If your coat fits snug when you’re wearing a T-shirt, it’s likely too small. You need enough room to wear 2-3 layers underneath your coat, so move one size up from what you’d normally wear if you’re not sure about how much room you’ll have underneath. Look for a coat with deep pockets so that you can stuff your hands inside of them if you ever forget your gloves. Stick with zippers instead of buttons. Zippers provide a tighter seal when it comes to windy weather. Jackets are shorter than coats and tend to only keep your upper body warm. Longer coats will provide more protection from inclement weather. If you want to stand out, get a coat or jacket in a bright color or print![2] X Expert Source Paul Julch, MAPersonal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker Expert Interview. 16 November 2021.

A hat that covers the top of your head but leaves your ears exposed is never a good choice. Hats come in a variety of styles and colors. Pick a hat that looks stylish to you! Earmuffs are a good replacement for a hat if you’re going into work and need to keep your hair styled. Your ears don’t naturally have a lot of protection, so it’s important to keep them warm.

Unless you’re going to work, avoid leather dress gloves. They tend to be quite thin and are rarely water-resistant. There are plenty of winter gloves that come with special padding on the fingers that will allow you to use your phone while you’re wearing them. Mittens are a good choice if you’re a fan of them, but they can also make your hands sweat, which will leave them feeling clammy and cold. Avoid them if you tend to get sweaty hands.

Buy a ski mask from a sporting goods store to ensure that it’s actually designed for athletic activity. A balaclava is like a hat that covers your entire head, with small openings for your lips and eyes. They’re a good replacement for a hat if you want to keep your face warm. When it comes to winter styles, a cool scarf can really bring an outfit together.

Cotton absorbs water and moisture. This means that standard cotton socks can actually make your feet feel colder if you’re wearing them with winter boots since they’ll absorb sweat when your feet are warm.

Thick denim is great in the cold, but if it’s snowing or raining it’s not a good choice. Denim can take quite a while to dry in cold temperatures, and it isn’t good at repelling water. Hiking pants are a great choice if they’re made out of nylon. However, spandex and cotton pants will not keep you warm in cold weather.

For most people, boots, a coat, gloves, and a hat are enough to stay warm. If it isn’t too cold out, there’s no need to wear any extra garments to protect your legs.

If a large coat fits you perfectly when you’re wearing a T-shirt, get an extra-large. If the large leaves you with plenty of space though, there’s no need to go up a size. Clothing shouldn’t be so loose that cold air gets in between your layers.

Long underwear is a great choice if you don’t have a ton of clothing that isn’t made of cotton. Most fleeces are made out of polyester or polypropylene. A tighter fleece that’s designed for exercise can actually make a great base layer. If you’re layering socks, use your thinnest pair as a base layer. If one of your pairs is made out of cotton, wear those as your second layer instead. Wear thinner layers close to your body so you don’t end up looking super-bulky. If you have any thicker layers, wear those on the outside. [11] X Expert Source Paul Julch, MAPersonal Wardrobe Stylist & Speaker Expert Interview. 16 November 2021.

Avoid using cotton as your middle layer if it’s going to rain or snow.

Avoid cotton, wool, or down if it’s going to rain or snow. These materials actively absorb water, and getting even a little wet will make you feel colder than you would if you weren’t wearing them at all. Read the tag on a prospective piece of clothing carefully. Look for the phrase “water repellent” or “water resistant” to see if it’s designed to stay dry in wet conditions.

If you spend a lot of time outside, get a reusable pair of hand warmers. They’re more expensive up front, but you’ll save money in the long run.