Winter Wardrobe Staples.

With the days shortening and temperatures dropping I'm reminded of the yearly wardrobe transition that will soon be upon us in NYC. Sure there are those that CHOOSE to ignore the weather and continue braving the cold in short sleeves and crop tops, but after seeing snow in NYC this weekend, I don't think the majority of people will be holding out much longer. Soon the streets of New York will be filled with L.L. Bean boots, Canadian Down jackets, and more black clothing than even Dracula would claim to own. If you travel South of Houston you may even see some folks sporting clothes that don't make sense for any season. For those who like dressing in accordance with the weather, and try to look good doing it, consider top 3 must-haves for a solid winter wardrobe.

1. Have a good winter knit

Whether you have a trusty go-to or a pile of options to match your look, winter knits provide the versatility your wardrobe requires to weather the winter's fashion forecast. On the streets of New York City, the winter fashion color palette is seemingly limited to grey, black, more black, white, and maybe some more black to go with that. You might see the occasional red outfit from the daring individual here and there, particularly around Christmas time, but for the most part things are fairly goth chic. I tend to blame the lack of color on the limited options available for oversized outerwear, which everyone wears for personal survival, and so I use my hats as a way to bring a splash of color to my look. Sure I take it off when I get inside of a lot of places, but walking down the street I know people are peeping the blue and orange logo on my favorite, Kith for New York Knicks Beanie, that I got in a limited drop towards the end of 2022. My backup is a hat from another drop put on by One37PM. They are a media agency, and similarly, many of your favorite creators, brands, and small business are likely selling merchandise like winter knits as an easy and practical way to increase revenue and build brand awareness amongst their followers and target market. Do yourself a favor and keep a few in your rotation in case one needs to be washed, it happens, and don't be afraid to mix it up with different styles and fits for a whole new look.

2. High top shoes were made for the winter

You may have seen mentions throughout the blog of my love for sneakers and sneaker culture in general, and while it may not be what you'd call a "hot take", I personally think that high tops should be for the winter and low tops for the summer. It just makes sense functionally, and I think it gives your shoe selection a little forced variety if your someone who tends to favor a particular pair. Similar to the winter knit, shoes are another great way to add color to your outfit that won't get covered up as you bundle up to prevent hypothermia. If you like Nike dunks, use the link to check out the pair I copped this morning during the "3 Days of Drops" event going on until the 19th (link).

If you'd like to go for a more sophisticated look I would kindly ask that you avoid the Bean boots and Timbs. Sure I've worn both to work myself, and even out to dinner a time or two, but I have learned the error of my ways and can assure you that their time in the overcast winter sky has come and gone. These days, it would be in every young professional's best interest to invest in a quality pair of leather boots. I have a pair from Thursday Boot Company that I got as a gift for Christmas last year and I love them. They look great, are very comfortable, and are sturdy enough to withstand the sloppy NYC sidewalks after it starts to snow. Before you wear them out for the first time, be sure to get some water proofing spray to ensure that your boots will last as long as you need them to.

3. Scarf it up!

Certainly not revolutionary and once again functional, the inclusion of a scarf can do wonders for a winter look. I probably started wearing scarves my freshman year of college up near Buffalo, NY and I certainly received my fair share of ridicule. The jokes didn't stop me from dressing the way I wanted though, especially since they came from my friends, but I didn't expect to get a reputation as "the guy who wears scarves". I like to think of scarves as the outerwear equivalent of a tie, which gives the wearer a chance to cap off their look with a little flair. Depending on the size and length, you can even change up the way you tie the scarf around your neck, though that detail will likely be overlooked by most people. Ultimately, a scarf will do everything you need it to do, keep your neck warm and look good while doing it.

It can be hard to find the motivation to dress nice when faced with the chilling winter walk from point A to point B, but hopefully my suggestions are simple enough to work there way into your outfit rotation, if they aren't already. I would love to hear what anyone out there does to try and mix things up when it's cold so don't hesitate to reach out with your favorite looks and what you consider winter wardrobe staples.