Winning Winter Wardrobe

By Maricris Julie L. Taeza

Snow-covered streets mean heavy winter clothing, but that does not mean you should let your fashion fetish freeze. Here is the lowdown on how to make yourself sizzling this season despite the cold weather.

Show Your Curves

You do not need to flash your flesh out in the cold. Dry, pale and scaly skin is not sexy. You can still reveal the contours of your body while fully clothed by finding the right size of clothes for you. According to Amber Davis, fashion instructor at the Art Institute of Indianapolis and owner of Flaunt Boutique in Muncie, you should know your body type, so you could dress to balance your body. “Do not wear clothes that are too big or too small for you. There should be no creases on the side of the garments,” Davis said.

Befriend the V-neck

One of the Ten “Dress-Sexy” Commandments of Bradley Bayou, Hollywood couture designer and author of The Science of Sexy, is to wear clothes with a V-neckline. You can never go wrong with it, whatever body type you have. Bradley wrote, “A V-neck will draw attention to the center of your body and create a slimming effect. By angling down toward your waist, it mimics your torso. This will create the illusion of a slimmer, skinnier waist.” Do not forget though to wrap your stylish scarf around your neck before hitting the snow-filled streets.

Learn to Love Layers

Davis said the key in layering is matching the right pieces together. Stick with thinner layers at varying lengths, so your ensemble would not look bulky. Try going through your closet and maybe you could retrieve an outdated midriff. Give it a new look by using it as one of the layers.

Accessorize, accessorize and accessorize

Accessories are a boring outfit’s BFF. Shoes with interesting details and high heels would not fail you. Add a splash of color onto your wardrobe by donning a colorful scarf. “Fringes and oversized clutch bags are also trendy,” Davis added. According to Jinhee Nam, Assistant Professor of Fashion at Ball State University’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, 30 percent of the body heat can be lost through the head. “It will be a good idea to invest in a fashionable hat,” she said. Nam also suggested wearing a belt to create a curvy silhouette.