Options for cold-weather fasion beyond 'throw on a black sweater' please!

November 10, 2009 5:40 PM

I need to dress better. Complication: I have a chilly workplace. Surely there are somewhat attractive options beyond 'throw on a black sweater on' but I am at a loss as to what they might be...

My typical outfit is black pants and a 'fashion' top, and I guess I am just not sure how to dress that up and still stay warm. I am not that bright as far as fashion goes :) and I favour the black because it goes with everything. But I am starting to feel like I'm wearing the same outfit every day because it's always 'pants and some variety of black sweater' since you never can see what's underneath :)

I feel like scarves can be fun, but I don't know how to match a scarf to a shirt that's not a simple, solid colour. I also feel like sweaters in colours other than black might be an option, but again, what do you wear underneath them so you don't look too 'busy' and clashing? I just don't know how to put different-looking 'looks' together that aren't going to leave me shivering all day.

I do not have access to the greatest of laundry facilities, so anything which isn't wash and go (or, wash and lay flat to dry and then go). And I am not really open to skirt-based options either; I am a kindergarten teacher and have to sit on the floor with small children all day. Also, I ave a lot of playground duty so go between indoors and outside a lot. This does not always help with the soooooo cold issues :)

So, educate this fashion victim. There are options besides a) freeze to death and b) throw on a black sweater, right?

posted by JoannaC to shopping (33 comments total)

Women at my workplace all seem to have two or three great oversize scarf/shawls. It makes me jealous, but they all look great. Many are neutral colors, or neutral with a colorful trim.
posted by OmieWise at 5:50 PM on November 10

I know you said you weren't open to skirt based options, but have you considered long, full skirts? They'll keep your legs warm and you can move around fairly easily in them (I wore them when I was a sub), and you can wear leggings underneath for a) warmth and b) those whoops! moments.

I'm not much for fashion, but I layer a lot. I wear solid colors so that it doesn't look busy. I love turtle necks and mock turtlenecks and I wear things under and over (depending on the look and need for warmth). That's about all I've got - sorry if it's not much help.
posted by patheral at 6:02 PM on November 10

your black sweater can be expanded to include cardigans. this gives your underneath shirt more exposure and livens up the variety.

you could go with long sleeved blouses (i find target has great business appropriate ones for cheap and easy to wash) - on colder days, you can wear a form fitting long sleeve tshirt underneath for extra warmth (i like these - i have them in short and long sleeve in probably 15 different colors).

depending on body type and proportions you can find this style of jacket/shawl/thing in long sleeves.

and don't underestimate a nice pair of socks (i shop at sock dreams for this) to warm up all of you.
posted by nadawi at 6:06 PM on November 10 [1 favorite has favorites]

What about silk long underwear? Land's End has some different sets and even has crop pants that would not interfere with knee-high hose. There's probably some biker-length silk undershorts out there somewhere.

Of course, you might get too hot with them, but it's worth a try. I love silk sock liners, as I've posted before. I ice skate in a super-thin silk turtleneck under a thin sports-poly (not fleece) turtleneck, and it's great!

Also, fine-gauge wool cardigans are your friend, especially if they have a small percentage of angora. (Small enough to be cozy warm and not look like you're carrying a cat around.)

I'm always cold, and these things work for me!
posted by jgirl at 6:06 PM on November 10

Silk (knit) underwear is great, comes in black or practically any color you like, and is so thin you hardly notice it except it's blissful to have in a cold office. One good source with lots of styles (long sleeve, camisoles, etc.) is wintersilks.com.
posted by philokalia at 6:07 PM on November 10

Buy a bunch of v-neck sweaters in colors that appeal to you, when you find a style you like, stock up. Everywhere from Target to J-Crew should have a range. They can be made of cotton, wool, or cashmere depending on how warm you need them to be and what your tolerance for laundry hassle is.

Then wear plain, cheap, cotton t-shirts (sleeveless or whatever else works) underneath them. I keep the neckline on these low, but not too low. Mine are from Target. You can stick to white and black, or color coordinate if you feel more adventurous.

