Who else is sick of wearing pants?
2016 hasn’t yet arrived and you’re probably already obsessing about finally baring your legs come springtime. That’s because so many of us are guilty of looking to pants to keep us warm throughout the colder months that we become near nauseated at the sight of them just a few months into the season. It’s a vicious cycle fluctuating between boredom and frustration but this winter calls for change. Consider it a style resolution for 2016: I solemnly swear to stop stressing out my body, mind and wardrobe with a nonstop schedule of skinny jeans.
It’s not the weather so much that has you down – it’s that feeling that you may just go mad if you have to squeeze yourself into another pair. It is absolutely boring to wear basically the same silhouette every day (and if you love to wear black from head to toe then it can really start to feel like a uniform). Add potential health concerns into the equation and there really becomes no reason to not branch out and try something new. Is it really great for our circulation to wear skinny jeans for 10 hours or more a day, every day, for months at a time? We should certainly have our doubts. Either way, it’s definitely hazardous to your style.
Fact: Winter can be freezing cold. Fact: You can stay warm and look fabulous without pants. True story. It doesn’t matter if you live in Hawaii or Wisconsin – liberated legs can be yours. Go for layers and embrace miniskirts, midi skirts, maxi skirts and dresses of all lengths and take a style cue from the ladies of Eastern Europe. It’s never a surprise to see bare legs strutting around town perched in high heeled boots in the snow! While I definitely don’t recommend baring your legs in the snow, you can absolutely get inspired by how these ladies survive harsh winters in style. They love extra warm fabrics and they focus on covering their heads, chests, hips and feet which really help to regulate body temperature. Get dressed in a pair of quality hose or stockings and you’re good to go.
Dresses and skirts look sensational with most boots and you’ll enjoy physical freedom and diverse styling opportunities. Replace the warmth you’d have from pants by opting for warmer fabrics and you’ll be able to wear thinner layers this season. Unless you intentionally seek volume from an oversized shape, a menswear-inspired piece, a voluminous knit or other specific look, the idea is to streamline as much as possible. The more streamlined your silhouette in the cold, the more sophisticated your overall look will be. Think high-tech fabrics designed for harsher weather, thermal knit tank tops and tees, velvets, cashmeres… they can all do the job while maintaining the allure of your figure. Is there anything more attractive right now than a body-con long-sleeved dress topped by a vest of fur, faux fur or shearling?
This isn’t a stand against skinny jeans. Switch things up and wear them a few times a week. Spend the rest of your time in leg-baring designs and your gams will thank you later!