Not all of us live in the depths of snowy winter days that require all the layers. Here in the south, we get a few chilly days. But there are also these wildly warm winter days and figuring out how to dress for them can be a bit of a challenge. We want to stay warm, but also not overheat when it’s in the mid-50s. Then there’s also the desire to wear all the things from your winter wardrobe because hello, it IS in fact winter! Balancing it all is an art form sometimes. Sure you don’t need that long underwear or a heavy winter coat, but that doesn’t mean you have to ignore winter fashion! And today I want to share how to dress for warm winter days while you still embrace the season and not turn to flip flops.
Please I beg of you, no flip-flops!
How To Dress For Warm Winter Days
Don’t Wear Summer Items
Let’s just get this out of the way first and foremost. I don’t really care how warm it is, unless you’re on a tropical vacation, summer items should stay in the closet until it is in fact summer. Period. Leave the flip flops, the summer fabrics like linen and eyelet, in your closet. You don’t need it. There are plenty of other items in your closet that are winter-appropriate even on a very warm weather day.
Light Layers Are Key
One of the situations I find myself in on these warm winter days is that the temperatures fluctuate a bit. In the morning and night, it’s chillier. And in the shade, or any wind, it’s definitely cooler. So even though there may be some cold weather throughout your day, you still want some base layers that are light. For me, this usually means a light layer under my coat versus a heavy sweater AND a coat. I’d pick one or the other.
If you really want to wear your favorite coat on a warm winter day, you can. Just layer it with something really light so you can easily take it off if you need to. And the same goes for the opposite. If you don’t want to wear a coat since it’s warmer outside, you can add some light layers like a cute winter hat or gloves. But keep everything else a little lighter. These pieces will keep you warm, without making you overheat.
Show Some Leg
I love a good dress with boots for the winter. And you can leave the tights in the sock drawer and let those legs go bare. It’s the perfect combination for a warmer winter day. I love skirts and dresses paired with knee high boots or even ankle boots. And if you’re feeling a little pale, try this body blur cream to get your legs looking tan and flawless. Or try the Isle of Paradise tanning drops.
Embrace Winter Fabrics No Matter What
Just like we’re leaving linen and espadrilles in the closet, we can embrace the winter fabrics even if they’re in summer silhouettes. Think wool shorts paired with boots instead of your denim or cotton shorts. Or sweater tanks instead of a cotton tank. Thinking about the fabric is key to having your outfit look like it belongs in the season and not that you got dressed in the dark.
Wear Shorts
You heard me. You can 100% wear shorts in the winter. It’s actually a favorite look of mine that I do not wear enough. But again, keep that fabric in mind. The shorts you’d wear in the summer are NOT the shorts you should be wearing in the winter. I love wool shorts, or faux leather shorts, suede, whatever, just avoid anything you’d wear in the summer and you’ll be good to go. These are great with tights that don’t add too much warmth to your body heat levels, but still bring them into the season appropriately.
Sleeveless Trenches And Coats
A merino wool sleeveless trench is such a stylish item to wear in the winter. Layer it with one of those thin layers like a tee or turtleneck. Tissue thin turtlenecks are a favorite in my closet for those warmer winter days. And they go perfectly with a sleeveless trench. Skip the outer layers that are heavy like puffer coats, and choose a thinner wool fabric that won’t cause you to overheat.
Wear The Right Shoes
I really do not care how warm it is in the winter, you are to never wear a flip flop! Or an espadrille, or a cork wedge. Leave these in your closet! Embrace winter shoes like cool sneakers, a loafer, or ankle booties. These are all great to wear in the winter no matter how warm it is outside. I also love a good heel or clog. Perfect for winter!
Winter Outfits For Warm Weather
Here are a few of my favorite winter outfits for warmer weather. These are the perfect looks to wear when it’s not freezing and you’re feeling the itch to pull out spring clothes. Put the spring clothes back and try these looks instead.
Show A Little Leg In Dresses, Skirts and Winter Shorts
Embrace skirts, shorts or mini dresses and let your legs cool off a bit on those warmer days. Having knee-high boots on, or a light jacket is perfect to warm up if you need to. I also really love a great pair of winter shorts. Think faux leather, suede, wool fabrics and so on. You can wear them with bare legs if it’s really warm out, or add a tight if it’s still a little chilly out. Keeping winter fabrics and colors in mind is the key to this as well.
Light Jackets And Layers
Whether it’s a cardigan a light jacket or a parka, keeping your layers and coats light helps to avoid overheating. Keep the layers underneath these light jackets light as well when it’s super warm. This makes it really easy to remove layers as the day gets warmer too.
