What’s that? You’ve determined it’s finally time to peel away the throw blanket semi-permanently attached to your lap in exchange for actual clothing? Don’t worry, we can assist. Despite the fact that winter’s chill often feels like a hex on personal style, the secret to wearing a real-person outfit during the coldest months of the year is layering with warm and cozy textiles — no fuss, no muss.
If you’re not already acquainted, Cuddl Duds is a go-to for achieving head-to-toe stylish — and cozy — outfits for varying degrees of cold temperatures. This fact, combined with our need to do stuff, like get groceries and walk the dog, is why we teamed up with the brand to come up with four winter outfits that make getting dressed infinitely more effortless. Ahead, see our breakdown of their four collections (Softwear with Stretch, SoftKnit, Stretch Thermal, and Fleecewear with Stretch) and the best scenarios to wear them in. With any luck, you’ll survive the season with nary a regrettable outfit to reflect back upon.
For At-Home Hangs
Okay, we know we said this was all about leaving your house, but we want to make this transition easy, which is why this look featuring the Cuddl Duds Softwear with Stretch crew and leggings is a fine place to begin. Layer a striped longline cardigan on top of these base layers and accessorize with seasonal socks and slippers for an outfit that feels appropriate for, say, an English countryside cottage.
Cuddl Duds Softwear with Stretch Long Sleeve Crewneck Top, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Softwear with Stretch Leggings, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds 2-Pack Plushfill Reindeer Fair Isle Crew Socks, $, available at Kohl's
Nine West Marled Rib Knit Duster Cardigan, $, available at Kohl's
Sonoma Goods For Life Plush Faux Fur Clog Slippers, $, available at Kohl's
The Big One Super Soft Plush Blanket, $, available at Kohl's
For Grocery Store Runs
For some, getting groceries is a nagging life necessity. For others, it’s an opportunity to test-drive a fresh outfit idea in front of strangers. Whichever camp you fall in, incorporating warm layers into your market run is a must in the winter. We love the look of this SoftKnit crew in a Northern Lights pattern for an abstract art vibe combined with leggings and white jeans layered on top. And to solidify the cool-vegetables-section-girl vibe, we’ll be adding in a duvet coat plus white lace-up boots.
Cuddl Duds Soft Knit Long Sleeve Crewneck Top, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Soft Knit Leggings, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Cozy Sherpa Collar Duvet Coat, $, available at Kohl's
Agolde Tapered Baggy High-Rise Jeans, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Juicy Couture Oodles Women's Combat Boots, $, available at Kohl's
For Holiday Activities
If you’ve procrastinated picking out a Christmas tree or hanging twinkly lights outside, all you need to muster up the motivation is a cute look that’ll keep you toasty. This matching buffalo check set from Cuddl Duds will be your base and for extra layers, a powdery lavender button-down and a wintry white anorak. Don’t forget accessories like OTK boots and socks for A+ seasonal style.
Cuddl Duds Long Sleeve Crewneck Stretch Thermal Top, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Stretch Thermal Leggings, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds 2-Pack Plushfill Solid Diamond Cabled Crew Socks, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Lined Stretch Fabric Gloves, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Cozy Sherpa Hooded Anorak Jacket, $, available at Cuddl Duds
Everlane The Organic Cotton Quilted Shirt Jacket, $, available at Everlane
Nine West Nayli Women's Knee-High Boots, $, available at Kohl's
For Dog-Walking Duties
Fleecewear with Stretch is the warmest category for Cuddl Duds and we’ve reserved it for the task that tends to be the most challenging in the temperature department: dog walking. The brand's tie-dye top pairs well with the black zip hoodie and leggings in the ultra-warming fabric, and if you add a cute beanie, fanny pack, and sneakers, this necessary chore will feel like a lighter lift.
Cuddl Duds Fleecewear with Stretch Long Sleeve Crewneck Top, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Fleecewear with Stretch Leggings, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Fleecewear with Stretch Long Sleeve Half Zip Hoodie, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Faux-Fur Cuff Leather Gloves, $, available at Kohl's
Cuddl Duds Chenille Knit Beanie with Pom, $, available at Kohl's
To most, the December soundtrack of yuletide tunes and jingle bells signals the fast-approaching, snow-dusted end to yet another year. But to anyone who loves fashion, these sounds translate to four slinky syllables that were but a mere whisper at this exact time last winter: par-ty-dress-ing. While holiday fêtes aren’t back to pre-pandemic proportions, our social calendars still include fun, albeit shrunken-down, gatherings calling for festive outfits (which are shrinking in equal measure). But just as mindsets have evolved over the course of the pandemic, so, too, has our definition of occasionwear, which is why the sequin and velvet dresses of seasons past are no longer the go-to choice of attire. Not when there’s a plethora of party knitwear vying for our attention.
