The winter weather is here and the winds are cold. Many of us tend to pile on layers of outerwear in order to combat the chilly elements but that should never be an excuse to look like a ball of yarn. On the contrary, the fall/winter season is the perfect time to play with layers and pull out your trench coat or jacket that has been hiding at the back of your closet. But instead of blindly piling on layers after layers of fabrics, here are some tips for you to achieve a well-thought out winter look that’s hot and oozing with sophistication while keeping you feeling warm and toasty on the inside.

1. Keep to the same family of colour
The safest way to achieve a seamless and harmonious look between each layer is to keep to the same family of colour. Having to think in terms of so many layers can be hard to visualise, so the easiest way to blend your whole outfit together and look like you gave enough thought is to stick to the same hue and colours that complement each other. Start with your base colour and work on with pieces that are a few shades lighter or darker to achieve this straight-forward yet thoughtful look.

2. When in doubt, go neutral
Neutral colours keep your entire pile of clothing from looking like too much. And it works for both your inner base layers as well as the outerwear layers. Keep your inner layers neutral — think of it as a blank and simple canvas in which you can work on your other layers. Either stay with the same minimalist thread and layer on other neutral coloured outer pieces for a monochromatic look, or opt for bolder and louder statement pieces that will be sure to help brighten up the cold and dreary weather. In both cases, setting up for a good neutral base is almost like setting your outfit up for success.

3. Length matters
The length and choice of your outwear is actually dependent on your height and body shape. Put aside what you think is trendy and instead opt for something that flatters your figure. Long outerwear like trench coats that cut your thigh area typically looks better on people with a lanky and taller frame. Those who aren’t blessed with a model’s height should go for more lightweight and fitted pieces so the fabric don’t consume your body frame.

4. Accessorise with caution
Accessories can be an easy way to add a subtle pop of colour to your outfit so you don’t look like a drab. But these subtle addition of visual interests should be used thoughtfully — they can serve to enhance a look of neutral and monochrome colours, but can also create a messy clash of colours when worn with other loud pieces. In any case, always choose a single element or two of drama and make it the star of what you’re wearing. The other elements should only serve complementary roles.

How do you dress for the cold weather? Let us know in the comments section down below!