sweater Archives - Womens Post

“Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful”.

I love winter. The feeling of snow lightly falling in my hair, the smell of ginger and cinnamon, and, of course, the fashion. I love being cozy, wearing sweaters, scarves, and hats. Sure, it may be cold, but with the right outfit, everything seems warm. For this winter, the trends seem to be heading towards the layered look — an outfit you can wear inside and outside while still maintaining a sense of style.

Here’s what you need to re-create the classic layered look:

4114460381327_004_b-1 — Anthropologie, $98.00

A blouse: This is the “under-layer” of the layered look, if you will. It can be a plan and traditional white shirt with a collar or something a little funkier – as long as the funkier option doesn’t clash with the other layers. These blouses can be worn underneath a sweater with a popped collar and a long necklace or on its own with a cardigan and a short scarf. Pair with skinny jeans or flare dress pants.

A winter dress: These dresses are made with cotton or wool and look amazing with a pair of warm tights or nylons and an oversized sweater. Pair with some boots or high heel pumps for a more professional look. This type of layered outfit is great for the workplace and for an evening out. Just make sure that you are not going to do a lot of walking in the snow if you opt for more professional heels.

4113238541804_049_b3 — Anthropologie, $98.00

A sweater: I feel like this one is obvious. A nice sweater can make or break a wintered-layered look. I tend to love oversized sweaters because you can layer more easily, but if you’ve got a body that just screams for more form-fitted materials, go for it!! If you do opt for the more cozy option, make sure it doesn’t swallow you up. There is a fine line between oversize-chic and just too big! Wear these sweaters with leggings and a pair of nice shoes to make it more business appropriate. Remember to accessorize. For form-fitted sweaters, pair with fitted pants and a textured scarf for a more wintery look.

A cardigan: similarly to the sweater, this one is a closet staple. You can pair it with a blouse as mentioned above, or with a shirt or sleeveless top. It’s important to remember to measure the length of the cardigan according to your body type. Some cardigans can appear rather short on taller women, so make sure it works for you. The trend is to wear the cardigan open, without doing up the buttons, letting it fall in a flattering way.

A scarf: Because it’s winter, duh. The scarf is the perfect accessory. It protects you from the cold wind while you are outside, and then doubles as a great accent with a shirt or sweater. It also has the added bonus of being fuzzy. For added texture, pick a scarf that has fringe or intricately woven materials. This will add a more bohemian style to your outfit.

A hat: This layered look needs a final addition, a winter hat. My personal favourite is a toque or a slouchy hat, something that doesn’t make my hair look ridiculous once I get to the office. The best part about a hat is that if you have a bad hair day, you can always keep the hat on because it’s the winter style!

What is your layered must-have? Let us know in the comments below!

Dear Canadians,

We live in a wonderfully weird country where the snow falls in the morning, the sun blazes in the afternoon, and the wind howls in the evening. One day it could be -28 degrees outside and then the next it will feel like a balmy autumn afternoon.

There are no other words to describe it: the weather in Canada is frustrating, annoying, and just plain crazy.

The challenge becomes this: how to dress for your workday when the temperature can change at the drop of a hat. The solution, dear readers, is layers.

Coats, Jackets, and Cardigans

The key to layers is putting together an ensemble that is warm and professional at the same time. A long-sleeved cardigan paired with a sleeveless printed shirt is the ultimate winter professional look. You can also try a long-sleeved shirt or turtleneck with a blazer — both cover your arms and it makes it easy to shed a layer if the heat in your office is blazing.

If it’s going to be a very cold day, you can always put a jacket over top of the cardigan, over top of a sleeveless shirt. This look can get a bit complex for the inexperienced, but I promise the outcome will be worth it. Keep the layers light so that if you are taking public transportation you don’t sweat through your clothing. One layer is sleeveless, the second is a light cardigan, and the last layer can be a something a little thicker like wool or cotton.

Long cardigan - true black — Gap Canada, $69.95

The knit sweater

Knit sweaters used to be something you hid in the back of your closet, but now it’s time to bring them out. Pairing a colourful sweater with a pair of dress pants and a white blouse as an under layer — collar showing above the neckline — can be a professional and transformative look. If it starts to get warm out, just remove the sweater and reveal the business-ready you!

Another option is to wear a tank top under a knit sweater with a pencil skirt and leggings.

Wrap a scarf around it

Sometimes, all it takes to stay warm is a good scarf around your neck. A thicker wool scarf can be paired nicely with both a winter jacket and a light sweater or cardigan in the office. Or change it up and wear a lighter scarf with a thicker sweater. The best part about scarves is that there is something for every outfit — whether you like silk, shine, matte, fringe, wool, patterns, or knit-wear, a scarf will always be there for you. They are the easiest of the layered accessories.

If all else fails, remember that it’s okay to bring an extra pair of shoes to leave at the office. No one wants to walk in 15 inches of snow with heels, or spend the entire day in waterproof boots that make their feet sweat. It’s okay to leave one “layer” at work while sporting the other on the road.

Do you have a favourite layered look? Tell us about it in the comments below!

sweater

How to get the perfect layered look

Layers — the solution to this crazy Canadian climate