“As we welcome the idea of dressing up and going out again, sexy knits are becoming a popular choice for our customers,” says Heather Gramston, head of Womenswear Buying at Browns. Ever since the rise of Jacquemus pin-tops and Khaite cashmere bralettes that coincided with increasing vaccination rates, retailers are seeing consumers gravitate toward more revealing sweaters, especially with the holidays on the horizon. A recent data drop from the global search platform Lyst shows that pageviews for “party knitwear” have increased by 29% since the start of November, with “asymmetrical,” “cutout,” and “bodysuit” among the most commonly used search terms. (Sparkles, sequins, and crystal embellishments in this category are also trending.)
“Dressing up has evolved post-lockdown, and after months of wearing exclusively loungewear, these fashion knits and bras perfectly bridge the gap between being sexy and comfortable while not compromising on style,” Gramston continues, adding that Browns has expanded its knitwear offering this season to meet this demand. She says that separates and two pieces have been particularly popular, with Isa Boulder’s sleek styles like the Cage Knitted Tank Top (described on the Browns website as a “granny”-approved equivalent of Madonna’s cone bra) piquing shoppers’ interest. Gramston also points out Swedish designer Emma Gudmundson, whose demi-couture collections are produced on her at-home knitting machine, as another customer favorite.
The pieces that are trending this holiday season are nothing like your average hot-cocoa-by-the-fire kind of knits. No offense to Tom Daley, but those chunky, hand-crocheted, cottagecore-esque sweaters that we bundled up in during lockdown aren’t cutting it for the style-oriented optimists among us who are hoping for more occasions to shed some layers in 2022. After months of rule-following, we’re prepared to emerge from this period of restrictions (once it’s safe to do so) all too ready to toss our sartorial sensibilities out the window, letting in a gust of skin-exposing contradictions: ultra-cropped cardigans, turtlenecks with cutouts, shredded sweaters.
With that in mind, Sunny Williams, founder of House of Sunny — the label behind the Hockney dress that garnered a cult following after it was spotted on Kendall Jenner in 2020 — has channeled the sell-out success into similarly clingy sweaters featuring removable collars, cuffs, and sleeves. These modular designs also have button and zip enclosures to give wearers the option to reveal a flash of midriff. “Knitwear can feel soft and comfortable, but too safe alone, so to add a fun party silhouette seems to be a modern solution to outfit building, staying warm, and elevating [a look],” Williams says, advising to style the pieces with shiny or leather-like pants to add a party-ready feel.
Even as our social lives continue to resume, and scant attire follows suit, we certainly won’t be abandoning loungewear entirely, especially after it’s been so good to us for so long. Therein lies the secret sauce to party knits, which promise stay-at-home levels of comfort tailored to environments outside of the home. With temperatures dropping, we’re outgrowing the mini dresses in favor of an equally glamorous aesthetic that delivers the best of both worlds — no extra fabric required.
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This season’s coat trends are here to remind us that cottagecore isn’t going anywhere, with quilted textures, coats with prairie collars, and fashion-forward flannel jackets all rising in popularity among shoppers.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this winter’s outerwear trends are looking to inject romantic and ethereal vibes into our lives. The cottagecore trend first emerged in 2020, when lockdowns and social distancing measures had our collective psyche fantasizing about walks in the woods and making sourdough bread for a living. But as the pandemic continues to unfold, little has changed to assure us that stay-at-home orders are a thing of the past. And fashion brands have taken notice.
After TikTok propelled the growth of the home-y aesthetics, the trends made their way from the runways to the shelves. Laura Ashley and Batsheva partnered earlier this year with a cottagecore-inspired collection of dresses, while Ganni and Depop introduced a collection with Peter Pan-inspired collars and Hill House teamed up with Bridgerton on a collection of floral nap dresses.
Added bonus: At a time when freezing temperatures offer little inspiration to even get dressed, this statement coat trend requires little styling. (Though if you want to go for a full cottagecore look, pair a prairie-collared number or a quilted, pattern-clashing jacket with flower-printed, flowy dresses, crochet sweaters, and chunky hiking boots.)
Let your new winter coat transport you to greener pastures with our picks, below.
Quilted Coats
Quilted jackets are leading the cottagecore movement this winter, with clashing floral and checked prints, as well as patchwork and cloud-like textures, popping up in stores everywhere. This style is anything but minimalist, so leave the rest of the styling simple.
Puff Sleeves
Puff sleeves can add a romantic flair — not to mention, dramatic volume — to an otherwise-ordinary winter coat.
Flannel Jackets
This winter’s flannel jackets aren’t just for a walk in the woods, with brands offering new colorways and fashion-forward silhouettes.
Prairie Collars
The prairie collar trend accompanied many of us through the spring and summer with ethereal dresses and shirts. So if you’re not ready to let go yet, here’s your chance to hold on.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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