Beat the Cold: Thermal Wardrobe Basics

Winter has really just begun in the northern hemisphere and the weather is harsher in some places than others. It's essential to cover up and stay warm but sometimes you just feel that you've let go on your looks. Spicing up your wardrobes really does help brighten your day so give thorough winter styling a try! Beat the Cold series will share with you guys a bunch of tips I've gathered over the years on maintaining your style and personal grooming while staying warm and fully enjoying winter.

Let's start with some wardrobe basics: shirts and bottoms. Layering is key especially since you will be going back and forth between heated indoors and breezy outdoors. Being able to easily modify how warmly you are dressed will help prevent catching a cold. Keeping warm usually results in bulky layers and less interesting pieces. I doubt that winter wear in snowy regions will ever get as exciting as summer outfits but putting in some more effort definitely beats the old parka and awkward looking hats.

Having thermal base layers will not only keep you warm but they will also allow you to wear less layers and reduce bulk. Invest in several thermal long sleeve shirts to replace your regular layering tops. It's worth it. I love the ones from Uniqlo because they are thin and versatile yet do the job well. The only downside is that they are somewhat see through. You'll need some nude bras. I believe they also came out with extra thick versions this year so the problem might have been solved.
For a sportier and more relaxed look, Snow Angel makes great feminine looking winter sports base layers. Now most of their stuff is available on Amazon so if you have a Prime membership, you'll get free shipping along with better prices compared to their website. I believe they've also just launched a more everyday friendly cashmere content line.

Leggings and skinny pants are a great way to balance out winter proportions but you don't want your legs to freeze. There are numerous thermal legging choices out there that vary in warmth level for you to choose from. If you are into wearing shorts or skirts, investing in thermal tights and high socks is one of the cheapest ways to switch your look and fight the weather. These can also be worn underneath regular jeans and pants to give you extra warmth without adding any bulk. No one wants to look fatter on top of all that winter blubber.
American Apparel has winter leggings but I think the Snow Angel Chami is a better investment since it's warmer and tend to look better after washes. Uniqlo has much thinner leggings for layering that's similar to a Snow Angel Velux. There are a whole bunch of other brands that make similar stuff but just worded differently.
Take some time and rethink about your winter wardrobe. Where can you reduce bulk and spice things up a little?