Winter fashion trends to check out this year

Building the perfect winter wardrobe
Daria Orth, Staff Writer |
The appeal to lounge around in sweatpants and hoodies during the cold season is hard to deny. Dressing in style throughout winter can feel like there are limited options to work with in order to stay warm. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to dress cute and cozy at the same time. As seen on various social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, there are many classy trends to fend off the chills in style.
The boots
A winter classic you can’t go wrong with are Ugg boots, being both chic and comfortable while keeping it casual. The brand has men’s and women’s shoes, but they are especially trendy with the ladies. Recently the Bailey Bow boots, TerreTrail Cozy Lace boots, and Classic Mini TrailGazer boots have become quite popular. For a more affordable alternative, Marshalls has a large selection of shoes including dupes for Uggs that will stay in shape for a good portion of the season.
Outer shell layers
The puffer winter coats are perfect for a modern look, but if the old-money aesthetic calls to you, winter trench coats are the way to go. For women’s clothes, you can find both of these styles at Aritzia and Zara. For men’s clothes, fleece-lined leather jackets and winter trench coats have been trending online, and Simons has great options. If you’re an online shopper, Amazon also has great winter coats perfect for your Instagram feed.
Additionally, faux fur coats seem to be a main attraction in the world of winter styles. They hold a timeless, expensive look that’s difficult to ignore. With the softness of the fur and the confidence it projects, these coats set the stage for a catwalk in the snow.
What about skirts and dresses?
Fleece-lined leggings, another item to add to your Amazon cart, are the solution to wearing dresses in the winter safely while keeping it cute. There are different nude shades that mimic skin tones, giving the illusion of bare legs under skirts. Others resemble regular sheer black tights over a nude base, and this way you can wear your mini skirts without freezing the moment you step outside. These are a game changer for those who want to serve ultra-feminine.
Another item to add to your winter wardrobe are sweater dresses, which have been trending a lot coming into the new year. Short sweater dresses with frilly skirts that cinch around the waist have been appearing continuously on social media, leaving pencil skirt sweater dresses in the past—for now.
Pant options
Baggy cargo pants and oversized sweaters seem to be becoming more and more apparent in outfit-of-the-day videos you see online. In a lot of women’s fashion, of course, there’s the regular flared jeans and off-the-shoulder tight-fitting sweaters, that give a daintier and soft feminine look. A sophisticated fashion trend that has come up a lot this winter is dress pants and tucked-in sweaters, topped off with belts and trench coats—coming back to the old-school elegance of the 80s.
Accessories
Scarves never really went out of style. If anything, they are being worn more. There seems to be more of a desire for scarves to tuck into jackets or be used like cardigans, beyond its purpose of giving you an extra layer of warmth from biting winter breezes.
Earmuffs are also in style, to the point where more than a few female content creators on TikTok and Pinterest are wearing earmuffs over traditional hats. Earmuffs give the opportunity for hair to be styled more easily and put on display beneath the cushioned pillows that protect your ears. Serving a preppy look, earmuffs substitute a regular headband for something a little more extra.
Flared leg warmers, common in fall fashion, are a charming way to enhance an outfit. They are usually worn with a sweater dress or skirt and layer beautifully over some simple boots. Leg warmers and scarves are easy to find at thrift stores like Value Village, Goodwill and even consignment stores for a heavier price. So, winter fashion isn’t as difficult to work around as some might think.
While there is always the option of keeping it simple with a hoodie and some jeans, there are always loopholes to be fashionable in the coldest times of the year. Like most forms of art, fashion is subjective, but these 2024-2025 winter trends will definitely be making an appearance in my wardrobe. Fashion trends are fleeting, so you might as well enjoy these ones while they are still in style.
Daria Orth is a Staff Writer for The Reflector 2024-2025.