The power of good accessories:
how to revitalise your winter wardrobe
With the return of winter comes an inevitable style crisis: last season's favourites are no longer your go to cold weather pieces. However, the answer to this dilemma is not necessarily to snatch up armfuls of new knitted jumpers and trench coats. Accessories can be often overlooked and passed off as including simply a few staple pieces of jewelry that can be worn all year round. With winter comes not only an increase in the temperature, but an opportunity for accessories to be your biggest asset. From scarfs to knitted hoods and ribbons that can be attached to pretty much any item of clothing, the possibilities are endless.
Firstly, hair. Not only can a slick back bun elevate even the simplest of outfits but pairing it with a ridiculously sized broderie anglaise scrunchy - extra points if it's a Good Squish - and a pair of sunglasses are already making those cold days a lot more bright. Following in the step of the Pinterest girlies, ribbons are being added to the majority of 'updos', adding a pop of colour and style to any outfit. Wearing ribbons aligns with the hyper-feminine trend dubbed 'coquette' which is centered around reclaiming a stereotypical version of femininity. More recently, as seen from influencers such as Susie Lola and brands such as Peachy Den, 'Blokette' core takes pieces which are seen as inherently masculine such as football shirts and long shorts and pairs them with girlie ‘coquette’ accessories such as ribbons, added frills and scrunchies. The Bloquette trend allows you to experiment with contrasting accessories and mix and match with different styles.
Continuing with headwear, the obvious beanie or bobble hat has been replaced with the Balaclava Snood. With brands such as Free People and Anthopologie offering a pricier version of the sophisticated knitted hood, handmade options and high street shops provide many similar and cheaper options. The balaclava snood paired with a pair of dark oval sunglasses provide an Audrey Hepburnesque aesthetic, one that would most likely be seen looking chic at any Christmas market or wintery outdoor gathering. If you're looking to really reach the height of chic cosiness, earmuffs, above all the coveted Ugg Bluetooth muffs, add an instant put togetherness to any casual university outfit, even if you're just popping to the library.
Scarfs are the first thing that come to mind when anyone mentions winter clothes. However the question that now remains, is skinny better than wide and blanket-like? If your only concern is style over keeping out the north wind, a striped or block coloured skinny scarf can add something to almost every outfit. Worn in conjunction with either a vintage leather jacket or a trench coat, this type of scarf is undoubtedly one of the best trends to have been revived from the 2000s. However, a larger scarf, preferably of one colour, still has its place, especially in bright, even neon, colours. Lastly, the well known 'red nail effect' in which those with red nails seem to attract more potential suitors seems to have transgressed into scarves. Looking around, wintery red seems to be popping out at me, adding a little something extra to a more neutrally toned outfit.
Finally, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Whether you're a gold or a silver kinda person the jewelry trends have recently moved from more of a chunky statement to more delicate, often including bows, sort of aesthetic. The rise of ribbons comes synonymously with the increase of bows in jewelry, another homage to 'blokette' core and girlie style.
The options this season to change up your outfits are endless, just simply consider investing in a balaclava, some ribbons and a skinny scarf to make your winter outfits stand out and the colder days a little more bright.