As the leaves turn and the temperature drops, staying warm and fashionable is harder than ever. At Lake Forest Academy, adhering to the business casual dress code becomes more difficult between the months of November and February when warm and appropriate clothing items become limited. Finding suitable clothes for the winter season is not impossible and can foster comfort, confidence and style.
Since fashion has shifted rapidly over the last ten years and become generally more relaxed, staying up to date with what’s trending can be arduous. But, reflecting on past fashion trends can inspire outfit ideas and styles. Past winter fashion trends from 2019 included statement coats, novelty knits, tonal dressing, transitional dresses and tailored pieces according to Elle Magazine.
Pulling inspiration from popular celebrities can be useful too. Female celebrities like Hailey Bieber have been photographed rocking trench coats, dark jeans and cozy turtleneck sweaters; Gigi Hadid has been seen wearing North Face puffer jackets, winter boots and sweater dresses; and Selena Gomez was snapped wearing scarves, chic button-ups and feminine pleated skirts paired with black tights. Popular male celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Justin Timberlake and Jacob Elordi similarly choose tweed jackets, dark jeans, long sleeve linen shirts and polo sweaters.
Shopping locally is a great way to find winter staple pieces. Manager of Valentina (a popular boutique store in downtown Lake Forest and Glencoe) Caitlin Considine said, “We’ve got a little bit of everything for everyone. We have great gifts and winter clothes for big nights out and everyday.” Valentina offers seasonal clothing that varies in price. Accessories such as jewelry, hair clips and handbags are also available at Valentina. Valentina’s array of scarves, hats and mittens are also a great investment for the winter season ahead.
Although dressing smart and chic during the winter can be difficult and burdensome, finding a specific style and pieces of clothing that are enjoyable to wear can ease the process of getting ready everyday and create excitement to display fashion. As Tom Ford said, “Dressing well is a form of good manners.”