If I had to start my winter wardrobe from scratch, there’s a handful of basics I’d be rushing out to buy. At their core, they’re timeless staples, they make up a huge part of my personal style story, and I thought it might be fun to chat through those five winter wardrobe essentials.
Wearing Joseph rollneck sweater (here in ecru), Willow leather skirt (old but love this option), Edgii wool coat, Charlotte Olympia pumps (old but similar here), Cuyana leather tote, Thomas Sabo earrings
AN OVERSIZED SWEATER
During the colder months, chances are you’ll find me wearing an oversized knit sweater at least six days out of seven. I don’t tend to do well in the cold, so I quite happily bundle on the layers, and this is the perfect topper.
My favourite comes from Joseph; it’s got a slightly higher price tag but it shows through the quality, and I love the relaxed silhouette. For a more affordable option, Uniqlo do fantastic lambswool sweaters, and I also really like my cashmere ones from Everlane and Mott & Bow.
To me it’s an effortless style staple that looks great with jeans and trousers, but can also relax a snazzy skirt too.
A WELL-MADE COAT
I’ve always said I think it’s worth investing in a good quality coat. It’s the one winter wardrobe essential that you’ll get the most mileage out of, and it’s usually the first thing people will notice when you step in out of the cold.
I favour natural fibres like cashmere and wool, and opt for something that either has structure or a nice relaxed fit. If I can layer up a couple cosy sweaters underneath too, it usually passes the test.
The one I’m wearing above is from Edgii, and it feels a little like throwing on a cosy knit blanket. It’s a double-faced wool that is so soft to the touch, and has a longer length that is well-suited for cooler days as it keeps me mostly all covered up.
The other tip I have (if you’re on the hunt) is to look for a coat in a neutral colour that complements your winter wardrobe colour palette. Black, grey, navy and camel are tend to be safe bets.
WOOL TROUSERS OR SKIRTS
This next on my list of winter wardrobe essentials will definitely depend on your tastes, but I think is a great option to take you from work to the weekend. Personally, I love how tailoring can easily transition into casual-wear, when paired with the right accessories.
I recently added these wool trousers from Country Road (also here) to my wardrobe which ticked a lot of boxes for me, and are really warm despite their cropped length (they’re probably better suited for petites). You don’t have to break the bank with this classic staple, but if you wanted to invest, Acne Studios do a really lovely wool flannel trouser that is a heavy weight and well suited to cold weather.
For wool skirts, I like something that is either just below the knee (looks great with a big turtleneck) or an a-line midi style. My go-to shops are places like COS, SABA and Witchery.
A CLASSIC PAIR OF BOOTS
One of those no-brainer basics, but I couldn’t resist including these in my top five. I like these to be classic, stylish, and comfortable, as often these will be my shoe of choice for walking around in all day.
One of my favourite pairs are these ones from Everlane, and I also like these Acne Studios dupes from Marc Fisher, which feel a little like wearing slippers. A block heel is generally a must, and as our winters don’t get too cold, I’m usually happy to bear a little bit of ankle.
I also have a great OTK pair from Stuart Weitzman. I waited to get these on sale, as they’re a staple style that comes back season after season.
A pair that are currently on my wishlist are the spirit boots from Dear Frances; these come up a bit higher on the calf and I like that there’s quite a few colours to choose from.
THERMALS
Perhaps the underdog of the bunch, the final of my winter wardrobe essentials I think you need to have in your closet are some good quality thermals. My favourites are from Uniqlo’s heat tech range, but I’ve also heard good things about the M&S thermals too.
While it’s not a visible part of your outfit, it’s by far the most practical. It adds that base layer of warmth, and from my experience, thin layers do wonders for locking in warmth without making you look like a marshmallow.
