What once created a cooling sensation that dried perspiring skin, is now creating shivers down civilians’ spines. Without the blazing hot sun beating down, Chicago is unpleasantly reminded of our nickname, “The Windy City”. As the people of Chicago make mental preparations for the colder upcoming months, preparing one’s wardrobe becomes a main concern. Unfortunately, with trends cycling just as the weather, buying winter accessories every year can become costly for both society’s wallets and the earth. As someone who advocates for a better future in fashion, I am aware of the overwhelming feeling messy thrift-stores often cause. Thus, I have compiled articles of clothing that are either sustainable and self-produced to use for inspiration when shopping online and in-store. Regardless of how you shop, here are 5 tips on how to fashionably layer this season.
- Starting from head to toe, I’ll begin with a small business that I recently found, @lilpunkass on Depop. Though the creator’s store displays a variety of accessories and clothing, I was most impressed by the beanie selection. When thrifitng for the perfect winter hats, I’ve been recently drawn to chaotic and unique graphics which elevate and add depth to simple outfits. Since I couldn’t choose just one, I’ve compiled a few of my favorite winter hats that the brand has released.
- Continuing onto the next clothing item, vests are one of my favorite pieces to layer this year. Found in the outwear and tank top sections at the thrift, vests have become a staple whether I choose to dress up or down. When thrifting for vests online, I find it useful to include key words like “cyber y2k”, “fur trim”, or “hooded”, followed by various brands that I like. After browsing Depop, I found a ton of really dope vests that could be used as inspiration on what to look for.
- Moving on, the next tip is to look for tops that are see-through. By this, I mean to look for tops with certain fabrics such as knit, crochet, lace, or mesh. When paired over basic button ups and long sleeves, these tops provide additional warmth and dimension to outfits. When it comes to colors and prints, I look for neutral and dull colors that allow for easy mixing and matching. Some examples of these tops are as follows:
- The next tip is to look out for sleeves and gloves. This is an accessory that is super underrated, and I highly recommend looking into the different options they come in. The only downside is that they are rare for me to find a the thrift. Luckily, this can easily be solved by the concept of creating your own. By deconstructing and reconstructing old clothes, gloves and sleeves can be easily made and customized just as these following small businesses have on Depop.
- The last tip, my personal favorite, are the concept of layering leg warmers with tights. As someone who loves wearing skirts all year round, the combination of tights with leg warmers are essential to have in my closet. Often overlooked due to chaos of thrift stores, this section is always abundant with options and mostly found next to the shoes and socks. Usually only found in neutral colors, I stumbled upon designers that have taken the idea of leg warmers to the next level. Just as before, I have listed examples of some of the unique leg warmers that would be perfect for layering.
Whether you have a similar style as me or not, I believe everyone should get into curating fashion mood boards. Besides helping an individual prepare for the fall to winter transition, It can fuel creative and innovative ideas within a person.
