How to Wear a Dress in Winter

Simply because it’s chilly outside doesn’t mean that you have to store your go-to dresses until the cherry blossoms come out to play again. While sporting a shorter dress without tights or wearing a pair of toe eating sandals in the cold doesn’t make any sense at all during the winter season, there are still ways to make your favorite warm weathered looks work all year round.

To Work

The most important thing when it comes to dressing up for work is to look as sharp and professional as you possibly can – and if you want to achieve that while wearing a casual dress, you’ll have to keep everything else you’re wearing looking smart. For example, try to dress up a casual dress with a nice pair of closed-toe flats or professional heels and add a belt to give the everyday spring dress more of a polished vibe. However, if you decide to opt for the more classic ‘work dress’ such as the timeless little black dress or a sleek pencil dress, you will have a little more freedom to play around with your kicks.

In order to try and combat the cold a little better while still looking professional for work, it might be worthwhile to invest in some work-friendly outerwear. For example, a chic black blazer or a well-tailored navy coat accompanied by a silk scarf always looks fine and classic! If you’re still feeling a little cold despite all of that upper body layering, why not bring some layers to your lower body by opting for a pair of nylon tights – the higher the denier the warmer your toes will be!

To School

For those of you that are in school, one of the most important questions that comes to your mind during the frosty season is probably, “How can I still look fantastic during winter?” You’re probably imagining having to wear layer upon layers of Granny’s hand knitted sweaters and puffy coats basically swallowing you up for the next few months.

But that certainly doesn’t have to be the case. It’s not actually a difficult task to maintain your stylish sense of fashion during the colder days. One of the best dresses to wear to school is probably something comfy yet stylish like the basic t-shirt dress because it is truly a classic that can be worn in a wide variety of ways. Honestly, being such a flexible item, it will be a staple in your closet all year round; while you can match it with a pair of cute strappy sandals in the summer, or with a pair of tights and a snug cardigan in the spring or fall, there are so many ways you can wear it in winter too! For example, why not try to wear it over a pair of your favorite old skinny jeans as a tunic or pair it with some tights, some boots and a warm winter coat. The choices are endless.

Casually

There are so many times when you're on the go and don’t have a lot of time to change for a night out. Regardless of the event, your main concerns can definitely be summed up in three words… 1) comfort 2) warmth and 3) style.

A sweater dress is honestly a fantastic pick for the winter season because they help keep you all snug and warm without having to sacrifice your style. You could potentially wear it on a warmer day bare-legged with a pair of your favorite boots, or with some tights and a thick jacket when the weather turns to a frostier note.

Another really great pick has got to be the basic jersey dress. From all of the fabrics out there that have been utilized to make a dress, cotton jersey has got to be one of the best picks for a casual day out. Not only is it comfy to boot, it is versatile, barely wrinkles and is just light enough to keep you cool during the warmer days, but heavy enough to drape you nice and warm even in the chilly winter mornings.

However, to really keep you warm during the winter while sporting one of these beauties is to dress yourself in layers. After all, the best part about winter is the opportunity to really take advantage of cold weather accessories. For example, want to wear a beret to keep your head toasty warm? Go do that! Want to wear a silk plaid scarf over a thick woolen hand knitted scarf? Why not? Want to wear a sweater over the top of your dress? Sounds great!

Night Out/Date

Everybody knows that when the night comes, that is when winter bites the hardest. However, don’t feel like you are obligated to stick to skinny jeans, a sweater and a thick scarf when the stars come out. There are still plenty of ways in which you can showcase your favorite dresses on a fun night out on the town with the girls or impress your date at a fancy restaurant.

On a nice night out, you are still perfectly able to wear your favorite party dresses. Simply layer a chic statement coat over the top, take out your favorite knee high boots and for that extra layer go for those low denier tights. Sound good to you? Well, that’s just an idea. Or perhaps you want to wear a bodycon dress? Well, you still can! Why not take out your favorite leather jacket, wrap a sleek scarf around your neck and wear a pair of stylish tights or stockings with some chic looking heels?

Regardless of the season, fashion and style are what you make it out to be. So, if you know the art of how to accessorize, layer and manipulate your existing wardrobe, you can truly create a masterpiece that can be adorned at any time of the year or any season. So what are you waiting for? Go try it out!

Be sure to check out Burlington’s great selection of dresses perfect for any occasion and for any season. You will save up to 65% off other retailers’ prices every day.

Category: Your Style