You are currently viewing 5 Tips to Look Stylish in Your Outerwear
Max Mara duster, Ralph Lauren denim skirt, GNW cashmer Merino wool sweater, silk scarf, L.K. Bennett tall suede leather boots, Prada satchel, Kiesel stein Cord belt and buckle, LeatherCoatsEtc gloves (all own) and hat c/o Tenth Street Hats

Often people are not aware that the piece of clothes they wear the most is their outerwear. Coats are a Must in cold winter climate regions. Over the tenure of winter, wearing them  can become boring. You can fast feel like being stuck in a style rut. Read my tips to style your outerwear to create different chic, cozy looks with your winter coats.

Contents

  1. How Not Get Bored with You Winter Outerwear
  2. Why to Style Your Coats?
  3. Denim Duster
  4. Faux Fur Frock
  5. Lodden coat
  6. Pea-coat
  7. Sleeveless Hooded Down Vests
  8. Cape
  9. Shearling Outfit Ideas
  10. Motorcycle Jackets Outfit Ideas
  11. Using a Scarf for Styling Your Outerwear
  12. Which Coat Length is best?
  13. Layering over a Coat
  14. Blazer Tweed Jacket
  15. Shackets
  16. When It Comes to Glove Trends Be Frugal
  17. Upcycle Old Investment Pieces
  18. Winter Outerwear Styling Tips in a Nutshell
  19. Stylish Monday January – Cozy, Chic Coats

 

Disclosure: This post has affiliate links.

 

How Not Get Bored with You Winter Outerwear

Many women do not like winters in the city. It’s cold. Wearing the same coat over and over again is boring. In regions where winter lasts more than four months, women often have more than one coat.  Where winter hangs around longer than four months creating an awesome coat wardrobe is essential. You have to cover the wide range of temperatures. In Interior Alaska, winter stays around seven months!

Nevertheless, you feel winter boredom style-wise!

Why to Style Your Coats?

It is amazing how many different ways you can style a winter coat when you spend the effort. In the following, you see various coat outfit ideas for different types of coats. It’s important to have the right coats for your climate zone. Recall, its original purpose is to provide adequate insulation.

To not catch a cold it's important to dress for the weather that's outside. #health #weather Click To Tweet

For a fashionista, however, this everyday coverup has to look effortlessly stylish too.

Looking effortlessly stylish takes effort!

You can only have so many coats as your budget and closet-size permit. Thus, a wide range of winter temperatures requires layers for feeling comfortable. At the same time, layering changes the look. Hence, your outfit can differ depending on the ambient temperature.

Check the weather before you create an outfit. #smartliving #weathersavvy Click To Tweet

 

5 tips to style your outerwear to avoid winter boredom

 

Denim Duster

This duster is my favorite. It’s so easy to style. Well, denim works with everything. Here I went for a posh casual Euro Chic inspired vibe. In other words, all neutrals.

fashion book author in denim duster and skirt
Max Mara duster, Ralph Lauren denim skirt, GNW cashmer Merino wool sweater, silk scarf, L.K. Bennett tall suede leather boots, Prada satchel, Kiesel stein Cord belt and buckle, LeatherCoatsEtc glove, and hat c/o Tenth Street Hats

Faux Fur Frock

A faux fur frock in any cut is already a statement. They look best with a silk or cashmere scarf, tall boots and an upscale hat.

A-line faux fur frock with riding boots and bucket hat
Faux fur A-line coat, Sanchez tall riding boots, GNW tight, bucket hat, Modalo Pippa bag, LeatherCoatsEtc gloves, RAK Chevron cashmere scarf.

 

The next suggestion uses tan gloves as an accent. This color is repeated in the oblong paisley print cashmere scarf. Any color of the scarf could act as an accent. The violet, for instance, would make them a bold color statement. This lotd is also an example for how to style black with brown in a chic way.

Mature fashion blogger in faux fur frock, boots, gloves and scarf
A-line faux fur frock, GNW tights, Salamander boots, paisley print scarf, gloves and Esprit vintage bag.