And then for serious warmth you can add a blazer or jacket over the top, and a scarf. Don't freak out about the color scheme! What works for me is to keep most of my clothes neutral (blue, grey, black) and add color with scarves and the undershirts. Matching a scarf to your eyes is good (if very old school!) advice.
posted by crabintheocean at 6:07 PM on November 10

yeh, what jgirl said. (S L O W on the keyboard here....)
posted by philokalia at 6:08 PM on November 10

Thirding the silk underwear. It is magic! It's so thin and close fitting you can wear it under anything, and I just wash and dry mine with everything else, so although it might sound fancy or fussy, it really isn't.
posted by crabintheocean at 6:11 PM on November 10

The pashmina/shawl option is a great one, but the kindergarners bit may not work so well with that. I would think thick cable knit or cashmere tights with a flowy skirt, or boots/skirt/tights option work. Have you checked out some of the thicker Irish or Norwegian sweaters? You can wear a thin or mock turtleneck, camisole, even a dressy solid tee under one of those.
posted by kellyblah at 6:12 PM on November 10

How to deal with fear of clashing and color coordination when shopping:

Go through your wardrobe and look at the main colors that all of your clothes fall into. To keep things simple, make your neutral section (blacks, browns, whites, greys and khakis) and pick two other main colors that are dissimilar. So, like, one warm color and one cool color. Reds and blues? Greens and oranges? Pinks and Purples? My wardrobe pretty steadily splits between teals/blues and magenta/purples, for example. My friend is definitely a pink and green girl.

Then, when you're shopping, you can be comfortable buying things that fall into one of those two colors, or is a neutral, without fear of clashing or finding something that will "go". Remember, also, you can wear your two primary colors *together*, or add new colors as accents to your primary colors.

Example: Your two colors are Blue and Pink. You could wear a pink button down shirt underneath a blue argyle sweatervest. The blue argyle could have oranges or yellows or greens as details, that's fine! The warm colors will go with the pink shirt underneath, and the cool colors will work with the blue of the sweatervest. Wear that with a neutral pair of pants. You can take *any* color from your ensemble and find accessories in that color. So, a pink or blue or neutral scarf, blue shoes, pink belt, etc.

The key to not clashing is to make that all of your colors are *different* enough from each other. Clashing happens when people think you're trying to match and you don't. Don't even attempt matching and you're safe!

The same goes with patterns as well as colors. Two different kinds of plaids can be very tricky. But a plaid plus a stripe? That's fine. Or a stripe and a polka dot, or a plaid and a floral (which is currently very on-trend) or any combination of *different* patterns is okay. If you're feeling concerned about seeming busy, make sure that only one pattern is strong, and the other patterns are subtle. So, like, a pinstripe is a subtle pattern, but a bold thick buffalo plaid is strong. Tiny flowers on a scarf is subtle, but big giant red poppies on a skirt is strong. Just combine one subtle with one strong, and you're good.

Also, if you're steadily cold all day, try wearing warm underwear! Silk longjohns are wonderful things, as are lined pants. You can wear white, black, or skin-toned camisoles underneath that will *really* keep you much warmer than you think they will, and they'll never even show.
posted by Mizu at 6:16 PM on November 10 [6 favorites has favorites]

I typically wear nice pants and a nice shirt to work. But I am always cold, so I have one cardigan that lives at work and I wear it quite a bit. I also have a number of other cardigans that I occasionally wear to work and back home. The one that used to live at work was a scarlet colored cashmere cardigan from TJ Maxx or Marshalls (~$50). I would wear it with pretty much any color shirt excepting red tones. Now I have a black cardigan at work and I wear that with just about anything. I actually really like wearing bright colors together. I will sometimes wear a turquoise shirt with a green cardigan. I think it adds interest to my otherwise fairly boring attire. Anyway, I think you need to go to TJ Maxx and buy 3-5 cardigans.

I also almost always have a scarf on, because I am really cold. I have a couple of the ubiquitous pashmina variety and they are super cheap and come in a wide range of colors, so you could wear black pants a colored shirt, then a coordinating scarf. And add a black cardigan if you are still cold.
posted by sulaine at 6:18 PM on November 10

Cheap cashmere sweaters. So warm! Nordstrom Rack has them right now; Lord and Taylor and Bloomingdales frequently have their store brands on sale. They're not cheap cheap, and you have to take good care of them, but I run cold too, and I usually wear a tee under so I can take off the cardigan if necessary.

