How to Layer your Winter Wardrobe *COVID Special*

As we roll into the fifth month of a global pandemic where most of the world remains in lockdown, it's becoming more and more evident that a lot of the big-brand/fast-fashion labels are unable to release their usual mass-produced Autumn/Winter stock. Between manufacturing and shipping delays, it seems that Australian made fashion is now in high demand... which is great news for our local industry!

Without the abundance of new fashion that would usually be shoved in our faces this time of year though, we've put together this useful guide on how to style your existing clothes for the cooler weather.

Become an expert in layering with these 27 tips!

 

DO - Wear a cropped cardigan or jacket with a Fit & Flare dress. Remember to make sure it ends in line with or above your waist.

DO - Wear a plain cardigan/jacket with a printed dress.

DO - Wear a contrasting or detailed cardigan/jacket with a solid colour dress, and vice versa. Remember to keep a balance between busy and simple. 

DON'T - Wear a printed cardigan/jacket with a printed dress. 

DON'T - Wear a long cardigan or jacket. (These chop you in half at an awkward place and make you look frumpy)

Exception: If you're quite tall and you plan on leaving the cardigan/jacket open, you can get away with a few extra inches of length. This is not recommended for structured jackets or anybody who is shorter than average. (Note that from behind, the cardigan may stick out depending on the structure of the dress.)

You can also try a large belt to define the waist.

If your cardigan is too long, try tying the sides into a cute knot, remembering to keep it at waist-height. 

 

DO - Wear solid tights if your outfit has points of interest.

DO - Wear subtly patterned tights if your outfit is simple. Small repeats generally work best.

DON'T - Wear floral or busy tights that draw attention to your legs. This can make an outfit look clunky.
(At a glance, these ones also look a little like hairy legs!)

DON'T - Wear light/pastel coloured tights. These will make your legs look much wider than they are and can cheapen an outfit.

BE CAREFUL - Of some shades of yellow and blue. They can make you look odd, ill, or like a smurf...! 

DO - Wear solid coloured tights if they tie in seamlessly with your outfit.

DO - Wear closed-in ankle boots (flat or heeled) with knee-length skirts/dresses.

DO - Wear ankle-height, pointed, and thin-heeled boots with midi-length skirts/dresses.

 

DON'T - Wear open-toed shoes with tights! Please.

BE CAUTIOUS - Of knee-high boots with A-Line shapes. Make sure your dress/skirt ends a little above your knee and your boots have a heel to lengthen your legs.

 

BE CAREFUL - Of mid-length boots. These can cut your legs off at an unflattering height and make you look much shorter than you are. Try boots that provide ankle definition (like the lace-ups below), or match your boots to your tights to make your legs appear longer. 

 

DON'T - Wear ill-fitting boots with no shape, or that have a large gap at the top. 

DO - Aim for balance with size. If you have a full skirt, try a pared-back scarf. If you're wearing a pencil style, you can add a little more bulk.

DO - Aim for balance with prints and textures. Pair a simple outfit with a fun scarf, or vice versa.

DON'T - Clash prints of different colours.

DO - Tie in tonal colours.

DON'T - Drown yourself in fabric

And lastly,

DO - Choose colours that flatter and compliment your skin tone, hair and eye colour!

And there you have it!

We hope you found some useful tips in this guide. And if you're looking to add some cheerful colour to your Winter wardrobe, there's no better way than buying up some fun Summer dresses (at half price!) and testing out your new layering skills! 

Shop the Clearance here.