 

Alaskan blogger in spring outerwear outfit with hints of huntergreen
Faux fur A-line frock, silk cashmere scarf with floral print with hints of huntergreen, Celine bag, LeatherCoatsEtc gloves, GNW tight, Double H lace-up booties, black beret, and Paloma Picasso frame re-worked to sunglasses for an Alaskan spring outfit prior to greenup

 

The above OOTD creates sort of a red-black-gray vibe. The scarf has hints of gray and black in the floral print.

 

Loden Coat

This example is the easiest. Start with an interesting coat like this lodden coat with a twist (motorcycle jacket cut, but half calf-length). Add a pop of surprising color with a bag (here orange) and wear your coat open with a dress underneath that picks up the colors of the bag and your heels. Of course, in Alaska, this look only works in fall, but it’s a perfect LOTD in warm climates on a mild winter day – think, for instance, dressing for humid sub-tropical climate.

 

fashion blogger in open coat with dress and heels

woman in cold season outdoor look with orange bag and red heels
Bellorita designer bag, Burberry lodden motorcycle coat, eShakti fit-and-flare T-shirt dress, dagwood statement necklace, nude pantyhose, Calvin Klein block heels.

 

stylist in winter in the city stylish outerwear
Burberry motorcycle loden coat, Nordstrom Rack chevron scarf, LeatherCoatsEtc beret and 3.1 Philip Lim bag.

 

The above look works with nearly complimentary colors contrasting pinks and burgundy with loden-green.

When it is below freezing a head band is a nice accessory to try.

influencer in loden motorcycle coat with head band
Head band, scarf, Burberry London motorcycle coat, GNW tight, Harley Davidson booties, structured bag, LeatherCoatsEtc gloves, and Ray Ban sunglasses.

 

The following look shows an example that there is no need to have an exact match of the colors. The scarf ties the look together. It picks up the shades of the coat, shoes and jeans. The bag and hat repeat the black in the camouflage booties.

 

over 50 years old stylist illustrating her tips to style your outerwear
Burberry London motorcycle coat with scarf, hat, Oliveo jeans, Nine West booties and statement bag.

 

More on the origin of a janker.

 

Pea-Coat

Another classic is the pea-coat. The following outfit inspirations feature variations of the original.

 

Alaskan woman in styled winter outerwear
LeatherCoatsEtc red pea coat with black beret hat, structured bag, GNW tights, Harley Davidson booties and GNW scarf for a classic winter outerwear outfit in sultry colors

 

While there are many trendy variations always look for a pea coat close to the original design. These usually have high quality. This means they won’t look dated in the next cold season. A perfect sultry color combination for Valentine’s Day.

 

Stylist tip: Red plus black reads sexy even when no skin (except the face) is showing.

 

Sleeveless Hooded Down Vests

Every now and then hooded thermal vests or sleeveless down coats are a trend. They are best for regions with mild winters. More on what to wear with a hooded puffer vest.

 

Cape

Stylist in monochromatic red cape, tights, bag, shoes lotd

Alaskan woman in red cape, tights and boots with black gloves, beret
Outfit details: Armani cape, Celine tote, GNW tight, Manolo Blahnik booties, Moda International cardigan dyed red, LeatherCoatEtc leather beret and gloves (all own)

 

The inspiration with a cape in the photos above works in Alaska in fall and in the south in winter. It plays along the lines of an ageless monochromatic look with a pop of color, but reversed. Black is the neutral, while red is the color. Ok, when you consider red as a neutral like many Europeans do, it’s an all neutral creation.

 

Shearling Outfit Ideas

In cold winter climate regions, a shearling is a nice alternative to down garments.

style book author in motorcycle parka
Cole Haan motorcycle shearling, GNW tights, Nine West plateau loafers, LeatherCoatsEtc gloves, 3.1 Philip Lim bag, artisan made hat with fabric flower

 

In the photos above, the motorcycle cut makes already a statement. In the monochromatic color theme of the look, the accent color of the loafers and hats fabric flower that has also hints of pink pick up the burgundy color of the coat. See this guide to learn how to style ageless monochromatic looks.

