Winter Can And Will Work For You:

Kick that bitch’s cold, hard ass and make her hot!

by Chaniga Vorasarun

Let’s face it. It is nigh on impossible to look cute in the winter. Unless you live in LA where 60 degrees merits shivering, you are basically confined to one— maaaaybe two— coats and this is your uniform for the winter. But there are some troopers out there who, despite the ass-chapping wind chill, still manage to imbue their look with some style.

How do they do it? Well, first of all, I know they’re not wearing Uggs when they’re doing it. This is non-negotiable, people. I don’t care how much you think it makes you look like Sarah Jessica Parker when you pair it with your J-Lo poncho. UGGS ARE NOT CUTE. And by the way, if you hold either of these two people as your style icons, you should probably stop reading what I have to say now.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s concentrate on what does make for a cute winter outfit. What can you add to your two coats to let your friends know that “hey, she’s not wearing the same outfit everyday after all”? or at least, “hey,it might be dirty, but hot damn, does that one outfit look good!”

Scarves: get a couple. Go crazy if you want. They’re cheap. Personally, I favor the kind with a little bit of fringe. My favorites of the moment are the scarves that could also be shawls and are knitted in an open weave. Yes, rock the grandma chic. It’s hot. Another good idea I found in London are those five pound handkerchief with fringe deals you find in Chinatown. Wrap it around a couple times for that art school vagabond chic.
Leggings with socks and boots. This one is good because it works for both form and function. Instead of leggings, you can also do tights. This is functional in two ways: a. the sock and tights combo comes in real handy with the cold feet and adds an added layer before snow/rain penetration. b. boys love this shit. The socks and tights combo basically kills it. Well, let’s be honest, socks pulled up always kills it for them, but this way, we don’t look like we’re aping Britney.** Also, you can go as short as you want with skirts here. You have leggings on! Go nuts!

Hooded sweatshirts under your jacket. This goes with any jacket and works for any gender.
Fingerless gloves with mitten attachments: one minute, you’re an edgy ragamuffin smoking a cigarette. The next minute, you’re packing snow and making snow angels with your cute-a-like friends from Puffy Ami Yumi. It’s a win-win!

**Let me make this clear, though: the school girl thing is not OK. Yes, it is maybe the very pinnacle of the sock-pulled-up look, but unless you are four, there is no way you are getting away with looking like anything but trash. Not even on Halloween. Trust me. Behind your back people are whispering, “Halloween is just an excuse for some girls to be slutty.”

But when it’s all said and done, let’s be honest. In the winter, function always wins. If you’re thumbs are turning a frozen and gangrenous black, you can be J-Lo, SJP or Hoxton’s hottest street urchin, but it’s time to put on whatever 1991 North Face parka you own and warm your trendy ass up.

Clothes shown from Urban Outfitters winter 2004 range.