I said last year that I’ve been frustrated with my winter style: on one hand, I’m always cold, on the other, I like to look pretty streamlined and sharp – two things not easy to reconcile. This has made me think of how to look more put together in the cold. Not that you have to, this is not everyone’s goal (and sometimes it isn’t mine either), but in case you do…

First, I have to say that it really is important to have a good coat. This is not a trick, just a simple fact of life. I don’t know about you, but my problems with my winter style tend to be worse when I’m outside: there are more elements to consider and obviously the temperature factor really kicks in. A good coat (or whatever kind of outerwear you prefer) covers a multitude of sins, a bad one ruins even the best of outfits underneath. Case in point: my black fitted coat is starting to look rather mangy. It is still fine from the distance, as the silhouette is nice and sharp, but the effect is somewhat diminished when one comes closer and can see the actual state of the fabric.

Once you have your coat sorted, here are a few other things to consider for a more streamlined look:

1. High necks. Careful research has shown that in winter, I almost exclusively I wear rollneck and poloneck sweaters. First of all, they offer extra warmth in a crucial area. But more importantly for the purposes of this post, they can eliminate the need for a scarf altogether. A high neck that sticks relatively close to your skin might be enough to keep you warm (at least on less chilly days) and the lines of your outfit will automatically look so much more elegant.

2. Coordination. If you do need a scarf (and also if you don’t), I recommend coordinating the colour of you accessories: the hat, scarf and gloves in particular. Places like COS and & Other Stories always do sets where you can get all these winter essentials in the same shade and material and it goes a long way to pull the look together. If you have different coats, you may need more sets than one.

3. Monochrome. This is an upgraded version of point 2 and I was a bit hesitant to include this: as you know, I’m an advocate of colour and print and statement dressing in general, so I don’t want to tell anyone that they should only dress in shades of beige. And they shouldn’t! But the point here is that if your aim is to look polished and streamlined, it is easier to achieve when you stick to one colour family. And generally, neutrals are the easiest option. You can do white-grey-black (or only white, only grey or only black), cream-beige-tan, navy, blush and pink – or top-to-toe red, if you are bold.

4. Thin layers. You know I love cashmere for its ability to keep me (relatively) warm while not adding much bulk. It continues to be my favourite fiber, together with merino: also because these are two wools that my itchy skin can tolerate. This year, however, I’ve also discovered thermals or ‘warm underwear’, as it’s called in Estonia. I’ve bought a couple of pieces from Uniqlo and they are really useful. I still need a proper coat and a knit to be warm, but an additional layer definitely helps.

5. Flat boots. I generally prefer how I look in high heels – they make me appear more slender and add a certain something to an outfit. However, when experiencing real winter, this applies only when standing still. Anyone who has navigated an icy road in heels knows that it looks far from elegant. I CAN do it, I have in fact done it for many years, but enough is enough. A great flat boot will give you a much better overall result: what you lose in height, you win in not looking ridiculous. I think the riding boot never looks wrong, even if it’s not specifically in fashion. But you do you.

How’s your winter dressing game? Any words of advice?