| Every winter, without fail, we gripe and complain about the cold. We whimper when the wind chill drops the temperature below —30 C and whine when we have to leave the coziness of our beds and begin the day in the freezing dark.
But remember the excitement of the first snowfall when you were a kid and mom would bundle you in a one-piece snowsuit? She’d not only make you wear a toque, but the hood from your jacket had to go over it and then she’d wrap a scarf tight around your neck to secure it all. And, finally, your snow pants would be tucked into your boots so everything about your outfit was airtight. No cold could get in and no warmth could get out. In fact, the worst thing about winter as a kid was either having to go inside for supper or having to strip down to go pee.
As adults, we need to embrace winter and all of its coldness with the same childlike wonder and the same practicality. Anyone who thinks it’s suitable to wear a flimsy leather jacket and trek in high-heeled boots through snow and on ice is either a 16-year-old high school girl (in which case, it’s a rite of passage) or reading too many fashion magazines (which is just lame).
However, winter practicality doesn’t have to mean slapping on that 1985 navy blue and fluorescent pink ski jacket with the promo toque you got from last year’s office party – it’s possible to both stay warm and look good when the mercury drops.
First off, a good practical jacket is key to staying toasty. Don’t splurge on the season’s "must have" purple Fozzie fur jacket, because (a) next year it will be passé and (b) it’s ugly. Pick a colour that you love and a style that will last for a few years. (Note to Vogue, Elle et al.: it’s OK to wear something for more than one season.) The warmth of the jacket comes from the type of insulator, like goose down (lightest and warmest – the more fill power, the warmer the jacket) and wool (natural and durable). Synthetic insulators such as Thinsulate or Polarguard (resilient and absorbent) are also good choices.
Practical footwear, a winter saviour, is often lined with insulators like fleece, shearling or faux fur. Boots should be water resistant, have thick insulated soles and save you from breaking an ankle. The style of winter footwear ranges from the furry and cozy, to the revamped moon boot, to the high-tech hiking boot. My rule of thumb for footwear: if you can’t make a fast getaway in your shoes, you should reconsider wearing them. Good-looking, practical winter boots are out there, you just have to do a little sole searching.
Add some zing to your winter gear with accessories. Pick bold colours and designs for scarves, mitts and hats. Get yourself a great pair of sunglasses. Wear a pair of long johns that make you smile. Accessories with oomph are the Prozac for winter depression.
One thing to keep in mind when mixing and matching your winter attire with accessories is not to pair sporty with posh – it didn’t quite work for the Spice Girls and it doesn’t quite work for fashion. In other words, don’t wear your boarding toque with your cashmere black jacket.
So when the snow falls, put on your fabulous and practical winter gear, go outside, spin yourself dizzy until you drop to the ground and watch those sparkling winter flakes fall from the sky. |
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