With the current cold snap, all thoughts of sartorial elegance go out of the window in a bid to make it to work without freezing/losing fingers to frostbite/catching yet another cold.
While designers like Chanel make ski-wear look super-stylin’ and cute to boot, us mere mortals are less well equipped to handle the cold with any modicum of style.
Join me now as I examine the highs, and indeed the lows, of dressing for cold weather… roll on summer.
1. Uggs
Everyone hates Uggs these days, right? Actually that’s probably not right, if the millions of them that I still see on a daily basis are anything to go by. Just say no people, just say no. If you’re going to give in to any comedy boot trend, make it Moon Boots. Moon boots RULE.
Warmth rating: 3/5
Style rating: 0/5
Pic c/o Pink Marshmallow Girl
2. Microwave gloves
These things are amazing, and in theory I’m all for them. Stick them in the microwave, enjoy warm hands. My only real issue is that they don’t stay warm for all that long, and also that they stink. I don’t know if they all stink, but the ones we have in the office smell like stale popcorn, with the scent getting stronger the warmer they get.
Warmth rating: 4/5
Style rating: 3/5
Pic c/o Leisurequest
3. Fur hat
As seen on Lily Allen, Jaime Winstone and every Russian oligarch’s wife ever, furry hats are a serious style statement with the added benefit of being fairly practical. A couple of issues though; one, there’s the fur thing. Two, after learning the other week that you don’t, in fact, lose 45% of your body heat through your head, it kind of seems like an ostentatious gesture in relation to its fairly minimal benefits.
Warmth rating: 3.5/5
Style rating: 5/5
Pic c/o Alaska Fur Exchange
4. Slanket
All hail the slanket. The singular greatest invention of all time? It’s a blanket. With sleeves. OMG!! I have not had the privilege of trying out a Slanket just yet, but when there’s a leopard print one available I’ll be making my order. I can’t imagine you stay all that warm underneath – those gaping sleeves will let cold air in I don’t doubt, and as with most blankets I suspect that an uncomfortable draught will drift up and under through an undetectable gap.
Warmth rating: 3/5
Style rating: 3/5
Pic c/o DoobyBrain
5. Thermal underwear
Thermal underwear is not sexy. It is, however, amazing. My friends and I got into thermals in a big way before Christmas and they’re currently doing a decent job of keeping me warm in the depths of snowy London. Honest, you can go out just wearing a dress and not even suffer. I actually nearly passed out on the bus the other week because I was a bit too hot. Be warned.
Warmth rating: 4/5
Style rating: 1/5
Pic c/o Ace Janitorial
6. Puffa jacket
These things are seriously ugly, but as is so often the case, super warm and super practical. Looking like a lagged boiler might not be high on your list of sartorial influences, but when you actually need to be warm, vanity needs to take second place. A little research proves that there is such a thing as a stylish Puffa anyway – check this bad boy out.
Warmth rating: 5/5
Style rating: 2/5
Pic c/o Buachaille