In the winter, the glamour of a spectacular formal event can get overshadowed by the bone-chilling cold and complete lack of warmth that your eye-catching outfit provides. Luckily, there are a few secrets to choosing a dress for cold days that you can use to ensure any outfits you wear this year keep you warm and retain your chic personal style. Explore this breakdown of how to dress for formal events in the winter to learn some tips on how you can alter your approach to building an ensemble.
Thick Fabrics
You typically imagine flowy princess-like dresses made of silks and satins when thinking about evening dresses, but these materials are thin and do virtually nothing to keep you warm on cold days. So, your best friends in the winter are thicker fabrics like velvet, polyester, or even wool. Velvet, in particular, has become the unofficial material of choice in the winter, becoming a staple around Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day. The rich texture of velvet paired with deep maroon, emerald green, or navy blue hues creates stunning winter looks that embrace the cozy chicness of the season.
Covering Up
The more you’re able to cover up, the warmer you’ll be. So, when looking for outfits for formal events in the winter, look at maxi or midi dresses that have long sleeves; this will give the best opportunity to cover up while still adhering to any dress code. Also, be wary of any dress with an exposed back. Even if you plan on wearing a coat on your way to the event, you don’t want to worry about your exposed shoulders once you get inside.
Outerwear
Most of your warmth when wearing an evening dress will come from the coat you choose to pair it with. A long trench coat or faux fur jacket will give you enough protection that you can wear dresses with a thinner fabric without having to wear about the freezing temperatures outside of the event. Even if you don’t usually attend formal events, it’s helpful to have at least one versatile coat that can complement dressier outfits if you live in a cold area. You can truly make a showstopping statement that’s fit for February Fashion Week if you find a coat that matches your indoor wear.
Boots Over Heels
Since almost every formal event is held indoors during the winter, you might be okay to wear a cute sandal-style heel. However, even indoor areas can get cold in the winter. Also, if it’s snowy or icy outside, you don’t want to have to walk through that with a sandal. So, at a minimum, you want to wear a heel that doesn’t leave your toes exposed; ideally, you should choose a fashionable boot that complements your formal winter outfit. Paired with the right dress, you can wear a low-profile heel bootie or showstopping over-the-knee boots. Knee-high boots are great because they will cover the majority of your leg, enabling you to wear shorter skirts in the winter without freezing your legs off.
Now that you have a better understanding of how to dress for formal events in the winter, you can worry a little less about the cold temperatures during the best nights of your year.
