Dressing for Winter in Vintage Style

 

When you live in an area that gets snow and cold and wind for half the year, one has to have a good winter wardrobe. Now if you love vintage and live in the snow, then you need a vintage winter wardrobe. When I started wearing vintage, the winter wardrobe was the HARDEST! to build. It took a lot of searching to find the right pieces from coats to boots, to warm clothes, you name it. It took me years to get to this point; it did not happen overnight. It took a lot of searching and a lot of luck. So, if you are building your own vintage wardrobe too, it will happen if you give it time and put in the work. It will pay off! Promise! Well, anyways, if you are building your own vintage winter wardrobe wonderland and need some ideas, this post is for you!

First, this is some of my inspiration and what I like to look for. I love to look for and wear plaids. They have different colors that can be played up or down. Plaid also hides stains and holes really well because it's such a busy print. then, I don't know why, but I think plaids are so warm and embracing. i know plaids can be worn all year but there is something about plaid in the winter. . . I don't know why. . .  Furs. Real or faux I wear them either as a trim, an accessory or a whole garment. Fur is a natural insulator for the cold and in areas where it can get in the negatives, warmth is a must. Fur also can add texture to a look for added depth and interest. A good coat. When I look at coats for inspiration, I am looking at how they are accessorized and how they are being worn. I love the look of wearing a coat draped over the shoulders, I think it is so glamourous.  For the best inspiration, look to catalogs and photographs and even movies from the period. Actually, movies are my absolute favorite for winter wear inspiration. Some of my favorites are Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas in Connecticut. 

Now that you know what I like to look for, here is how I did it. You will see a variety of coat styles and looks underneath. I love a good suit. A suit can be layered for extra warmth by adding blouses or sweater underneath the blazer. Under the skirts, tights or thicker stockings. Layers are the key to staying warm so I like to look for pieces that can accommodate that. I also like to look for matching accessories if I can. I think the fastest way to have a look that is really put together is to make sure they match or else purposefully contrast. 

This look is made up of a vintage mid weight 
swing coat and a reproduction suit from Revival Vintage UK. 
I mix true vintage and reproduction pieces all the time. 

This look is all separates. The skirt was from a skirt suit set 
and the blazer was found on its own from Vivaciouslady Vintage. 
The coat is an incredible piece of true vintage. 

Here is that amazing coat again but this time with a 
reproduction two-piece dress from Revival Vintage UK. 
If you do not have pieces that are warm enough to wear on their own, 
layer them with other pieces. 

A more glamourous look. I found this mink coat second hand. If you 
are in the market for a fur coat, look at second places.
You would be surprised what you can find. 

Suits are my favorite pieces for winter. They can be worn together or separate 
the pieces for versatility. You have already seen the skirt of this look
worn with other pieces above. 

Layers, layers, layers. The blazer and skirt from this look are from other 
skirt suits but I decided to mix them up. They are worn under a mid-weight 
swing coat. 

More layers! Once again, these pieces were mixed and matched from 
other suits. 

This coat is not vintage. It's a modern coat with vintage vibes. 
Lots of modern coats can have a vintage feel. Look for wool, long length coats. 
Detachable faux fur collar really adds something to this look. 

I do wear some lightweight dresses in winter but 
I pair them with heavy coats to stay warm. 

Mixing true vintage with modern pieces that look
vintage is something I do a lot. The coat is modern but 
it pairs with this vintage hat well enough, I think. 
underneath the coat, a wool suit and blouse. 

 One thing I love about vintage coats is how warm they are. Most of my vintage coats are heavy and keep me plenty warm in the winter. Adding layers of clothing underneath helps too. I will layer my suits with sweaters. over my dresses, cardigans or suit blazers. For leg wear, I usually wear my seamed stockings but if it is extra cold I will wear tights. For footwear, I have some nice tall boots and fur trimmed galoshes, the kind that slip on over heels. Gloves are another item I love. Vintage gloves are so easy to find in my area, so I have plenty for each outfit. I have cloth and leather gloves. Other items for warmth are scarves, silk and knitted. I have and wear both in addition to my hats. If it extra cold, I will wear a silk scarf over my hats and when I come indoors, I slip off the scarf and tuck in my pocket or just around the neck. 

My velveteen and rabbit fur trimmed galoshes. I adore these!
The heels are hollow
to allow for regular heels to be worn inside. The soles 
are a waterproof rubber.