Ah, winter… the time of the year when we romanticise freezing cheeks, laugh at people slipping on ice while thinking “Thank God it’s not me,” and hope that we get to see the sun for at least an hour today. Combined with academic stress, this season can be quite daunting. And in times like this, it’s especially important to care for yourself. My favourite way of staying sane is through fashion. Nothing makes you feel better than putting together a good fit.
Now you might be thinking, “Isn’t it hard to do that when you don’t want to freeze?” My response to this would be that there are many ways you can be fashionable and stay warm this winter. And I’m here to share my experience, because it came to me through a lot of trial and error, and I did lose a couple of kneecaps to the cold (don’t worry, I found them later).
A hat, and common sense, are nowhere to be seen.
So here are some tips and tricks:
1. Layers
The key to layering is layering like an onion, not like a cabbage. Let me explain. You want to have many thin layers, instead of a few thick ones. One thing about Estonia is that no matter how cold it is outside, inside is always warm. And that applies not only to buildings, but also to public transport. Having many thin layers will help you regulate your warmth and prevent you from getting cold or overheating. My personal favourite combination is an undershirt (a tank top perhaps), a shirt, a thin sweater (opt for wool instead of synthetic yarn. It’s warmer and not bulky at all), and a coat. You can take any of these layers off and still have a complete outfit. As for bottoms, I always prefer longer boots that can be worn either over or under your trousers. This seems to be a rarity in men’s fashion, and I personally think that men should do something about that.
Large scarves are also a perfect way to layer if you want something that can be very easily put on/off.
2. Fleece-lined Tights
This mainly applies to people who like to wear skirts and dresses but don’t want to compromise the overall look of the outfit. I personally love a dress and a chunky boot combo in winter. One key piece of advice I would give about doing that would be getting fleece-lined tights. They are much warmer than just thicker tights and they look much better (in my humble opinion of course). Also, going back to my previous point, you can always layer the same tights with trousers, high rise boots, long coats, or all three at the same time.
Here is an example, although this picture was taken after snow had melted, so I definitely wouldn’t advise wearing shoes like that when it snows.
3. Warm socks (at all times)
In my native language, there’s a saying, which is probably the phrase I hear most often from my grandmother. Translated to English, it sounds something like, “keep your head cool and your feet warm”. It’s at this point that you should definitely listen to your grandmother. Indeed, if your feet are cold, no matter how warm you dressed, you will not be fully comfortable. I highly recommend buying thicker wool socks and choosing your winter boots accordingly. If you are someone who overheats easily, then also consider layering your socks to regulate temperature.
4. Thick-soled boots
Now, mind you, I don’t mean heels at all. As I briefly mentioned earlier, I don’t think you should wear heels when it snows. After all, you probably don’t want to break an ankle. However, choosing plain boots that rise above the ground by 3-5 cm is always a good idea. Essentially, the further you are from snow and cold ground, the warmer you are. Just, always look for soles with some kind of texture so that you don’t slip. I have a pair of knee-high boots with thick soles and a lined inner side, and that’s literally the best purchase of my life.
An example of an outfit with those. Please note that I did have a hat in this one. I swear, it’s just off for the picture.
5. Long hair
Yes, indeed. Long hair can substitute a sweater, a hat, a scarf, and a face cover for those windy days. So, if you have been looking for a sign to start growing out your hair, this is it. I can’t tell you how much I have gloated when my short-haired friend’s ears were bright red while mine were completely fine under many layers of long hair. So, consider that if this year you also want to make fun of your friend’s freezing ears.
6. Accessorise
Finally, always remember your hats and gloves. You can change the entire vibe of your outfit depending on what kind of hat you wear, and that’s great! Wear a hat with a pompom, and you look like you’ve just stepped out of a Hallmark movie. Wear a beret, and you look like you’ve stepped out of a French-themed Hallmark movie. So, experiment and protect not only your head (cold head leads to terrible migraines) but also your hair.
See, Hallmark movie
And this is all for my tips and tricks. I hope you’ll find something useful for you and that you’ll make the streets of Tartu your own personal runway. Have fun, don’t get sick, don’t fall, and take lots of mirror selfies!
All images are author’s own unless otherwise noted.file
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