Don’t Forget your Jacket! How to build a Solid Outerwear Foundation

One piece of an outfit that I think is often forgotten is outerwear.  Being from Wisconsin where the temperature outside can fluctuate from 60 degrees one day to 30 degrees the very next, the option to overlook outerwear is not afforded to me.  I am a strong believer that your outerwear should flow and compliment the rest of your outfit in the same way that hair or makeup or accessories do.

However, the biggest issue with this way of thinking is that outerwear is not cheap! Because of that, I cannot justify buying a new coat or pair of boots to go with every new outfit that I come up with.  Not only would it be expensive, eventually I would run out of room in my coat closet! In order to combat that, I have come up with a few key pointers to building an outerwear wardrobe so that you always have an outerwear look that flows with the rest of your outfit.

1.Buy a few key pieces every year.  This way, after a couple of years, you will have a good base and can just expand off of what you have.  It’s OK to splurge a little on pieces that you will have for a while and will wear regularly. It almost goes without saying that a quality item will last you much longer than a less expensive but cheaply made item.  Investing in items that will last you is worth it in this case.

2. If you are able to, wait until January or February when most retailers will be trying to cycle out their winter styles to make room for incoming spring merchandise.  This will typically mean lower prices for you!

3. A coat or jacket can be completely transformed with accessories.  Buy jackets and coats that can be dressed up or dressed down and utilize scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, earmuffs, etc. to change the look as needed.

4. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new colors and brands.  A long black Northface down-filled coat is a great piece to have for cold and windy winter days, but when it’s the only coat you have or wear, you will wind up looking like A LOT of other people wherever you go.  You wouldn’t want to show up to a formal event wearing the same dress as someone else. Why would you want to have the same outerwear look as someone else anywhere you go?

5. Most importantly, be yourself and only buy items you will actually wear.  If you find a coat that you love for a great price, awesome! But if the said coat is only available in green and you never wear green because it clashes with your skin tone, save your money and keep searching for the perfect coat.  In the long run, if the coat just sits and collects dust in your coat closet, was the great price really worth it?

Here are some examples of coats and cold-weather accessories that I have accumulated over the years:

As you can tell, I am not afraid to try different colors and styles. My personal favorite cold-weather accessory is a scarf.  They are functional in that they help to add a lot of extra warmth. At the same time, a scarf can help transform the look of your coat, making them a lot of fun to play with and change up. For more winter weather necessities, be sure and check out my post on this year’s winter must-haves.

♥