 

#advancedstyle #maturestyle midlife fashion blogger in styled winter outerwear
Burgundy Cole Haan motorcycle shearling coat, black structured bag, Aeropostale burgundy jean pants with sequin stripe, Harley Davidson booties, cherry red cashmere lined gloves, and black leather beret (all own)

 

The look above gets its interest from the different texture of the black (Crocodile vs. polished leather vs. shearling) and burgundy items (sequins, colored denim pants, suede).

 

lifestyle blogger in a fashion forward outerwear with pops of color
Short shearling coat styled with a Pavlovo wool floral print Russian blanket scarf, beret, purple gloves, and fuchsia 3.1 Philip Lim bag (all own)

 

midlife style blogger in tailored long motorcycle frock on winter walk
Cole Haan asymmetric shearling winter coat, Söfft shearling booties, classic wool beret, Yes Saint Laurent bag, LeatherCoatsEtc gloves, and tight c/o No nonsense

 

The photo above shows how to add color to a cozy shearling with a Russian floral print wool scarf and matching gloves. The fuchsia bag adds another color. Since the coat, tights and shoes are all black, the bright bag adds a interest.

fashion blogger in accessorized winter outerwear with Russian scarf
Short shearling styled with purple gloves, matching Pavlovo Russian scarf, GNW tight, Harley Davidson booties, Kate Moss for Longchamp satchel, and head band (all own)

 

midlife fashion blogger in all one color winter outerwear
Turquoise suede gloves, silk scarf, GNW tights and Nicole fall sandals with black Camel bag

 

stylist in shearlin, red floral print scarf, headband, Celine bag, gloves, tights
Short shearling coat , silk cashmere floral scarf, Kieselstein Cord belt, head band, Double H lace-up booties, gloves and Celine bag (all own)

 

over 50 years old Alaskan woman in posh outerwear in front of an apparel store
Fur trimmed shearling coat (similar shearling coat), Nordstrom Rack chevron cashmere scarf, LeatherCoatsEtc leather gloves with cashmere lining, burgundy beret, GNW tight, structured bag found on eBay, and Söfft shearling booties

 

Which Coat Length is best?

When styling a winter coat keep in mind that the part of your “indoor outfit” may show. This part becomes automatically part of your look. Take the vibe and colors of the showing indoor as your lead for accessorizing. In the photo above, the scarf wrap, stone and leather color of the belt pick up the blue of the polka dot tight.

 

stylist in belted coat, matching tight, scarf, head band, riding boots
Short shearling coat, unbranded fringe paisley print scarf, unbranded tan crocodile imprint belt, tan LetherCoatsEtc gloves, tan Kate Moss for Longchamp bag, tan head band, Paloma Picasso sunglasses, Oliveo denim skirt, GNW tights and Sanchez riding boots (all own)

 

The above inspiration uses a theme of black, blue and tan. In case of straight up-and-down or bulky coats accessorizing with a belt adds shape. The paisley print ties the colors of the tan bag, belt, and head band, the black coat and boots, and the blue skirt and tights together. It also adds a playful interest with the red in the paisley print. The next look uses the same idea, but around a gray, black and red color theme.

midlife blogger in sheepskin coverup with belt and floral print scarf
Shearling coat styled with red Kieselstein Cord belt, ethnic belt buckle, unbranded floral print  scarf, Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, unbranded structure work tote, Vince Camuto boots, GNW tights and LeatherCoatsEtc gloves

 

 

Motorcycle Jackets Outfit Ideas

The next outfit inspiration with a motorcycle shearling is a leather-on-leather look. It works because of the different shades of brown and the different structure of the leather of the pants and jacket. Read more on how to wear leather-on-leather.

