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.


{To learn more about a specific image used above, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

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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.

Ten cold weather vintage wardrobe staples

Snow, it won't be long before we'll all be there with snow. Snow, I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow. Snow, I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow. Snow, oh, to see a great big man entirely made of snow! 


So begins one of the most memorable songs from 1954's endlessly beloved classic White Christmas, and it was this tune that pranced merrily through my mind yesterday when I awoke up to another fresh blanket of snow.

We may still technically be a few days away from the start of the next season, but for most of us north of the equator, winter has already moseyed into town, ski gear in tow, and set up camp for what stands to be a lengthy haul.

Interestingly however, unlike summer, which in the Northern Hemisphere is universally warm for pretty much one and and all alike, winter is a bird of a different feather. Ranging anywhere from slightly nippy at most (say, for those in places such as Florida and Hawaii) to frostbite in flash, with temperatures dropping to a teeth chattering -40C or lower still!

Winter's behaviour is not the same across the world, but for most, it does entail significantly cooler temperatures, snow and ice aplenty. You might not have banks piled ten feet high on the side of the road, but chances there's at least the potential for enough of the white stuff to make a pint sized snowman with once during the season.

With the official start of the season so near, it seems only fitting take a gander at look at ten cold weather vintage wardrobe staples that are sure to appeal to all those who love old school fashions and want to stay as snug as a bug in a rug come the long, grey, icicle filled days of this winter.

For the purpose of this post, written by a red blooded Canadian who knows a thing or two about winter's unforgiving wrath, I'm going to assume that you live somewhere that sees something resembling a stereotypical winter each year. It may be a little warmer or a whole lot colder than most, but in short it will contain days that hit or drop below freezing, face snow and ice at least a few times, and doesn't start to feel like spring until March (if you're really lucky!).

This list is, in pretty much every way, the exact opposite of last June's Ten warm weather vintage wardrobe staples. Should you happen to live south of the aforementioned equator, and are heading into summer right about now, you may enjoy revisiting that post, but I hope you'll also have fun reading today's and tucking away this list for a few month's time, when your own environment is cloaked in frosty, wintry loveliness once more.

{Capes}

{At once dramatic and highly functional, capes (and hooded cloaks) are the sort of garment that are going to get your noticed. Even back in the day when they were far more commonly sported, capes demanded attention and got it, because they are so sweepingly, chicly sophisticated and beautiful, and have the rather wonderful added perk of doing a great deal to keep you warm, especially when they're made of cold weather loving fabrics such thick felt, sturdy wool, tweed, suede, fur or velvet.} 

{Circle skirts}

{Unless you live in especially mild climates, this isn't the time for thin cottons. No, we're talking heavy-duty 1950s, reproduction, or handmade circle skirts in thick, cold-air-blocking fabrics such as quilted satin (or just about any quilted material - they're so classic and evoke the same kind of elegance as Liz Taylor in the image above), corduroy, velvet, and denim. Likewise, the longer the hem length, the better, to help keep swirling winter winds away from your lovely gams (which are most likely going to be sporting stockings or tights for an extra layer of warmth).}

{Classic overcoats}

{This, in my opinion, should be a wardrobe staple of every man, woman and child the world over, no matter if they're vintage fashion fans of not. For those who are however, you're in luck, as a bevy of vintage winter coats are still with us to this day. Typically, you'll want to track down those that hit at the knee or longer, are lined, have full length (or at the very least, bracelet length) sleeves, a sturdy collar, and pockets to tuck cold fingers into. Wool, cashmere, fur, tweed, and Persian lamb's wool are all excellent choices for this bracing time of the year.}

{Crinolines}

{Though one might associate crinolines (aka, pettiskirts) with full skirted summer frocks, they actually work extremely well under cold weather skirts and dresses and provide an excellent layer of padding between you and the elements (something our petticoat loving foremothers knew well!). I've worn tights, a crinoline, a circle skirt, blouse or sweater, scarf, gloves, heavy coat, and boots in January and actually broken into a slightly sweat while outside a few times before, because I was so well protected from the chill.}

{Headkerchiefs}

{When stacked side-by-side, comparably fewer vintage coats had hoods than their modern counterparts, which means that most of us will be look for some other way to keep our ears from all but freezing off during the winter. Enter the humble headkerchief/head scarf. Once a wardrobe staple of many women, today this classic garment is rarely seen in the western world, however it strongly deserves to find itself a place in your closet come the first signs of the season. Not only will it help ensure your ears stay comfortable, but it's also a great way to help keep the wind, rain, and snow from causing havoc on your hairdo.} 

