It’s that time of year when many of us fall into a style rut. It’s cold, dark, and we barely leave our homes except to grab groceries or drop our kids off at school. You may find yourself reaching for your lounge clothes more often, putting less effort into your style than ever. And while I truly believe winter is a time to slow down, rest, and rejuvenate, I also believe putting some effort into your outfits can totally change your outlook for the day. When those winter blues begin to take hold, seeking out style inspiration and expressing creativity through your outfit choices can bring life and excitement to these drab winter days.
In this short guide, I’m giving you my tried and true tips for getting out of your winter style rut. A few simple things (most of which cost absolutely nothing!) can do wonders for your mood, creativity, and mindset during the winter months.
Ten Tips For Breaking Out Of Your Winter Style Rut
Tip #1: Add Color To Your Outfits
As a neutral loving soul, this can be a hard concept to embrace, but I promise it will lift your mood. It doesn’t have to be fuchsia or lime green either. Personally, I love red, and reach for it often in the winter. Other colors that are trending right (if you’re concerned about trends) are sky blue, butter yellow, baby pink, lavender, and olive. You could even try a fun multicolored pattern or what I like to call a ‘happy sweater’ that blends many colors together for a little dopamine boost. If you’re a color minimalist like me, pair your colors with neutral pieces to ease into it.
Tip #2: Play With Accessories
If you’re in a style rut, try adding a few more accessories to your outfit. This is one of the biggest missed opportunities I see when it comes to personal style. Accessories take your outfit from boring to stylish. Try a printed silk scarf, chunky jewelry, bright socks, a hair accessory, a statement belt or a textured bag. All of these add interest and detail to a plain winter outfit. Other options include a bright colored beanie, a sweater worn over the shoulders like a scarf, or a cool pair of sunglasses.
Tip #3: Get Inspired
Creativity really starts to wane in the winter months. You reach for the same outfit over and over again because it’s easy and you don’t have to think about it. I’m all for outfit repeating, but when it becomes more out of laziness and convenience, it’s time to shake things up. Let’s go to your favorite source for style inspiration (mine is Pinterest) and start searching for winter outfits. Save some outfit inspiration to copy when you can’t figure out what to wear or need a boost of creativity. On the mornings I’m staring into my closet, feeling totally uninspired, I pull up my winter Pinterest board, and find a cool outfit I can copy.
Tip #4: Style Something In A New Way
Our creative brains aren’t exactly on full power in the winter. We find ourselves repeating the same routines and same outfits over and over again. It’s time to bring back some creativity to your wardrobe! I promise it will boost your mood and improve your mindset. Most of us have a closet full of clothes we wear the same way every time. It’s time to bust out of that rut and try wearing something in a new way. For this, I want you to go on Pinterest again. Whatever it is in your closet that you want to style, search it on Pinterest. For example, type in ‘black jeans winter outfits’ in the search area at the top. You will get a whole lot of winter outfits with black jeans. Save some outfits that you could copy with pieces from your closet. Wear that piece in a way you haven’t before.
Tip #5: Get Dressed Most Days
If you’re someone who works from home or is a stay-at-home mom, it can be very tempting to stay in pajamas or lounge clothes all day, especially when it’s freezing outside. And while I think we all need one day a week of complete rest where we are complete sloths and don’t even brush our hair let alone put makeup on, doing this repeatedly can start to bring you down. One of the best things I did as a new mom in those hard, sleep deprived newborn days was get ready everyday. It made me feel productive, fresh, and more like myself. So even if it’s cold AF, get your booty in the shower, pick out a cute fit, and wear it with confidence and style.
Tip #6: Organize Your Closet
At this point in winter, we all start to get sick of our wardrobe. I know this feeling all too well. You may be staring at the clothes in your closet, repeating to yourself, “I have nothing to wear.” So before you go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, go through all the clothes in your closet. I’m positive you will unearth something fabulous that you’ve forgotten about. Organizing your closet will allow you to see all the pieces you own and possibly have neglected because it was hiding under something you never wear. You don’t have to get rid of anything; although, if you’re getting that spring cleaning urge a little early, then by all means, go for it. Just be thoughtful about this process. If it doesn’t fit (and can’t be tailored) or if it’s looking too worn, go ahead and donate or toss it.
Tip #7: Get Out Of Your House
This may sound a little vain, but wearing a cute outfit isn’t as fun if nobody sees it. It’s time to get out of your house and strut your stuff. Go to a coffee shop to work for a few hours, plan a date night with your partner, or an evening out with your girls. Being around other people will boost your mood and creativity. It will give you a reason to put some thought into your look.
Tip #8: Dress Up For The Everyday
Do you have pieces in your wardrobe that you never wear because they feel too fancy? I certainly do! That beautiful white blouse, a satin skirt, or a long knit dress. I have all these things in my closet, and I rarely wear them, especially in the winter. If you’re in a winter style rut, it’s time to pull out those fancy pieces and rock them like you’ve never rocked them before. Do not save your clothes for special occasions. I repeat: DO NOT save your clothes for special occasions. Your life is the occasion. Who cares if you are the most dressed up person in the room. Personally, I admire those women (or men!) who are wearing a great outfit on a random Tuesday. They seem confident and cool and I want to be them. To sum up – get dressed up just for the hell of it.
Tip #9: Buy Something Trendy
Okay, this is the only tip that might cost you a little money. One way to inject some creativity into your winter outfits is to buy something trendy and new. This shouldn’t be your default, but I think it’s okay every so often. I’m someone who really embraces a capsule closet with timeless pieces you can wear for years. However, trends are fun and exciting and imaginative. That great suede jacket, a cool pair of barrel jeans, a colorful sneaker – these will all bring life to your basic wardrobe. Be choosy though – make sure you can style that trendy piece at least 3-5 ways and it’s something you’d want to wear even after the hype subsides.
Tip #10: Plan Your Spring Wardrobe
There is nothing I love more than planning my wardrobe for the next season. Watch some spring style videos on YouTube, go through your spring clothes to see what you have, and identify gaps in your wardrobe. Don’t buy anything yet, but go ahead and make a wishlist of items and start saving some spring style inspo. The anticipation of warmer temperatures and different outfits will help snap you out of that winter style rut for sure.
More Winter Style Inspiration:
Winter Mini Capsule Wardrobe: 3x3x3 Challenge
French Girl Winter Outfits To Copy
Thirteen Casual Chic Winter Outfits To Copy
Nine Ways To Style A Sweater & Jeans
Simple Winter Outfits To Copy
Parisian Winter Outfits
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