The ultimate unisex guide to the perfect winter wardrobe

By Yatan Ahluwalia Winter woes often start with picking the clothes to wear. We often end up with bulky sweaters, badly wrapped scarves, and itchy skin. Here’s the ultimate unisex guide on how to stock, plan and flaunt your winter wardrobe. Plan Ahead First and foremost, prepare for the season: A winter wardrobe needs advance planning and cannot be put together last minute or as and when needed. Why? Because most winter clothes need to be dry-cleaned, steamed or aired out before they are worn. It therefore makes sense to stock your wardrobe well before the onset of winter. Alternatively, always keep some winter clothes ready and handy if you live in a place where the weather is mild, but are likely to travel (on a short notice) to a colder part of the country or world. [caption id=“attachment_130225” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Image courtesy: Yatan Ahluwalia.”]  [/caption] Emphasise what looks good, flatters your body and suits your skin colour. Additionally, you must ensure that whatever you pick will keep you both snug and warm as well – and not just look good. Always try on what you plan to buy (especially true for woollens) and ensure the garment stretches and moves with you. Problem spots to look at: the wrist, the collar and the ankle. Basic Elements For him: Full sleeve shirts for both formal and casual wear. Casual jackets with zips instead of buttons. Short or turn up collars instead of wide or deep necks. V-neck full and half sleeve sweaters. Two button formal jackets, eight button (knee length) overcoats and achkans instead of Nehru jackets. Long kurtas instead of short ones. Hooded tops and sweatshirts. Comfort fit pants for the office and leisurewear, track pants for sports and home wear. Tight fitting blue and black jeans. Overalls and work wear. Churidhars instead of pyjamas. Cowboy hats, broad belts and boots. White, black, grey, navy blue, army green, chocolate brown and beige are the colours of the season Checks over stripes, textures over plain and solids over prints. For her: Wrist length tops, blouses and shirts. Puffed and padded shoulders and polo necks. [caption id=“attachment_130267” align=“alignright” width=“380” caption=“Emphasise what looks good, flatters your body and suits your skin colour. Image courtesy: Yatan Ahluwalia.”]  [/caption] Retro front fastening cardigans. Short jackets and ankle length overcoats. Sharp collars instead of rounded ones. High sari blouses, but deep cut gowns and dresses. Definition and push up bra’s, if required. Short kurtis and track tops. High waist trousers and straight cut jeans. Machine over hand embroidery. Ankle-length skirts. Glossy bright handbags, emphasis on earrings and under one-inch heels. Copper over gold and silver. Orange, salmon pink, old rose, all shades of grey, navy blue, black and white are strong winter colours. Continued on the next page Staying Warm Start right at the top: Keeping your ears and /or your head covered with hats, caps, mufflers and earmuffs will make you feel both cosy and warm. The closer the knit of the fabric and the softer the material, the warmer you will feel. Even if you are in extreme harsh weather, avoid monkey caps altogether – they will not do anything for your overall look. Accessorise aesthetically: wrap and secure a scarf or muffler (with the ends tucked into your collar or back). Or place a smart hat (men only) or cap at an angle that accentuates and flatters your natural face cut and features. Then target the feet: On mild days, you can do with thick cotton socks, but when it gets colder, you should put on a pair of soft woollen socks over the cotton ones - this will ensure your feet do not feel the abrasion caused by the woolen socks or get frost bitten. Remember to remove your socks when you get into bed, so your feet get enough time to breathe. [caption id=“attachment_130345” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Layering will keep you warm and help retain your body’s natural heat. Image courtesy: Yatan Ahluwalia.”]  [/caption] Embrace thermals: Wear soft and thin thermals under your outer layer. If you have sensitive skin and are prone to a rash from wearing them, then opt for organic thermals instead. Keep a variety of styles and lengths handy – you can choose between short and long lengths, round and v-necks, full and half sleeve or knee and ankle length styles. Most brands make thermals in white, beige, grey and black. Whatever kind of thermal you choose, ensure it does not show through or peep out from under your shirts, tops, blouses, trousers, pants or skirts. There is nothing worse than showing your inners, especially when no one really wants to see them. Going Ethnic When wearing traditional Indian clothes keep the following in mind: One, wear a soft inner lining under your silk kurtas, sherwanis and achkans. Two, shawls for women should ideally be in solid colours. Short, soft and light shawls are better than wearing heavy wraps. For men, longer shawls are preferred. Three, while picking a sweater to wear over your sari or kurta pyjama, ensure the length is short and it isn’t so tight that the buttons pop. They should fasten easily. Four, wear sari blouses in thicker fabrics and with longer sleeves. Five, insulate your body with thermals and woolen socks underneath. Style dos and don’ts Don’t look overstuffed: Layering will keep you warm and help retain your body’s natural heat. If you are layering your look, you need to ensure that you are not wearing thick and clumpy fabrics and materials – especially on the outside. Remember it’s easy to look bulky and out-of-shape in winter. Wearing close knit, soft and flat fabrics will keep you looking in shape and a lot warmer than bulky ones will. Stay comfortable: While dressing to keep warm is critical, it’s important that you stay comfortable as well. The easiest way to prevent feeling itchy or heavy when you wear coarse (and at times rough) winter fabrics is to choose soft, lightweight and high quality wool, treated, stripped and pressed leather and cotton blends that have an element of elasticity in them. Right foot forward: Pick closed shoes over slippers and open or semi open styles, boots over ankle lengths and leather over cloth and ventilated materials. If you are going to be in a place where the ground is covered in snow or ice or is wet and slippery, then ensure your footwear can handle the terrain and has sufficient grip. Details, details, details If you are on the move and are likely to remove your overcoat, jacket or cardigan when you reach your final destination, then it’s important to pay special attention to what you wear underneath. Not only should it match or contrast with what you have on, but should continue to look crisp and well ironed. Place your suits, jackets and overcoats on hangers and suit savers that have been specially designed for them. While traveling in a car, place them either behind the front seat or hang them securely to keep them in shape. While flying, hand over your garments to the in flight crew, but ensure to slip your boarding card into one of the pockets (for easy identification) and to collect both, while deplaning. Always follow the care and cleaning instructions on all your winter garments (not just on wool, but also on silk and other high maintenance winter materials). They are there for good reason and they really aren’t any shortcuts, substitutes or cheaper alternatives to go in for (or I would have mentioned them here). Treat and protect all winter garments at the end of the season and before you put them away. The author is a fashion and image consultant and Director, Y&E Style Media Pvt. Ltd, India’s leading styling & corporate grooming company.