by So you’ve finally admitted that winter is in full swing. A bottle of de-icer is ready, the central heating is on full blast, and you’ve dug out your collection of sturdy coats, cozy knits, and weather-appropriate accessories. But now that you’re faced with your winter wardrobe for the first time in months, the prospect of wearing these pieces in both style and practicality is overwhelming.
If this sounds like you, don’t accept defeat; There are plenty of fail-safe winter outfit ideas that you can adapt and implement over and over again, whether you want to opt for lots of layers or need an outfit that can handle changing temperatures with ease.
The Fall/Winter 2024 runways were rich with inspiration for the season. Country style was heavily referenced in the collections, with traditional checks featured at Acne, Vivienne Westwood and Burberry, while cable knits, argyles, tweeds and herringbones featured heavily in the shows at Altuzarra, Coperni and Fendi, among others were represented.
Scarf silhouettes also made an all-encompassing statement, manifesting themselves in flowing coats at Chloé and Alberta Ferretti and sophisticated over-the-shoulder knits at Bottega Veneta, Etro and Issey Miyake. Tailoring remained a focus throughout the collections, with over-the-knee boots featuring heavily at Gucci, Chloé and Dior for a time.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best winter outfit ideas that combine inspiration from the Fall/Winter 2020 runways with classic winter basics, so you can dress for the day with an attitude of insouciance rather than jittery fear .
Gray tones
Embellished necks were ubiquitous at this season’s shows, and fashion influencers took to the streets with their own take on the trend. Shawl coats are a great entry into the trend, but for a laissez-faire approach to dressing, throwing your favorite sweater over your shoulders works just as well. Combining the trend with color-coordinated clothing, this outfit offers a reliable formula for a put-together outfit.
Wool and cashmere coat
£2464.00 at mytheresa.com.uk
Oversized sweater made from a wool and cashmere blend
£360.00 at
Mid-rise, straight jeans “Valen”.
£224.00 at mytheresa.com.uk
Stretch leather ankle boots
£175.00 at Stories.com.uk
Unpretentious tailoring
A two-piece pants suit is a timeless classic, but for something more casual, try combining neutral colors throughout your outfit. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shows how sticking to minimalist tones can result in an understated yet luxurious look by adding thoughtful touches with her accessories. Pair the look with a white tee and sneakers for a casual look, or pair it with a black turtleneck top and pointed stiletto heels for a more evening-ready look.
Sara oversized woven blazer
£530.00 at
Straight-leg trousers in dupioni silk
£1260.00 at
Grained leather frame belt
£250.00 at
105 suede pumps
£510.00 at net-a-porter.com.uk
Winter lights
Pairing vibrant colors like green and bright blue with more neutral pieces is an easy way to spice up your winter look. A trench coat is one of our favorite seasonal staples and will see you through to late spring; It adds a tailored element to any outfit and benefits from a lighter fabric compared to traditional wool coats. In the dead of winter, layer on thick scarves and knitted hoods that you can take off as the warmer months approach. To take this outfit from day to evening, all you need to do is simply switch it up to a pair of kitten heel slingbacks or heeled ankle boots.
Serrano cashmere sweater
£435.00 at net-a-porter.com.uk
Belted double-breasted cotton-blend twill trench coat
£739.00 at
Cynthia high waist straight jeans
£138.00 at farfetch.com
Samba leather low-top sneakers
£94.99 at
Luxurious leather
Leather trench coats are all the rage, but we’ve swapped the Matrix references for Parisian street style inspiration. Don’t be afraid to layer different fabrics and textures, like this sheer black top and denim combination, which creates a more interesting contrast to the luxe finish of the leather.
Transparent crew neck T-shirt
£169.00 at
Straight jeans with a high waist
£244.00 at mytheresa.com.uk
Double-breasted, regular cut faux leather coat “Tina”.
£680.00 at selfridges.com
Leopard print ballet flats with pony hair
£135.00 at cos.com
Shearling chic
Shearling has shed its Del Boy associations and is being embraced by the fashion world as a popular classic style. Check out Lily Rose-Depp, who recently styled a worn version of the jacket two ways in one day, demonstrating its versatility and why it deserves a place in your winter wardrobe. Meanwhile, brown continues to be the predominant shade for the coming season. We therefore recommend taking a monochrome approach and combining a chocolate-colored shearling coat with matching trousers and loafers.
Tatoosh jacket in suede with lambskin lining
£2680.00 at mytheresa.com.uk
Wide-leg wool trousers
£333.00 at
Brown Aventure shopping bag
£3346.00 at brownsfashion.com
Danielle loafers in shiny croc-effect leather
£470.00 at
Over the shoulder
Another way to tap into the shawl neck trend of the fall/winter runways is to invest in a tasteful off-the-shoulder sweater. Toteme’s iconic shawl jacket has been reimagined in knitwear form, with brands like Staud and Cos releasing their own takes on the style. This sweater style can be paired with black wide-leg pants for a smart workwear look or with a maxi skirt and ballet flats for a smart daytime look.
Sweater with attached scarf
£312.00 at farfetch.com
Mini sling bag in calfskin
£1450.00 at harrods.com
Maxi skirt made of virgin wool
£580.00 at mytheresa.com.uk
Eddie 2.0 ballet flats
£108.00 at
Faux fur glamor
Giving the celebrity seal of approval from style muses like Suki Waterhouse and Rihanna, faux fur coats bring a much-needed element of luxury to our gray winter days. Soft shearling fabrics have become popular this season as an alternative to fur coats, while faux fur options have exploded in recent years, with brands such as Rotate, Isabel Marant and Prada offering luxurious-looking coats that look incredibly similar to the real thing. A piece like this elevates even the simplest pair of jeans, but its sophistication when worn with a silk skirt is unmatched.
Soft lambskin coat
£3770.00 at farfetch.com
Jersey turtleneck sweater
£185.00 at mytheresa.com.uk
Isaak midi skirt in silk satin
£325.00 at mytheresa.com.uk
Joyous leather slingback pumps
£300.00 at
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