9 Wonderful Winter Trends

Versatile and adaptable clothing pieces are the hottest (or should we say “chilliest”) winter trends. Fashion designers are focusing on looks that can go from workwear to a holiday party to your couch to a walk in the park with just a few minor changes to your layers and accessories. We’re also seeing a resurgence of ‘80s and Y2K fashion, so if bold colors, denim, and unconventional silhouettes are your thing, winter is shaping up to be your season. Let’s go through the top winter trends that we love and expect to hang around for the foreseeable future.

1. Ski lodge chic

Winter clothes like jackets, boots, and hats will always be in season for the winter, but this winter is leaning more towards the “ski bum” style of winter accessories. Think about what you’d be wearing if you’d just gotten off the slopes and taken off your skis; that outfit is probably trendy right now!

We’re seeing a lot of oversized puffer coats, lots of layers, patterned knits, leggings, and fur-lined pieces. (Faux fur and vegan alternatives are trending upwards because of their sustainability, while real fur is drastically trending downwards.) This ski-chic look is essentially an exaggerated version of athleisure with an emphasis on warmth and comfort, so you’re ready for any outdoor activity this winter, skiing or otherwise.

2. Saturated color pop

Neutrals are a timeless option, but if you’re a fan of color, you’ll be excited that the bold and saturated colors from fall trends will continue into winter as well. We’ve all been stuck inside for so long that we’re longing for a boost of color and excitement. Wearing bright colors can be an instant mood booster, and it’s a great way to express our emotions through what we wear.

Winter is particularly showing shades of green, reminiscent of nature and the outdoors. Pantone’s top color for autumn and winter at London Fashion Week was Pantone 17-6154, Green Bee. This grassy green instills a sense of calm and tranquility in the wearer. By combining varying hues of green, you can add a breath of fresh air to your outfit that will make you eager to get outside and enjoy all the environment has to offer.

A lot of runways also exhibited clashes of color this season. These outfits mix and match saturated hues to create a bright, bold, totally unique look that brightens up your wardrobe. For example, you might mix an island blue with an emerald, bright orange with hot pink, or royal purple with sunshine yellow. If you have a lot of colors in your closet, break them out and play around to see what works. If you mix and match colors with purpose, you can create an outfit never seen before! Use this trend as a time to play around with your creativity in fashion.  

3. Tiny floral print

While the ‘70s were trendy last year, this year we’re seeing a huge shift into ‘80s fashion with brighter colors and lots of tiny floral prints. With a recent surge in the cottagecore aesthetic, floral patterns have become a sort of escapism from daily life during the pandemic. A lot of Victorian-style fabrics and silhouettes have come on the scene in everyday clothing, particularly for winter dresses and blouses. Since what you wear impacts your psychology, these vintage prints transport the wearer into a fantasy world of fairies, flowers, and magic, which some women are using as a way to ease daily stress associated with work-from-home and COVID.

We love that florals are trending for winter, too. To me, florals aren’t glued to spring. They’re a representation of femininity, and they’re a great way to channel your divine female energy all year long!

4. Y2K style

If Y2K was a pivotal style moment in your life, you’ll be glad to hear that it is (somewhat surprisingly) coming back on the scene. That’s right, we’re seeing a return of head-to-toe denim, butterfly clips, baguette bags, and even micro miniskirts. Even the shimmer, sequins, and skin-exposing cut-out silhouettes from the early 2000s have worked their way back into the mainstream. If you’re not ready to revert entirely back to the Y2K looks, you can get that same nostalgia through winter pieces like fur-trimmed cardigans, flared jeans, and as much sparkle as you like. Everyone makes fun of the early 2000s fashion—but fashion is always cyclical! (You’ll especially see that with number 9 on this list…)

5. Knit midi and maxi dresses

Knitwear is always a winter essential, like knitwear blouses, cardigans, and even skirts. This year, we’re seeing knitwear in longer hems, down past the knees to midi and maxi silhouettes. These long-length knits are a gorgeous option for casual or semi-formal looks, taking you from work to a holiday party in a snap. They look great on a lot of body types too, because they hug the body in all the right places while adding texture through the warm and cozy knitted material.

We recommend getting a knit dress in a neutral color, so you can mix and match it with different layers for whatever event you’re attending. Pair it with sandals for warmer days, sneakers for casual events, boots for parties, or even winter boots for those snowy days.

6. 50 shades of brown 

Along with saturated colors, we’re seeing a lot of brown shades hit the runway. We love brown for autumn and winter because of its versatility and match-ability. It’s easy to mix with different browns or even wear a monochrome brown outfit broken up with different textures. There are also a lot of browns intermingling into plaid patterned pieces, which is always a favorite for winter. If you’re looking for timeless outerwear, must-have booties, or a new neutral blouse or dress, you can’t go wrong with brown.

7. Leather weather

Forget sweater weather. We’re here for the leather weather! Designers have shown outfits with head-to-toe leather as well as using leather as a statement piece alongside knits. Leather and the saturated colors trend are even working in tandem with a lot of brightly colored leathers trending alongside neutral and black leather.

Leather is a heavy-duty fabric that’s a great way to look chic while staying warm. While we’re still fans of the classic black leather jacket, wear any leather pieces that speak most to your soul, whether that’s pink leather with feminine ruched sides or a rocker jacket with rhinestones.

Check out these other sustainable and eco-friendly clothing materials to keep you warm on even the coldest nights.

8. Capes and ponchos

A draped, flowing cape is a gorgeous layer that will keep you warm and stylish on chillier days. We love that capes and ponchos can be thrown over just about any outfit to give the appearance that you’re completely put together – even over sweatpants and a sweatshirt when going to the grocery store. They can go from work to play, and they’re a great foundation for adding bold accessories like thigh-high boots, big hats, oversized purses, or any other accessories you want to play around with this season.

Pro-tip: Cinch the waist of your cape or poncho with a belt to give some definition and shape to your outerwear.

9. Winter trend winner: long gloves

Our absolute favorite winter trend is long gloves. Gloves that go up to the mid-forearm or elbow are gorgeously feminine and delicate, reminiscent of the winter trend towards Victorian and cottagecore styles. But long gloves are particularly useful because they can keep you warm too! You can even pair long gloves with short sleeves (that you would usually never wear on colder days), so you can get more use out of your closet and have more outfit options for the season. Long gloves are a must-have because they add a feminine, light touch to winter wear that is usually clunkier and chunkier.

Which of these winter trends will you be wearing this season?