midlife woman in pants and shearling jacket
Shearling with pants: Andrew Marc jacket with INC pants (similar pants here), 3.1 Philip Lim bag, and Clarks booties

 

blogger style layering clothes shells for a winter outfit
Andrew Marc shearling jacket with Oliveo leather skirt, GNW tight, heeled ducks, and YSL bag

 

Using a Scarf for Styling Your Outerwear

There are many reasons and ways to accessorize with scarves for style. The next example shows how to style a coat with boy-friend jeans. The casual vibe of the jeans is picked up by the cable-knit scarf. Again a belt is used to add shape to the look. The hat adds height, which is always a nice styling trick to look slim in a thick shearling.

cable knit scarf as coat-collar for styling outerwear
Short shearling coat styled with Salvatore Ferragamo convertible belt, DIY cable-knit scarf (gift from a girl friend), London boyfriend jeans, Modalo Pippa bag, gray hat, and Harley Davidson motorcycle booties (all own)

 

Don’t let the right outfit be a random thing. Wear the right look in every situation by looking up what to wear when in How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Buy my book now.

 

fashion blogger in burgundy, gray pink outerwear of beret, shearling, scarf, tights, boots and bag
Shearling coat, DIY long scarf, burgundy beret, GNW gray tights and Vince Camoto suede boots, 3.1 Philip Lim bag and burgundy gloves (all own)

 

The styling above evolves around gray tights and gray suede boots with a fringed gray-burgundy-black long knit scarf and a burgundy beret. Nice Euro Chic! The fuchsia bag adds a pop of color to stand out in a crowd of typical black winter attire. Wearing an ageless style or trendy hat keeps your head warm. It adds height for a lean illusion.

 

You never can go wrong with that strategy.

 

example of styling a winter coat

styling inspiration outerwear
Shearling coat (similar coat here) with printed cashmere fringe scarf, matching LeatherCoatsEtc gloves, LeatherCoatsEtc beret, GNW tight, shearling booties, Halogen tweet skirt, and Philip Lim 3.1 fuchsia tote (all own)

 

For the outfit inspiration below, I played with the color wheel, sort off plus belting my chocolate shearling coat for shape. The tan belt with its many brown shades of its tiger-eye buckle ties the outfit of various brown shades together. Orange mixed with black gives brown. Thus, adding blue jeans to any shades of brown always works well as an all neutral outfit without being boring.

brown shearling coat styled with a hat
Chocolate brown shearling coat over London boyfriend jeans, heeled ducks, accessorized with pill box hat, tiger-eye belt, and Kate Moss for Longchamp bag

 

 

Layering Over Coats

influencer in street style blanket scarf attire
Gray, pink and white plaid blanket scarf belted over short black shearling coat with Modalo Pippa shark gray bag, black tights and booties and burgundy beret (all own)

 

Learn how to wear a blanket in this ultimate scarves styling guide. The photo above shows a very northern styling of the shearling coat with a poncho worn on top. The belt keeps the plaid poncho worn-over-coat from looking like being wrapped in a blanket. The black coat, tights and booties ensure a clean sleek line. The bag’s color matches the poncho. The burgundy beret works as it is a darker shade of the pink in the plaid pattern.

 

Blazer

In subtropical and Mediterranean climate regions, a blazer is often enough to stay comfortable in winter.

scarf colors as outfit inspiration

fashion blogger in styled outerwear with scarf
G-III red suede skirt with Ann Taylor purple-white-black tweed tailored jacket, Brooks Brothers pink mock turtleneck cashmere sweater, Tissot watch, GNW black tights and Harley Davidson booties accessorized with an Anne Klein scarf (all own) that picks up all the colors of the outfit, and a gemstone necklace c/o Almo Jewellery

 

The example above shows how to style your outerwear in states and countries in the south where winter temperatures remain in the 50s or 60s (10 to 15oC). Herein the print of the scarf provided the inspiration for the color combination. Its floral print has purple, pink, red blue and white on a black background. Thus, I pulled items in these colors from my closet, the pink cashmere mock turtleneck sweater, the red suede skirt, and the back-purple-white tweed jacket. Herein the scarf worn as a belt ties the colors together.

