How to Keep Your Winter Wardrobe Fresh | Cold Weather Dresses & More

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to bundle up and hide your impeccable fashion sense. The key is striking the right balance between style and comfort. You want to showcase your personality while still keeping warm amidst the falling temperatures. You also want to choose the colors and styles that complement the season, whether you’re shopping for wool sweaters or women’s casual winter dresses. If you’re struggling to keep your winter wardrobe fresh, Saved By the Dress has you covered.

1. Be Smart About Cold Weather Dresses

Yes, you can say yes to the dress in winter, even if you live in an especially cold climate. You’ll just need to heed a few important tips: 

• Dress for the occasion. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you need to stick with cold weather dresses. For example, if you’re attending a holiday house party, you can wear your favorite faux fur coat and other layers to keep warm during the journey. But when you arrive, you can shed the layers and showcase the dress—as long as your hosts are generous with the thermostat. 
• Certain materials are especially good for cold weather dresses. Cashmere is one of the best examples. Acrylic fibers also work extremely well. 
• Long-sleeved maxi dresses work well because they provide both comfort and coverage. You can often wear leggings underneath women’s casual winter dresses without anybody even noticing. Just don’t forget to accessorize! 

2. It’s All About Layering 

Cold weather is the best excuse—or rather, the best opportunity—to layer your outfit in unique, eye-catching ways. A good winter coat pairs perfectly with your favorite cold weather dresses, sweaters, and other fashion staples, and you can even wear leggings or fleece-lined tights under a long maxi dress. 

3. Mix and Match

This actually goes hand-in-hand with the previous point, but it’s worth emphasizing that winter enables you to do more with less. You can create a full range of ensembles with just a few pieces. For example, if you have five dresses, three sweaters, two coats, and six colors’ worth of leggings, you have hundreds of combinations at your disposal. Look for the colors and styles that agree, and layer in unique ways to turn your women’s casual winter dresses into something special. 

4. Make a Splash With Statement Coats 

Winter is the season for statement coats: bold colors, ambitious patterns, ostentatious fabrics. A quality statement coat can be tossed over any outfit before you leave the house, and it works as an instant and effective fashion essential on its own. It’s a fantastic way to try some layering over cold weather dresses! 

5. Break Out the Skinny Jeans 

Of course, dresses aren’t the only game in town. Skinny jeans provide the warmth you need and can be paired with a variety of pieces. Throw on your favorite knit sweater, top it off with a blanket scarf, and slip on the skinny jeans. From there, all you need is a pair of boots and you have the perfect casual ensemble for winter. 

6. Over-the-Knee Boots Pair Well With a Short Dress

Speaking of boots, just because winter has arrived doesn’t mean you have to relegate your favorite short dresses to the back of the closet. No winter wardrobe is complete without a warm, comfortable pair of boots! If you want to keep those sexy dresses in the rotation, add a pair of over-the-knee or knee-high boots for a bit of extra coverage. The combination looks amazing, and it’s super comfortable. 

7. Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize 

The right fashion accessories can go a long way toward keeping you warm even if your outfit was designed for more temperate seasons. For example, a stylish fedora or knit beanie can keep you keep warm from the top down and perfectly complement cold weather dresses. Scarves and gloves are also essential. 

8. Get Creative With Sweaters

A stylish turtleneck can be worn over a blouse, and pullovers offer texture and style that really pop. Make trendy sweaters an active part of your winter wardrobe, but be mindful of the style. Neutral colors are always a safe bet when layering, and knit materials are timeless and chic. 

9. Say Yes to Silk 

When shopping for cold weather dresses and other apparel, many women eschew silk, thinking that it probably doesn’t offer much warmth. But despite being a thin material, silk is surprisingly warm and well-insulated. So if you see a silk garment that looks fab, don’t turn it down just because the temperatures are dipping.

10. And Then There’s Cashmere 

Cashmere is another warm material that looks great in any fashion-forward ensemble. From sweaters to coats to scarves, go with cashmere varieties to maximize your comfort in even the coldest climates.

11. Break Out the Ponchos 

Winter is poncho season, and we’re not talking about those plastic rain ponchos. Invest in a quality polyester or acrylic poncho with ruffled hems or frayed ends, and see how easy it can be to go from drab to fab with one simple layer. 

12. Celebrate the Conventions of Winter

Winter represents purity and rebirth. The autumn leaves have fallen and the landscapes are white with renewal—unless you live in LA. But whether you’re looking at a white Christmas or just a colder version of fall, you can embrace the symbolism of winter with a snowflake-embroidered sweater or a selection of cold weather dresses in white. As long as it’s tastefully done, it will completely accentuate your style. 

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