What to Wear This Winter

Winter is the season where the coat does most of the work. Everything underneath should be warm enough to stand alone indoors but simple enough not to compete — a turtleneck, a knit skirt, wide jeans with a proper boot. The mistake is adding bulk without adding warmth.

The six looks below use grey, cream, chocolate and black in textures that read winter: wool coats, cable knits, faux fur, leather bombers and knee-high boots. Each one handles a cold commute without looking like you dressed for a ski trip.

1. Grey coat and turtleneck maxi

The city winter default. A long grey wool coat worn open over a matching ribbed turtleneck maxi, cinched with a black leather belt and finished with black slingbacks over sheer tights.

Coat

Long grey wool coat, worn open

Dress

Grey ribbed turtleneck maxi

Belt

Black leather belt at the waist

Shoes

Black pointed slingbacks over sheer tights

Bag

Small black leather baguette bag

Why it works — One colour head to toe reads expensive in winter. A belt breaks the column; slingbacks keep the line sharp under a long coat.

2. Overcoat and wide jeans

Casual cold days. An oversized grey wool overcoat over a cream ribbed turtleneck, mid-wash wide-leg jeans with a raw hem and white trainers with black stripes. A small black shoulder bag and earbuds for the commute.

Coat

Oversized grey wool overcoat

Knit

Cream ribbed turtleneck

Denim

Mid-wash wide-leg jeans, raw hem

Shoes

White trainers with black stripes

Why it works — An overcoat over denim reads intentional, not accidental. Wide jeans tuck into the coat silhouette; trainers keep it off-duty without sacrificing warmth on top.

3. Knit turtleneck and cable maxi

Cozy without a coat indoors, warm enough with one outdoors. A cream oversized turtleneck tucked into a chocolate cable-knit maxi skirt, with tan square-toe boots and a camel half-moon crossbody bag.

Top

Cream oversized ribbed turtleneck

Skirt

Chocolate cable-knit maxi skirt

Shoes

Tan square-toe ankle boots

Bag

Camel leather half-moon crossbody

Why it works — Double knit — sweater and skirt — traps heat without a heavy coat for mild winter days. Cream and chocolate are the winter neutral pairing.

4. Faux fur and knee boots

Evening or a dressed-up weekend. A cropped light-brown faux-fur jacket over a black fitted top and leggings, with chocolate knee-high leather boots and a matching fur mini bag.

Jacket

Cropped light-brown faux-fur jacket

Base

Black fitted top and leggings

Shoes

Chocolate knee-high leather boots

Bag

Faux-fur mini bag with chain strap

Why it works — Faux fur adds warmth and texture at the shoulders — the coldest point. Knee boots replace tights and ankle boots when the hem is short.

5. Leather bomber and straight trousers

City days when you want edge without a long coat. An oversized brown leather bomber over a matching brown shirt tucked into black straight trousers, with a black belt, pointed heeled boots and a small brown leather bag.

Jacket

Oversized brown leather bomber

Shirt

Brown button-down, tucked

Trousers

Black straight-leg trousers

Shoes

Black pointed heeled boots

Bag

Small brown leather top-handle bag

Why it works — A bomber sits at the hip and keeps the waist visible — warmer than it looks when layered over a proper shirt. Brown and black is the winter leather pairing.

6. Knit vest, ruffle shirt and wide jeans

Indoor heat and cold commutes. A cream knit sweater vest over a white ruffled-collar shirt with the tails out, mid-wash wide-leg jeans and black high-top sneakers. A brown leather shoulder bag and round glasses.

Vest

Cream ribbed knit sweater vest

Shirt

White ruffled-collar shirt, untucked

Denim

Mid-wash wide-leg jeans

Shoes

Black high-top canvas sneakers

Why it works — A vest traps heat across the chest without coat bulk indoors. Wide jeans balance the volume of an untucked shirt; sneakers keep the look off-duty.

Three rules that cover most of winter

• Invest in one coat you would wear every day — everything else is interchangeable underneath.
• Turtlenecks replace scarves on most commutes; save the scarf for days below freezing.
• Boots with a real sole beat fashion heels on wet pavement — keep one pair that handles salt and rain.