Calm Before the Storm: Warm Up to Winter’s Coolest Trends

Clothing cues winter through visuals beyond coats and boots. Silk and sequins in jewel tones, woolly plaid and chunky knits … textures build up the richness of the season. The actual warmth they pack, however, may vary. Indulge in the opulent fabric and experimental cuts while the weather is still mild. Your down jacket can engulf your style beginning second semester.

Coat Check

Everyone needs a statement coat they can throw on and transform an outfit into an outfit. Did you notice that’s only a tank top and mini skirt underneath? Nope. Our buttons are sealed. Model Asha Wiltshire wears a coat from Smak Parlour ($89).

Fashion Fighters

Pay no attention to the above date; vests, olive green button downs and bomber jackets were key parts of combat clothing long before then. Today’s versions are superfluous with padding, cheeky with patches and over-the-top with sequins. Wiltshire wears a vest from Knit Wit. Model Justin Rhee wears a shirt and sweater from Knit Wit. Model Laure Ellis wears a hat from Knit Wit and a jacket from South Moon Under ($88).

Haute Hunchback

A down vest and pleated midi-skirt may not seem like common companions, yet similar shades and slim silhouettes create a long and lean look. Wiltshire wears a  skirt from South Moon Under ($78).

Royal Garden

Can anything but silk do justice to emerald green? Perhaps the company of metallic heels and a sequined top. Ellis wears a hat from Smak Parlour ($28), top and skirt from South Moon Under ($88, $78).

Frosty Finish

Treat today’s hottest shade, rose gold, as neutral — color and gender wise. Rather than clashing with blues and silvers, a unisex bomber ties it all in with icy warmth. Rhee wears a jacket from Smak Parlour ($82).

Brown Sugar

Paired with a mocha bomber jacket and mink knit, brown lipstick doesn’t have to seem like a 90s throwback but rather a continuation of a monotone color palette.

Getting Air

The sweater dress returns this season with high necks and no sleeves. Protect your bare arms with a leather jacket, and watch your outfit transform from slinky to sophisticated as aviator vibes cloud the sky. With a cropped shape, the jacket doesn’t hide your curves. Sexy and strong? This girl is moving up. Wiltshire wears a jacket from South Moon Under ($80) and dress from Smak Parlour ($58).

Architectural Attention

When your baroque skirt matches the design of a famous 19^th century architect, you know it’s timeless. Allow it to take center stage by layering calm solids like black and navy. Same with cameo — let it be the hero. Rhee wears a jacket from Smak Parlour ($98). Ellis wears a cardigan from South Moon Under ($78).

Velvet Kiss

Embrace the holidays’ glamour and bring out the red lipstick for occasions other than a festive soiree. You can’t go wrong with the classic matte finish, especially in a season where red velvet stares out from every shop window. To keep your makeup wearable for the daytime, go easy on the rest of your face, using a light hand to apply eyeliner and highlighter on the cheeks.

Liquid Gold

Want to reign attention at the next downtown? Ditch the herd of black dresses and channel your inner disco queen with a metallic mini, furry bomber and navy velvet silhouettes. You were made for nights under the lights, and only these colors will shimmy right. Wiltshire wears a jacket and dress from South Moon Under ($148, $98).

Cafe Society

Midi skirts do not need to bore with corporate conservatism. Neither does wool in plaid. Side buttons and all black houndstooth juggle an act of sternness and whimsy while an ombre like fade of the crisscrossing colors brings the coat to the 21^st century. Rhee wears a coat from Knit Wit. Ellis wears a skirt from Smak Parlour ($62).

Magic Three

Long coat, mini skirt and ankle boots…is there a better layering formula? Replicate and repeat it as often as you can before the temperatures dip and going out without pants won’t even be considered.

-Emily Cieslak

Photos by Caroline Gibson. Styled by Faith Cho, Emily Cieslak, Tiffany Kim and Cindy Ngo. Makeup by Perren Carrillo. 

Clothes courtesy of Knit Wit (1729 Chestnut Street), Smak Parlour (219 Market Street) and South Moon Under (1731 Chestnut Street). All other clothing models’ own.