5 simple styling tips to nail that winter layer look

Stephanie Vinzens

15.12.2022

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

Temperatures below zero are no reason to send your fashion sense into hibernation just yet. Layering clothes with class is easy! Here are some tips.

Many of us learned from a young age that good old layering is the best way to combat the cold. The air pockets between each layer make for great insulation. That’s why many thin layers are more effective than a few thick ones. The layered look also has a lot going for it in terms of being fashionable. But this tends to be overshadowed by all the practicality. What a waste of potential! Here come five ideas to create a layer look that’s not only nice and toasty but also simply beautiful.

1. Look out for volume

The rule of thumb is: your layer look should consist of four or five layers max. Anything more than that will look over the top and will restrict your movement. Make sure to create a good balance between body-hugging and loose fits as well as between thick and fine fabrics. The more pieces you’re using, the more important that the first layers are relatively thin. No more than two tops of your outfit should be voluminous, and that’s including your jacket.

An elegant look made up of four layers might go something like this: use a thin tank top as your base layer, slip a tight-fitting, fine turtleneck over that, add a loose blouse or blazer and add a woolly coat with wide shoulders as the last layer. This goes well with wide cut fabric pants and thin tights underneath.

Here’s a small tip if you’re about to buy a winter jacket: ensure it gives you enough room to play with, especially in the shoulder area and sleeves. Otherwise layering won’t work. In other words, your movement will be restricted and the taut fabric will no longer flow.

2. Put winter accessories to use

By adding a scarf, you’ve got an extra layer without making things more of a squeeze under your jacket. The wider your scarf and the more generously you drape it over your shoulder, the stronger the effect. If you want to step it up a notch, try going for a poncho, or tie a sweater over your shoulders – a look that’s currently making a comeback. Other winter accessories including gloves, hats or balaclavas further add to the layered look.

3. Define your layers

For an effective layered look, create visible tiers. You can get the look by playing around with different lengths and necklines. For example, allow a long top to peek out from under a jacket, wear a crew-neck shirt under a loose V-neck sweater, a turtleneck sweater under an unbuttoned blouse, or a slipover over a shirt.

4. Combine textures

Aa mix of fabrics makes the layered look even more interesting. Experiment with different textures and create contrasts by combining wool with smooth leather or bouclé with satin, for example.

5. Keep calm

Worried your layered look might come across as busy? Focus on high-quality basics, limit yourself to one eye-catcher per look and hold back on colours and patterns. Outfits combining two to three colours look the most harmonious. If in doubt, you can always go for monochrome looks. Layered looks consisting of one colour or different shades of grey or beige, as well as all-black or all-white looks, look particularly elegant – and you can’t go wrong with them, at least in terms of colour.

Stephanie Vinzens

Editor

Stephanie.Vinzens@digitecgalaxus.ch

Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.

Follow

---

Fashion

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Follow topic

These articles might also interest you