How to Build a Versatile Winter Wardrobe for Midlife
As featured on the ApartmentGuide blog - check out the recent article I was quoted in: “Transition Your Apartment Closet with 17 Winter Wardrobe Ideas This Season.” ApartmentGuide is a subsidiary of Redfin.
My approach to building a winter wardrobe used to be haphazard and careless. There was no strategy whatsoever. A sale email from a favorite retailer would hit my inbox and in no time I’d be down the directionless rabbit hole, seemingly blindly clicking the “add to cart” button. I’d end up with cute pieces—or things I thought to be cute in the moment—but oftentimes they didn’t work with the rest of my wardrobe, and/or I’d tire of them after the single event I purchased them for. Sound familiar?
Think About Your Personal Style and Comfort
As a busy woman in midlife, those days are (mostly) long gone for me (I say “mostly” because I am human, after all). I’ve acquired more wisdom—and more changes in my body shape and size and style preferences—the deeper I’ve gotten into midlife, and I recognize that my wardrobe needs to work harder now. Sure, it needs to keep me warm and comfortable in the winter, but more importantly it needs to make me feel stylish and like myself, no matter what’s on my agenda for the day. To achieve this, my approach needs to be strategic and thoughtful. There’s no spreadsheet involved, but there are plenty of notes on my phone!
Focus on Layering with High-Quality Fabrics
My focus? Pieces that offer maximum versatility. One day I’m sitting in my home office and the next day I might be at a client’s home. I gravitate towards high-quality sweaters in a variety of weights and silhouettes for layering up or down as needed. Natural fibers like wool and cashmere not only provide ample warmth but also a luxurious, elevated look and feel. Living in Austin, I don’t need too many sweaters so I’m more willing to splurge on cashmere. Plus, it’s lightweight so I’ll get more wear out of it in this climate. And talk about versatility–I can easily pair a cashmere sweater with a pair of jeans for a casual dinner out with my family, or with a leather skirt and heels for date night.
Outerwear is another crucial investment. A well-made coat or jacket in a classic color like black, navy or camel will serve us through multiple seasons. I purchased a camel-colored coat from J CREW several years ago and will be slipping it on again this winter. Over the years I’ve updated it simply by swapping out the hat, scarves and gloves I pair with it. Look for styles that feel comfortable for your body shape and complement the rest of your wardrobe.
Organize Your Closet to Support Effortless Dressing
Of course, maintaining a clutter-free closet is essential for busy midlife women. The method I recommend is rotating your in-season clothes to the front of your closet, and tucking away warm-weather items in storage bins or under the bed—out of sight and out of mind. This creates a seamless, streamlined dressing experience, where you can quickly put together polished, stylish looks without the hassle of sifting through piles of out-of-season items.
Building a Versatile Winter Wardrobe Made for You
The real key, though, is to focus on fits and silhouettes that work for your unique body shape and lifestyle. Maybe a cropped puffer jacket feels more like you than a long wool coat, or joggers and a quarter-zip sweater is more comfortable for running around with the kids than a stiff pair of trousers.
Pieces that make you feel confident and comfortable is your guide. With a little upfront planning, you can build a winter wardrobe that keeps you warm, stylish and true to yourself–even on your busiest days.