{Housecoats}

{Fashion isn't merely what you show the outside world, it's also what you don when inside the comfort of your own home, and let's face it, during the winter, that's where many of us spend a good deal of our time, so it stands to reason that we should look glamorous while relaxing around the house, too. Few garments can help you achieve that more quickly that a classic, sophisticated house coat - preferably something in a thick, quilted fabric that hits at least mid-calf and can be worn both for warmth and elegance alike on even the most bone shatteringly cold winter mornings.}

{Long sleeved dresses}

{For those of us who aren't massive fans of our upper arms (I'd shoot my hand up in the air there, but you know...upper arms and all ;)) and/or prefer to dress modestly, winter's call for long sleeved garments is a sartorial godsend. Whether you love or loath your arms, common sense dictates that this is the season for sleeves! Embrace those fabulous vintage wool crepes, thick cottons, rayon crepe, velvets, and knits that feature three-quarter of full length sleeves with reckless abandon - I promise you, your forearms will thank you the next time an icy arctic blast strikes.}

{Muffs}

{Muffs are, beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of my favourite vintage winter garments of all time. They can be small and sweet, over-sized and glamorously worldly, or anywhere in between, and all serve the save general purpose: to keep your hands wonderfully warm while ensuring you're most sharply dressed gal this side of the North Pole.}

{Vests (waistcoats)}

{This is one of the items that I need to stick a Post-It note up in my closet to remind myself to wear more often. I love the look of, and extra layer of warmth that, a classic fitted vest provides, but all too often forget to give them the attention they deserve. This winter, I vow to do just that and encourage you to do so as well, if you've been neglecting your vests in recent years.} 

{Winter boots}

{Believe me when I say that I wholeheartedly understand how finding genuine vintage winter boots in one's size and price range can be an uphill battle of epic proportions, but that doesn't mean you have to toss in the towel completely. Instead (or in addition to) try to hunt down vintage reproduction footwear sellers who offer winter styles, try classic black or brown lace up boots, or keep your eyes peeled for modern version with a classic look that can partner well with your awesome vintage style.}

{To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

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Winter is a harsh season, but it has its good points as well, and I firmly believe that many of this seasons’ fashions fall squarely under that heading. There is something so soul comforting and fun about layering, snugly into the folds of a plush cape, sweater, or fur (real or faux, as you prefer) collar of a vintage coat, scarves and mitts never far from sight - or skin!

Throughout the year, I periodically receive questions regarding tips on how to wear vintage during the winter, and I hope that the ten garments listed here today will help one and all who may be curious about this topic. It's no harder to wear vintage during the winter than it is any other time of the year. Yes, some of your lightest weight, most summery pieces may have to go on hiatus for a little while, but don't feel that this means you're limited to just a couple of styles or looks.

When Old Man Winter comes a knocking, greet him at the door in nubby tweeds, glamorous velvets, plush knits, hearty denim, opaque hosiery, kitten-paw-soft corduroy, or even your favourite cashmere sweater - and don't skimp on the extras either!

Unlike summer, when a less is more approach tends to naturally rise to the surface, winter's muted outdoor palette practically begs to be livened up with everything from jaunty feather adorned hats to gold chains, glittery brooches, silver hoop earrings, scarves of all manner, cold blocking gloves, ornately patterned or woven tights, even adorable ear muffs. You needed look like a Christmas tree of course, but if you feel so inclined, this is the season to do it.

Banish cold weather doldrums with the colours that you use. Grey, black, white, navy, and brown are all fine of course, and make for great supporting players, but why not liven things up with hues so vibrant they look as though they've just been plucked from a greenhouse?

If bold colour isn't your bag, take a cue from winter's softer shades and inject hits of pastels, dusty hues, icy whites, and cool metallics into your ensembles? A grey skirt suit, for example, with a mint green blouse and silver jewelry, or a pair of high waisted blue jeans (extra bonus points if they're flannel lined!) worn with a cream hued angora sweater and pale pink or blue accessories.

Winter may demand a certain degree of practicality, but that doesn't mean for a split second that they have to be boring, repetitive or lacking in exuberance. Whether your wardrobe is massive or miniature, a few key pieces such as those listed above, partnered with a lovely array of accessories and winter appropriate legwear and shoes, should be enough to help you come up with fun, inventive, beautiful outfits from the first snowflake to the last.