Winter clothing in review

In the middle of last winter I wrote a post about how sick I was of winter clothes!
Towards the end of last winter I got deathly sick of wearing jeans and a jumper. It happens most years in August, but this year was possibly more intense, because I was at home more due to COVID-19, and I didn’t see the sense in subjecting my nicer clothes to my three year old! Sensible, right, but also boring! I found myself wearing only the jeans that she had already got texta on, or ones that were too old to be smart, and jumpers that were already subprime, as nice jumpers are expensive and I can’t bear to kill them off too soon.

So there I was, working from home in unfabulous tough old clothes. It got very boring. So I began to experiment and here is a list of things I found to spice things up, that were tough enough to withstand Emily.

Faux leather legging – absolutely heaps of fun. They don’t have to be expensive. The real leather ones are nice too, but probably more costly, unless you find a pair second hand. The faux leather were good for me in the depth of winter because they are very warm. I feel the cold more than the rest of my family, so I try and rug up while sitting still working.

They were also great because they have a fabulous dressy slightly bad girl vibe that made my winter woolies and sneakers a lot more glamorous and fun. They are what Laura Fantacci calls a transformer – you can add them into your existing mix of old clothes and feel instantly more fabulous!

I bought an indoor puffer jacket in velvet. It is my shade of turquoise and has zebra stripes on it. It is bomber style and lined with down. Stylish, warm and not a jumper! I can wear a shirt with it and be warm. It came from Gorman. I found it by googling quilted jacket and then clicking the shopping tab.

I reconsidered my position on stockings at home. Normally I don’t like stockings on my toes at home, but I have quite bright dresses that look a bit daft with black leggins, so I need to wear panty hose with them or freeze. I have settled on footless tights and some very thick (school) beige stockings. Coloured tights are also a bit of a thing at the moment, as are patterned ones. And I have dusted off my old combat boots to wear with them. These are real vintage 90s steel capped boots that I bought in Germany as an exchange student. My dad calls them my head kicker boots. I am also on the look out for a new pair of low heal booties to wear with them next winter – my foot grew a half size in my last pregnancy and my nice low booties mash my toes now.

And then I also spent time trawling the end of season sales (often good in September) for some nicer jeans and knit wear. And I bought doubles of the knitwear, so that I can wear one at home and save one for work. I got some high waisted jeans and some rigid skinnies that look fabulous. I don’t feel that it matters that I can’t bend over in them (jokes! But not by much). And I also was able to refresh my white jeans capsule, so if I go out next winter I can go in white out! And I replaced a few pairs of slim jeans that have about worn out, all at $40 a pair from yoox.com

With regards to the knit wear, I found that not only am I picky on colour I am picky on shape. I don’t necessarily like them to be too chunky, or too cropped. I like a jumper with a welt at the bottom (that ribbed band that pulls the jumper in) and then I can tuck the welt up and under which brings the jumper back into my waist and keeps it above my bottom. I also like good quality lightweight jumpers. Cashmere of course!! But I actually got some on great sale from yoox.com. It is worth a look. I will wear my new jumpers with skirts, my pleather legging and my funky new jeans.

I have also been wearing my thermals so that I can be warmer with less layers, as being too layered up makes me feel less fabulous than being slinky.

I would still like to add a few more collared shirts in colours that suit me, so that the collar can stick out the top of my jumper and add a bit of fun hanging out the bottom of my jumper.

How about you? Do you have a season that you find it hard to dress for? What do you do about it?

So now I am ready for 2021 winter!! Armed and fabulous. Well, except for the armed bit.

Image is from Ally who have these leggings on special at the moment