Depending on where in the country you live, you’re either surfing right now or getting your Arctic Parka out of the closet and preparing for another insane winter. If you fall into the former category, congratulations. If you’re in the latter – which we suspect most are – then it’s time to start thinking about how your office wardrobe can still be awesome despite the plummeting temperatures. In the Polar Vortex months, it can be very tempting to dress up like a giant, weather-protective human shield, but that’s simply not aesthetically pleasing. So the question becomes: How does one maintain top-of-the-line style while still remaining warm? Here are some suggestions (with thanks to The Sartorialist, the ultimate in street style photography):
- Don’t forget that winter coats should flatter the form: A Gap sweater that’s fitted to your body is going to look better than an ill-fitting designer garment 100 percent of the time. If you know how to buy well-fitting clothes, then you’ve won most of the battle against bad fashion. But come winter, what some people seem to overlook is the need for outerwear to be just as form-fitting as, say, those Diesel jeans that have perfectly molded to your legs. Wear a huge winter coat and you’ll end up looking like this. So for the sake of your office image – and to avoid becoming George Constanza at all costs – get a winter coat or jacket that’s fitted to your body. Here’s a great look for men, and here’s one for women.
- Don’t wear ugly sweaters – ever: Maybe your office has an ugly sweater day. In that case, then maybe – maybe – consider wearing one. Otherwise, forget it. The office isn’t a place to showcase what your great-aunt thought would be a seasonal piece of knitwear 20 years ago. Winter sweaters can be thick and well-insulated while remaining tasteful at the same time. Just check out this timeless one. Or this classic number on the dude on the left. If you want to go for bold patterning, that’s OK, but think something well-established, like Breton stripes, instead of something ridiculous, like Santa Clause.
- Enjoy scarves for all they’re worth: While your sweater should be tasteful and hopefully understated, scarves are where you can go certifiably crazy and still look sleek and stylish. The scarf is the ultimate accessory because it’s debatably the one winter item (you could argue gloves as well) where totally unique designs are welcome. Here’s some inspirational ideas as you consider which scarves to stock up on this holiday season: the one that looks like a colorful animal, the one that you can wrap around your head, the floral one and the one that’s not actually a scarf.
- Prepare for office heating: To ensure that you’re suitably miserable, many office buildings pump the heat way up in the winter, so that you risk soaking your clothes with sweat before you’ve even sat down at your desk. In order to avoid this, make sure that every outfit you wear is equipped with a base layer that’s office formal while at the same time prepared to tackle major heat. One option for accomplishing this? Under that massive sweater, wear a polo shirt instead of an Oxford so that you’ll be able to adapt to the onslaught of office heat while still remaining adherent to the dress code.
With all these rules laid out, one thing needs to be mentioned: If and when it gets cold enough, it is totally OK to break these rules. I mean, do you remember last winter?
