Even as a stylist, I still sometimes struggle to feel inspired with what to wear myself on dark, cold winter mornings. It can be hard to feel like your most polished, stylish self when you have the unpredictable British weather to contend with and essential layers to add. Not to mention if you’re shopping on a budget and can’t just throw money at the situation with fancy clothes.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who faces this predicament when I sit staring at my wardrobe. So, in order to offer some helpful advice and outfit inspiration, I thought that I’d set some time aside while it’s a little quieter right now, and have a think about what winter outfits I’ve actually been living in at the moment. You know, the ones I’ve been pulling out on repeat because I know they make me feel good. Mostly, that means outfits that look put-together and expensive, but are easy to recreate on a reasonable budget. They also have to be versatile, and easy to throw on for whatever I might be doing that day.
Unsurprisingly, there are some common threads that run through these outfits—all of which are styling tips I dish out to my clients regularly. Things like, keep it simple: If you want your outfits to look expensive, I always suggest sticking to a colour palette of classic neutrals, and if in doubt opt for tonal outfits in different shades of the same colour. In my opinion, minimalist designs always look the most expensive, even when shopped on the high street, but look out for elevated details like an oversized coat, interesting textures and premium materials—or a sleek pointed toe on a black boot. These kind of things will always add polish to a simple outfit.
Knee high boots have been a particular saviour for me recently as you can add them to leggings and your favourite knit for a reliable winning look. I’m also obsessed with how shearling jackets can elevate a cold-weather outfit so easily and how switching jeans for wide leg trousers (which are actually a lot comfier) make it seem like you’ve put in ten times more effort.
That should hopefully have kickstarted some outfit ideas for you, but for more, keep scrolling to see the five expensive-looking winter outfits I’ve been living in recently. Most of them are so simple you probably own the pieces already, but if not I’ve added links to some of my favourite winter buys below, too.
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