How to Wear a Dress in Winter
Trickier than it sounds, styling a dress so it’s suitable for changeable weather is an art in itself. Liberty’s guide will soon have you layered to perfection
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How to Wear a Dress in Winter
Trickier than it sounds, styling a dress so it’s suitable for changeable weather is an art in itself. Liberty’s guide will soon have you layered to perfection
By: Team Liberty
You don’t want to lock away your dress collection until spring, but you also don’t want to freeze on your way to work. No, it may not be rocket science, but knowing how to wear a dress in autumn/winter is an artform. Feeling warm in the face of the season’s often grim weather is the objective here, but the colour, print, fabric and fit of your additional layers all demand crucial consideration, too.
That’s why we’ve taken the, ahem, liberty of putting together this very handy guide that’ll teach you how to wear, and how to style, your favourite dress this winter. No goosebumps necessary.
The Minimalist Approach
When styling minimalist dress for winder, there are two paths to choose from: do you lean further into the aesthetic with equally pared-back layers or add contrast with a punchy hit of maximalism? For a beautifully simple ensemble that’s as cosy as it is timeless, consider neutral knitwear your best friend before adding a slick tailored jacket on top. But if it’s the latter that sounds up your street, look upon the dress as if it were a blank canvas in need of vibrancy and pair it with a graphic jumper or print-clad coat.
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The Knitted Option
With temperatures low and days darker, the morning invitation to hit snooze seems all the more tempting. If only there was a dress that provided effortless style, bed-like cosiness and didn't require complex styling.... Behold! The knitted dress – a style that's as easy to pull on as a jumper, will add depth and texture to an outfit and is basically the dress equivalent of a warm, all-embracing hug. As for how to style a jumper dress: it's important to keep other knitted pieces to an absolute minimum as too many could leave you feeling uncomfortably hot and bulky. Instead, add interest by opting for pieces in contrasting fabrics and finishes, like a denim jacket and accessorising with eye catching jewellery.
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Think Prints
To clash, or not to clash: this is the question to ask yourself when styling a printed dress. If you've yet to master the art of mixing prints, use the colour palette of your dress' pattern as your starting point, and couple with pared-back pieces in the same tonal family, opting for layers in alternative textures and textiles along the way. Alternatively, pair your dress with other printed pieces, like a shirt or puffer jacket, but ensure they share at least one common colour to create a harmonious mix.
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How to do Denim
As effortless to wear as your go-to pair of jeans and with year-round wearability, the denim dress is a wardrobe mainstay and, happily, they're easy to style for the winter months. Layers in earthy tones including beige, terracotta, sage and cream make ideal pairings for blue and pale denim washes or if you fancy a double denim look, consider contrasting a light denim with another that's darker. On an important, practical note, keep in mind that denim isn't the most insulating of fabrics, so as we delve deeper into cooler climes, apply these styling tips to cold-cancelling knits and warming outerwear.
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The Voluminous Dress
Liberty’s legendary fashion floors are (almost) stocked to the rafters with voluminous dresses, ideal for when a party invite lands in your inbox. But coming in architectural, body-redefining shapes, layering over one of these for the autumn/winter period can sometimes be frustrating . So if you have your eye on a sculptural oversized dress, note that you’ll need layers that accommodate features like billowing skirts, flounce and dramatic puffed sleeves. First off, look for something effortless and unrestrictive like a sleeveless knit or waistcoat. Then opt for outerwear that's generous in fit, so there’s no need to worry about flattening the dress’s incredible volume. Alternatively, the beauty of a voluminous dress is, well, volume. The ideal place to hide streamline layers when the chill really bites. Look to fine long sleeve cashmere jumpers and tops that will slip invisibly under your dress.
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