All The Mistakes I've Made When Dressing For The Cold
I feel like this is the year that I’ve finally nailed dressing for the colder seasons which makes them so much more enjoyable. For far too long I was the girl walking around in a leather jacket and ballet flats when there was ice on the ground, despite my mum constantly telling me that I needed to dress warmer but of course, when you’re a teenager you always think you know better than you’re obviously older and wiser parents. Since getting Josie and then Edie it means that as long as it’s not a torrential downpour I’m outside every single day and I’ve quickly learned what works and what doesn’t and these are all the mistakes I’ve made when it comes to dressing practically.
style doesn’t have to go completely out of the window
For so long the biggest reason why I wasn’t dressing practically is that I presumed that it would mean that all my personal style would have to go out the window. But, it doesn’t and I think now more than ever I’ve found my groove with my style as well as dressing reasonably practically. Feeling comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing is so important, I know that caring about style and how you look is so often seen as shallow and self-indulgent but it isn’t. What you wear is just another way to express yourself as well as keep you warm and dry obviously. There are so many brands now that have nailed the practical pieces that we all probably need in our wardrobe that look awesome too.
pick your footwear carefully
As I said, I was the girl wearing ballet flats when there was ice on the ground and for far too long I didn’t even wear proper socks when wearing more practical footwear. Having a good pair of shoes on can completely change how your attire not only looks but how practical it is too. For years, I struggled to find a pair of boots that did the job but were something that I feel comfortable in too. It’s taken a lot of time to discover what works and what doesn’t but now I have some awesome options in my collection and this is what I always like to have on hand;
shearling lined Chelsea boots.
walking boots with good support.
wellies.
finding a good pair of tights isn’t easy
During the cooler months, I love to wear knitted dresses as I find them such an easy throw on when I’m not sure what else I want to wear. Paired with a thermal and a good pair of tights you’re good to go but finding that good pair of tights is not easy. I don’t even want to admit how pairs of tights I’ve undoubtedly laddered over the years because it’s probably in the hundreds at this point. When Primark released their fleece-lined tights I always thought they’d be the ones but actually, they’re pretty poor in terms of functionality as they slip down a lot which I think is most people’s biggest bugbear with hosiery. Nowadays I tend to go for what are called ‘control’ tights because they’re the best I’ve found not only for staying up but for the material used too. They’re more of a matte finish and I don’t find them to ladder anywhere near as badly as your standard tight. In terms of denier, I’m a 40 to 60 kind of girl personally, I’m not a huge fan of a super opaque finish on a tight especially if they’re very shiny. And finally, where to buy? Well, Peacocks is where I’ve always found the best for tights. Primark is ok but I find their sizing pretty poor, I’d love to know where you get your tights from because it’s an item of clothing that is super personal and everyone has different requirements.
a good coat is a very wise investment
Being able to invest in your outerwear is something that is worthwhile if it’s an option for you and your finances allow it. You don’t have to spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds to get something that is going to do the job and see you through many, many years. I know so many people have found great outerwear on the likes of Depop and eBay recently too. When I was younger getting a good winter coat was always incredibly important to my mum despite me always wanting to go for the highly impracticable fashionable option, we did usually meet halfway in the middle but now twenty years later I’ve finally seen sense in buying the warmest coat I can find. My typical requirements for autumn and winter are;
Windproof: getting a windproof coat was such a game-changer for me, not feeling the cold air whip against you like you’re not wearing anything is key for the colder seasons.
Breathable: whilst I always want something to be warm I also need it to be breathable as there is nothing worse than it being icy cold outside but still sweating in stuffy layers.
Waterproof: finding something that is fully waterproof is hard but finding something that is at least water resistant isn’t and it’s vital for unpredictable seasons.
backpacks are your best friends
I can safely say that I never thought I would be the girl wearing a backpack when I got past school age, I tried to avoid having one at all costs at school. But, once they came back into fashion and brands starting making some beautiful, well-considered, stylish and of course, practical backpacks and I saw how nicely others were styling them they went straight on my to-buy list. I’ve been a tote bag lover for pretty much as long as I can remember but it did get to a point where I was noticing that it was making my shoulders not only ache a lot but even when I wasn’t carrying a bag I was holding my body in the same position as if I was. Purchasing a backpack has been such a game-changer for me, not only do I have my hands free which makes taking photographs so much easier but it’s helped my posture so much too. I can walk for so much longer when I have a backpack which is perfect whenever we go up to the Peak District as we have in the dogs in tow too.