Also, consider a tailored wool flannel blazer. They can be a godsend and don't have to look too Talbot-y.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:21 PM on November 10

What about tunic-type sweater dresses, worn with leggings and boots? It's a warm, cute, trendy but modest look. I wear some variation of it almost every day to work - I pretty much live in knee-length sweaters with thick leggings and knee high boots right now. So easy to dress up or down, too. Always warm! Play around with warm accessories such as scarves, cowls, fingerless gloves, arm warmers, etc. Add a tank or a long-sleeved t underneath for extra warmth. Like, start with this type of basic all black look and accessorize however you like: link. You can go longer with the sweater, or a lower heel with the boot.....lots of choices. I like the simplicity of a sweater dress with leggings because there's nothing to keep fidgeting with or adjusting.
posted by iconomy at 6:23 PM on November 10

Oh -and why not corduroys? Different from black pants, they come in different colours, might be warmer, especially the thicker ones.
posted by kellyblah at 6:25 PM on November 10

Vests can be fun, and add a little warmth. Also sweater vests/sleeveless sweaters.

Re: the scarves: if your top is patterned, a solid scarf is fine. Solid top? Patterned scarf, or solid scarf + a pin.
posted by amtho at 6:29 PM on November 10

"Because it goes with everything" is one of the worst reasons to choose a piece of clothing.

However, there is a place for "neutral" colors in your wardrobe. You don't need to be stuck with black (although a zip through the stores right now might lead you to think otherwise). Other neutrals are beige/tan, dark brown, charcoal, grey, navy, and cream.

The first thing I'd do is go for some new pants. That will make your existing black sweaters look more interesting. I find that most colors look kind of "too much" with black.

Then you can go for sweaters in the other neutral colors. Sweaters include fitted cardigans, longer cardigans, sweater jackets, and your regular pullover sweaters that don't show much of anything of the shirt underneath (v-necks, crew necks, turtlenecks, shawl collars, boatnecks, etc).

You can also try blazers, although that might be too dressy or too movement-restricting for your job. But there are some more casual ones to be found--stay away from blazers that are part of a suit--and make sure they're lined for warmth.

I think oversized shawl/pashmina things could be good. As long as they're big enough, they'll stay all wrapped around you and you can choose which cold body parts it needs to cover. I don't know what city you're in, but in New York you can find them on the street for like $10 in all kinds of colors. Otherwise, most cheap stores (H&M, Target) have their cheap versions.

I'd also like to know what colors your "fashion tops" are. If you have a limited wardrobe allowance and limited know-how/imagination when it comes to coordinating your clothing, I'd stay away from patterns with too many colors in them. You might feel "boring" but you'll always look put-together.

(Putting black-and-navy or black-and-dark-brown together is for advanced users only. Brown-and-grey is pretty much for no users.)
posted by thebazilist at 6:46 PM on November 10

I suppose I can chime in with my usual "find a used copy of Color Me Beautiful and ignore the dated parts" line. Color for Men is also a very helpful book -- better color swatches, good color analysis guidelines, and good advice for how-much-stuff-do-I-really-need that you can extrapolate from.

Also, consider a tailored wool flannel blazer. They can be a godsend and don't have to look too Talbot-y.

LOL!! Camel hair is as toasty warm as it gets. It's amazing. Check consignment and thrift shops and put 'em in the dry cleaner on the way home from purchasing.

Off to put on my sheepskin slippers ...
posted by jgirl at 6:59 PM on November 10

How about something like:
Cowl neck sweater type thing in a nice colour, with layers underneath?

Or, I like the 'teacher style files' here ... maybe minus the heels? Or could you do a cute striped top?

Something like this ruffled top (imagine it has sleeves) underneath a warm cardigan could also work really well.

I tend to go for something cute then add a long sleeve or 3/4 sleeve top underneath (something fitting and stretchy that is comfortable) with a black, brown or navy pant.
I generally try to add an accessory as well - depends on how grabby the kids are - nice chunky necklaces, ring, cool earrings or a belt always make me feel like I've 'dressed up'
posted by latch24 at 7:18 PM on November 10

Blazers dress everything up. And you can get them in machine washable fabrics like denim or corduroy or polyester.
posted by selfmedicating at 7:50 PM on November 10

This is my favorite sweater right now and it's a style I've seen from several brands at several price points. I love that it's comfortable, warm, chic, and versatile. My favorite way to wear it is belted over a slim top with skinny jeans tucked into boots (kind of like at the bottom of the page). I also have a couple of tailored, military inspired jackets like this that are appropriate to wear inside all day. They're great for keeping warm and dressing up otherwise too-casual tops.
posted by Thin Lizzy at 8:54 PM on November 10

Wool socks and long underwear are great ideas.

