Feel Comfortable While Still Looking Great

February in Central New York is brutal; we all know that. The days are filled with snow, slush, wind, and rain. Most of the time we’d rather grab our sweatpants and a sweatshirt, throw on our parkas and snow boots and be on our way. It just feels better, like you’re still in your warm bed. And who wants to get out of bed when it’s negative seven degrees? But grabbing the comfiest clothing can leave us feeling like we’re in a rut, like our style isn’t being put to good use. So sometimes it’s best to change things up and inject just a little extra effort to turn things around. But you don’t have to forget comfort. Here are a few winter staples that aren’t just cute, they’re cozy too:

A Fitted Parka

The coat that you wear in the fall is probably really cute, but the one you wear in the middle of winter might not be. After all, function beats fashion when there’s two feet of snow. But that doesn’t mean you can’t look adorable walking through a blizzard. Pick a long coat that covers your legs to keep you warm, but make sure it cinches in at the waist to give you some shape. Then go for a furry hood or a fun color that matches your sense of style.

Blanket Scarf

For days when you really don’t want to get out of bed, bring your blanket with you. Or at least make it feel like you did. Tons of brands sell oversized scarves that are actually big enough to cover your whole body and they’re super soft. Wrap it around your neck and cover your face if the winds are really whipping. Then when you get to work, drape it over your shoulders to keep you feeling snuggly all day long. Just don’t fall asleep.

Black Leggings:

I am one of those people who firmly believes leggings are indeed pants, but in the winter I like to wear them as tights. They’re warmer than your average pantyhose and allow you to wear a dress without freezing. I usually pair them with a sweater dress so I still feel like I’m wearing lounge wear, but I look like I put a really cute outfit together.

Chic Snow Boots

Your trusty Uggs may not be the peak of fashion, but they’re super warm. But so are a lot of other styles that have a little more structure to them. Look for something in a color palette that matches what you like to wear, mine is gray and black. Then find something that’s not only waterproof so you can wear them all the time but also lined in fur or whatever other warm material you prefer. The boots you wear outside can actually look like something you’d want to wear to work or out with friends.

Erin Reimel