 

Shackets

Shackets are a hybrid between a jacket and a shirt. These over-shirts consist of fabric that is thinner than that of typical jackets, but thicker than typical shirts. For more details on the cut and styles as well as the history of shackets see the post devoted to this popular weekend casual garment. Shackets work with all casual attire, and have become a trend in season-transition pieces lately.

 

Invest in Winter Accessories Like Gloves to Add Interest

When the winter last seven month, investing into great gloves in various colors is a Must-do to not get into winter boredom – outfit wise – or into an outerwear style rut. I invest in my classic basic everyday gloves in standard colors, i.e. the fundamental pieces that are to last. I have made nothing, but great experiences with gloves I bought at LeatherCoatsEtc. More on accessorizing with gloves.

 

leather glove with cute bow
Leather glove with bow

 

When It Comes to Glove Trends Be Frugal

In this example, I created an outer outfit with my shearling motorcycle coat, chevron cashmere scarf, and beret that all have burgundy in common like the sweater. I added the mirrored Ray Ban purple aviator sunglasses, and Nordstrom Rack gloves to pickup other colors of the sweater. More on how to improve your style with gloves.

#fashionover50 mature fashion blogger in motorcycle shearling coat with mirrored sunglasses that create interest in this winter outfit
Nordstrom Rack chevron cashmere scarf, Vince Camuto suede boots, gray GNW tight, trendy Nordstrom Rack fashion gloves, Ray Ban purple mirrored aviator sunglasses, Modalu Pippa bag, LeatherCoatsEtc beret, and Cole Haan motorcycle shearling coat (all own)

 

Tip: Invest in the classic, go for a bargain for trends.

On the contrary, go for a bargain when it comes to trendy gloves. Browse for unique gloves in thrift- and consignment stores as well as on sales. Trendy gloves typically have minor quality than high end basics as trends are not supposed to last, because they are supposed to be just a trend and go. Period.

 

Upcycle Old Investment Pieces

Also when you have an expensive garment that you have been already wearing for a couple of years, you may consider altering it a bit. For example, I bought my short black  with gray trim shearling shown in some of the style examples in Germany in 1999. I wore it over and over again every winter, ever since. I had it altered a bit (shortened) about 10 years ago (to get rid of signs of wear). It originally was a maxi coat. When you are a regular reader you may have seen the long version in my post on no fear of progress in style.

 

Winter Outerwear Styling Tips in a Nutshell

Be aware outerwear is an outfit too that needs styling

Always style your outerwear too. It is best to keep the outerwear in sync with your outfit. Doing so allows for wearing the coat/jacket open, when it gets too warm for the coat to be closed, but still too cold for not wearing the coat.  Think about how interesting such a look is.

  1. Let the indoor outfit that shows under the coat be your guidance with respect to vibe and colors
  2. Create a vertical line by the same color, a tall hat or long scarf
  3. Add interest with a pop of color.
  4. Belt for shape.
  5. Go for unexpected pairings.

Of course, you can also apply any combination of the tips. Would combine the tips, be technically a sixth tip? 😉 Who knows? It doesn’t matter! Have fun dressing for outside. 😉 Stay warm.

 

A skirt should show about two inch (5 cm) out of the coat for the best look.

 

Stylish Monday January – Cozy, Chic Coats

My blogging friends and I host Stylish Monday. Please check the blogs of my friends to see more of their cozy, chic ideas than presented in this short video. You can find them at the linkup party. Furthermore, I tagged them in my instagram post about this party.

 

Click here to join the linkup party.

 

Don’t forget to hit subscribe to receive the bi-weekly free High Latitude Style newsletter with a summary of all new posts and more about Fashion, Life and Science at the Last Frontier.

See you at the party!

Photos of me: G. Kramm

© 2013-2023 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved

This Post Has One Comment

Comments are closed.