair of heels.
Winter wonders
When you don’t want to head out but still have to look presentable: A pair of skinny jeans, a thin sweater, a backpack, a pair of boots with a puffer jacket over it.
Ashim Ranabhat
Fashion student
Ashim Ranabhat, a third year fashion design student at Namuna College of Fashion Design and freelance model, states that she always wants to be comfortable and warm while getting dressed during winter. “You become very conscious of your body if you’re not warm or comfortable,” she says explaining that although as a model she does think looking stylish all the time is a must, she says that only comes after warmth and comfort.
What is your go-to item during winter?
I live in high necks and turtlenecks during winter. I think they are very easy to style and are very warm pieces of clothing. Because most high necks and turtlenecks stick to your body, they trap heat and are great for layering as well. They are versatile items too—you can wear them underneath practically everything and still make the outfit look good. I have them in a bunch of colors and wear them all the time in winter.
How do you accessorize your winter looks?
My top two most used winter accessories are probably my boots and scarf. I really like how boots give an edge to every outfit and I have a small collection of these that I wear in winter. I mostly like boots in warm color tones. As for my scarf, I like big scarves that are very warm. Although I switch wearing them around according to my outfit, I do have two that I wear more than the others—a red scarf that adds a touch of color to dark toned outfits and a white scarf that goes with every outfit.
I’m not big on hats or jewelry but I know they can make your winter outfits look great if you style them properly. I personally find them too restricting.
Your winter styling tip?
Let ‘being warm’ be your goal while dressing up this season. If you’re warm, you’re comfortable which means you’ll be confident in what you’re wearing the whole day. This way, your clothes won’t distract you from your work.
Color preference during winter?
My winter wardrobe is pretty colorful. Over the years, I’ve realized that the colors of items we pick to put together an outfit really matters. Generally, people tend to wear either dark or neutral tones during winter and that makes your overall outfit look very bland, dull and boring. Introduce color in some form into your outfit. It can be through the scarf, shoes, or sweater. Just don’t let the whole outfit be made up of dark and drab colors.
What is a complete no for you during winter? And, what is a summer clothing that you wear during winter as well?
I don’t like wearing open necklines during winter. They might make you look a little more fresh but you’ll definitely be sick the next day.
I utilize dresses—especially bodycon dresses—during winter. They give shape to your body and can be used as great layering pieces. I typically tend to wear a sweater over these dresses.
What would you wear
To a casual hangout: A high neck, a trench coat, a pair of boots and a pair of grunge pants with stockings underneath.
To a formal event or a party: A knit bodycon dress, a colorful or patterned coat with a pair of boots.
When you don’t want to head out but still have to look presentable: A pair of formal pants, a pair of sports shoes, a puffy jacket with a shirt underneath.
Aagya Khanal
Fashion designer
Fashion designer and stunt rider Aagya Khanal mentions that being warm is the most important thing for her while getting dressed in winter. She says she always wears a lot of warm clothes on the inside and then cover these up with a fashionable piece on the outside. “This way, I look presentable but I haven’t sacrificed warmth for it,” says Khanal.
What is your go-to item during winter?
I think I wear loose sweaters the most during winter. It’s essential to wear loose items on the outside during winter to adapt to wearing a lot of warm layers underneath. Otherwise, if you wear something tight on the outside, it will bind your body—especially your arms and shoulders—and you’ll find it difficult to move around. Because sweaters are winter staples, they come in a variety of colors and designs so you have a lot of options to choose from. They can also pull your look together like nothing else and make you appear very fashionable—given you pick the right kind of sweaters.
How do you accessorize your winter looks?
You will always find me wearing a scarf and a pair of boots during winter. I tend to wear large and thick scarves because I feel they provide maximum warmth. I wrap these scarves around my neck—completely covering my neck—in a way that air cannot pass through this layer at all. I pick scarves in grey, green, blue and black colors because I think these colors go well with most of the clothes I own.
Your winter styling tip?
A large sweater with a pair of boots is just right for any occasion during winter. I wear this combination everywhere during winter and it never gets old.
Color preference during winter?
If I were to be honest, up until last year, I only ever wore dark and neutral colors during winter. But this winter, I’m making an effort to have something bright and colorful in my outfits at all times. Usually, whatever I wear on my upper body is very colorful, and my pants and shoes are still very dark and in neutral tones.
What is a complete no for you during winter? And, what is a summer clothing that you wear during winter as well?
Thin summery tops are a complete no for me in winter. They are way too light to provide any warmth in the cold so I never wear them this time of the year.
I think skirts and dresses that we wear in summer can be utilized during the winter with proper styling. I wear them over my warm clothes and they look great.
What would you wear
To a casual hangout: A pair of black pants, a warm sweater, a thick scarf and a pair of flat thigh high boots.
To a formal event or a party: Either a three piece suit set with a dainty neck piece and a pair of studs or a one piece, a pair of black stockings with a pair of long boots.
When you don’t want to head out but still have to look presentable: A pair of parallel (palazzo style) pants with tons of warm clothes underneath a big jacket and a pair of sport shoes.