Beyond that, I find that keeping my neck area warm makes the biggest difference to my temp. If I'm wearing a v-neck or anything like that, I will be cold in a cold building. My solution is cheap silk scarves tied around my neck. They look nice, and they make a huge difference to my ability to keep warm. I have a couple of go-to scarves (one is cream colored, one pale blue etc) in simple patterns, that go with my teaching shirts. Here's a square one from Land's End; for dealing with grabby students you may want a square one that can be tied with no long trailing end.

Failing that, turtlenecks or sweaters that have higher collars.

Be sure your sweaters are warm - for example, a wool sweater is going to be much warmer than a cotton sweater of a similar weight.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:38 PM on November 10

I've recently decided to stick with what I know I like to wear, but expand it. So instead of trying to branch out into new colors, I'm mostly going to be wearing black and gray dressy-ish pants this winter, with a button-up cotton blouse on top, with either a tank underneath or a sweater on top. My blouses are mostly blue, purple, and black, and my sweaters are black cardigan, black pullover, another black pullover, blue, purple, and pink. You see a trend? But I do like having the bright collar or shell underneath my sweater. A typical day's outfit will be black, gray, and bright color. And sometimes on cardigan days I wear a scarf. Some of my scarves are really bright, but I also have a few that are gray and black.

Anyway, yeah, I decided to go with a look. So far I'm not bored, since I do have a few other combos I mix in. And I always feel professional and comfortable.

I second lightweight silk long underwear underneath.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:16 PM on November 10

Oh, I also meant to say that I'm a big fan of if you love one, buy two or three. This works with pants, sweaters, shirts, etc (I try for different colors).
posted by bluedaisy at 10:19 PM on November 10

Academichic is a fashion blog that has lots of workplace-friendly layering ideas.
posted by twistofrhyme at 10:40 PM on November 10

Seconding academichic-- they have a few good color combination lessons as well.
posted by travertina at 7:19 AM on November 11

I work in an atmospheric historic building, and by "atmospheric" I mean cold and drafty. Wool tights, silk and merino base layers (especially merino camisoles) and thrifted top-end cashmere sweaters are my weapons against the cold. I actually prefer to wear skirts in winter because a wool skirt over slip over wool tights is warmer than jeans + long underwear.
posted by stuck on an island at 7:36 AM on November 11

If you can wear hats at your school, something like this would be super cute and help retain body heat.

Use the next two months to figure out what you like and what works for you. A few days or a week after Christmas retail stores will start with their after Christmas clearance sales. Use this as an opportunity to pick up cheap, classic pieces. I scooped up three of my favorite sweaters this way. They have a bit of a flair to them, but they also have a fairly classically flattering look. While they will probably go out of style eventually, I will probably get another couple of years out of them. I got them for $6.00 each.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 12:13 PM on November 11

I use a couple dry-clean-only thrift-store blazers for this, one originally from Express, another originally part of a Donna Ricco ensemble. They look great, make me look more professional, and definitely keep me warm at my desk.
posted by limeonaire at 6:19 PM on November 11

Okay, I am liking some of these ideas. But I never could figure out how to wear a cardigan. If you do not button it, aren't the different sides just flapping around every time you pass a draft?
posted by JoannaC at 6:41 PM on November 11

The ones I have are fairly fitted, ie there isn't tons of droopy extra material to be flapping around. Mine don't flap, through they do hang open in a sort of untailored way.
You can also button just the bottom three or four buttons, or whatever creates a good line while still showing the colors from your shirt below.

(Also, if you had pictures of your fashion tops, or could find example photos on the web of other people wearing similar things, people here could help you with more specific advice about what would go with them.)
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:04 PM on November 11

Sometimes I just buttion the top button to keep things more in place.
posted by jgirl at 8:41 AM on November 12

This is an example of the kind of top I usually wear under the sweater:
http://smartcanucks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/reitmans.jpg

I am smaller than this person, but that's a general idea about the top.

I bought a sweater today which is sort of a dark blue, so now what? All I can think to do is wear black pants and a black top underneath it. If I wore non-black pants then I don't know what colour to wear underneath it. Gray pants, blue sweater and what, for example?
posted by JoannaC at 11:45 PM on November 13

For a blouse like the one you linked, it has several colors in it - purple background, different shades of pale pink/purple flowers, dark gray/black shadows, etc. Any of those colors is eligible as a sweater, scarf, or pants to "go with" the top. You could wear that shirt with gray pants, a black cardigan and a pale purple/pink scarf. Then you could wear it again with black pants and a pale pink cardigan. Etc.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:50 AM on November 14