Wear a Dress in Winter

Wearing dresses during the winter is all about keeping your legs and body warm. Keep your legs warm by mixing dresses with leggings, knee-high boots, over-the-knee socks and pants. Keep your body warm by layering. Wear turtlenecks and long sleeve blouses underneath strappy dresses or even sleeveless dresses. Wearing over-sized sweaters and layering jackets are also great strategies to keep your body warm when wearing dresses in the winter.

Steps

Wearing Leggings, Socks, and Boots

1. Try tights and leggings. Opaque tights can be worn with short, mid-length, and long dresses to keep your legs warm. Instead of tights, opt for leggings for those extra cold winter days and nights. Keep in mind that nude tights and leggings (black, grey, and cream) go well with any dress.
   • Keep it fun by wearing colored or patterned tights and leggings; for example, match a black dress with red or purple tights.
2. Don over-the-knee socks. For extra warmth, wear over-the-knee knit or wool socks under your dresses. You can even wear them over sheer tights to keep your legs extra warm while you are wearing a dress in the winter.
   • For example, wear a pair of plain wool socks over patterned tights with a short dress.
   • Because knitted socks are not as bulky as wool, you can try wearing knitted over-the-knee socks with longer dresses.
3. Give knee-high boots a chance. Knee-high boots and dresses go really well together. Wear them with short or long dresses. For added warmth, wear them over tights or knee-high socks. On warm winter days, wear them without tights, leggings, and knee-high socks.
   • For example, pair knee-high boots with over-the-knee socks and a short dress.
   • Try knee-high boots with tights or leggings and a longer dress.
   • If you are uncomfortable in knee-high boots, wear ankle boots or calf boots with thick leggings.

Layering with Shirts, Sweaters, and Coats

1. Wear shirts underneath your dresses. Wear a fitted turtleneck or blouse underneath strappy, fitted dresses. For dresses that fit more loosely, try wearing a long sleeved, collared blouse underneath.
   • You can even try wearing long sleeve blouses underneath sleeveless dresses.
2. Try an oversized sweater. Oversized sweaters are a great way to keep your upper body warm. Wear them over strappy or open shoulder dresses. They go well with maxi dresses, too.
   • For example, wear an over-sized knit sweater over a tunic or a shirtdress.
3. Turn your dress into a skirt. Do this by wearing tight-fitting sweaters or crewneck shirts over your dresses. You can wear them over short or long dresses, whichever you prefer.
   • Make sure to wear tight-fitting sweaters over tight-fitting dresses to avoid a bulky look.
4. Wear a statement coat. Statement coats are a great way to keep yourself warm while wearing a dress. Choose a thick coat to wear over shirtdresses, tunics, and short or long dresses.
   • For example, choose from faux fur coats and fitted short or long wool coats.
5. Layer jackets. Instead of wearing one thick coat, mix and match jackets. Choose two different jackets that complement each other and wear them over your dress. You can even add an additional layer by wearing a vest underneath your jackets.
   • For example, wear a leather or jean vest over a fuzzy jacket, or layer a fuzzy vest over a jean jacket.
   • You an also try layering a printed poncho over a leather or jean jacket.

Mixing Dresses with Pants

1. Pick a streamlined pant. When wearing pants under a dress, you want to make sure you have a smooth look. Do this by wearing pants that have minimal to no pockets, belt loops and pleats.
2. Use pants made with lighter fabrics. Pants made with thick fabrics like wool, corduroy, tweed and others may be too bulky to wear under a dress. Instead, use pants made with lighter fabrics like cotton, linen, light-weight knit, rayon challis and chambray, to name few.
3. Try skinny jeans and pants. Wearing skinny jeans or pants underneath your dress is a great way to keep your legs warm. Wear your skinny jeans or pants underneath loose fitting or tight fitting dresses. They can also be worn underneath long or short dresses. Try out the different styles to see which one looks best.
   • For example, pair your maxi dress with a pair of skinny jeans.
   • Additionally, cropped pants go well with long or short dresses.
4. Match the drape of the dress with the drape of the pants. Drape refers to how the dress hangs. Therefore, pair a fluid dress with a fluid pant. You can also pair an oversized tunic or dress with oversized pants.
   • For example, pair a loose, fluid dress with wide khaki pants.
   • You can also pair a loose cotton dress with loose cotton pants.
   • Fluid pants can also be paired with silky dresses like a slip dress.

Tips

• Belts are a great way to create a waistline, which can get lost underneath all that layering.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Wash Tulle
• Ride a Bike in a Skirt
• Wear Dresses with Boots
• Wear a Midi Skirt
• Wear High Waisted Skirts
• Wear a Short Skirt Without Looking Overexposed
• Accessorize a Strapless Dress
• Make Straps for a Strapless Dress
• Wear a Mini Skirt
• Determine if Silk is Genuine

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