Thursday 10 January 2013

THE ART OF WINTER DRESSING


I bought this Marimekko dress almost by accident last winter when I was pregnant.
Impulse shopping is not always just an unwise way to spend money, stuff up your wardrobe and destroy the planet - sometimes it can lead to very useful pieces. I don't actually do that much of impulse shopping, but I have some items that I have bought without planing to do so ahead or giving it that much pre-thought. And in my case those have often turned out to be pieces I really use a lot.

I got the dress in the largest sie they had, as I wanted it to fit my belly all the way.  I could have managed with a few sizes less in the end too I noticed, but this is the kind of dress that looks pretty much the same in all sizes and it still works belted for a normal belly as well. And it buttons up for nursing. So I've been able to wear it still, around the year. Well worth it's Marimekko price.


But a thin cotton dress worn just like that won't of course work on it's own most of the year up here in the North. It would get too cold.

As it is among my most linked posts I think you remember me writing about winterizing summer dresses
, and the importance of layering and layering again; the anatomy of dressing when really really cold. Here's the winter dressing post for this year then!
If you wear a cotton dress in winter the dress is merely a detail, kind of an acessory, a coating to what you actually wear. It's what underneath that counts. And on top too, as you have to be able to take something off when you go inside in order not to melt down to a pool of sweat (we have quite stiff heating over here and tripple windows) - cardigan(s), the coat (preferably of the longer kind if you wear something like this), socks and boots and so on yadi yadi.

So, under the dress I have an underskirt. It is mostly for "cosmetic" reasons, to prevent the cotton dress from sticking to the rest and looking all weird. It's not really that warming. But every layer counts.


Underneath that I have another dress! Stretchy, tight, comfy and in cotton. (This one with a nursing pocket in front too which comes in handy at these baby times.)  If you are of the kind that gets real freezy add a slip or top underneath still.


Wearing double stockings also warms up. Or tights plus stockings. But for me one pair of thick stockings (mainly wool or knitted cotton) usually is enough, as far as the mercury stays above minus ten c. But here's the little important trick! People always joke about grannies and their wool pants. But that's what keeps the warmth! You can actually get those from somewhere, but a pair of hot pants or so works just as well. I have some wool stockings of which I have cut the legs off. Comfier and easier to do it that way adding high socks to go, than stuffing two pairs of stockings onto each other.


So that's it! Out to fight the cold in a summer dress, no prob!
(If you're going to go all smartass and say "why not just wear trousers" then think again, you can only stuff so many layers into a pair of pants, but when it comes to a dress, options are pretty much endless. I actually find it warmer in skirts and dresses!)


24 comments:

Anonymous said...

So happy to be in a country now where I don't need to layer this much, but this would have been so handy for Germany winters!

Irac said...

Speaking of Germany winters, I'm currently in one haha!
But you go sister! I've mastered the double knickers under a dress or skirt myself and I find that nothing is warmer than a wool skirt, some nice wool stockings, double socks and of course double knickers! :)

Unknown said...

Es una gran idea utilizar vestidos de verano en invierno capa sobre capa. Así las prendas se aprovechan más tiempo y podemos disfrutar de los alegres colores del verano todo el año ;-)

Nos encanta el look, y el toque de la boina ¡muy chic!

www.zsazsazsu.es

Roxy said...

What a great print on that dress, it looks so comfy as well. I really like your "tutorials" on dressing warmly, it all just makes so much sense without ending up looking like a stuffed sausage.

Mama D said...

Finnish winter weather and layering clothes so you can actually move your limbs - that is a pure form of art!

tanïa said...

Luckily not that cold here (yet), but what amazes me about this post is that I have quite a similar dress which isn't Marimekko but real Vintage! Seems to be the same material, similar cut, similar colour but slightly different pattern, no buttons in front and no sleeves...funny thing and thanks for showing me how to wear it right now! I'll go and pick it out of my summer clothes boxes! ;o)

LandGirl1980 said...

Layering all the way! Love the colour of that frock x

Positively Bri said...

I'm pretty obsessed with yellows, especially the darker mustard shades. It totally makes sense why you would buy an adorable yellow dress =]

http://positivelybri.blogspot.com/

Serena S. Madhouse said...

Very nice this dress, it's fine smooth with the waist belt!
I like the detail of the petticoat, I petticoat too for the same reason and also I have always cold!

Nika Chick said...

Thank you, that is interesting.

I'm also writing posts about winter outfits. General tips how to look good when its sooo cold outside. You are very welcome to visit my recent post about vintage inspired tights, stockings and socks

http://nchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-stay-pretty-when-its-cold.html

Miss Liang said...

Great matching! Nice dress with fitting knit outwear!

Unknown said...

I love your winterizing posts! I have lots of 50s sundresses and continue to wear them through the winter with jersey dresses and wool tights underneath! Good tips x

Edward said...

What an amazing makeover, I love it!

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Christina said...

I winter woolen skirts, tights and thigh high legwarmers are my uniform. I don't think I'll ever go back to trousers! Especially as trouser hems soak up snow and dirt.

Miss Maple said...

That's inspiring! I own a yellow dress, a black slip, a black cardigan, a black beret, black thermo tights, thick black stockings and black boots. I think that will be my outfit for tomorrow cause we have temperatures below zero also. Thank you.

Myrtha Meadows said...

Haha! Så sent som idag, när jag gick ut i kylan, tänkte jag: Jag MÅSTE skaffa ett par mamelucker! :D xx

Abhijeet Kumar said...

WOW! Very nice makeover very good

Best Regards
Abhjeet
Home Care Products - personal care products

emmi said...

I hate winter, ugh. I just find wearing a dress in wintertime not worth the pain of beign cold all the time since i'm always cold. :) I started a blog recently and since I like vintage too I thought I'd share the link since I've been a fan of your blog for years :) http://emmieveryday.blogspot.fi/

Ms. Falcon said...

yeah, this is what i do as well ... wearing ski underwear or minidresses under big skirt and summer vintage dresses ... fight winter with lovelyness ;)

Lucia said...

Hej, varifrån är stövlarna på bilden? jag söker febrilt efter ett par låga, men ej helt platta, svarta, varma stövlar som passar till klänning och byxor, men jag har inte hittat de perfekta. Dina ser ut att vara just de jag söker :)

Tunics for Women said...

During the winter months, we all want to look our best, but it's just so hard to bundle up and still look great.We can stay stylish in winter season with fur coats,leggings and tights.

Магазини за дрехи said...

Like Lilly Marlen :D

The Freelancer's FashionBlog said...

Lucia: jag vet, de e jättesvårt att hitta passliga vinterstövlar! De här är min mommos gamla Aaltonen stövlar vars gummikil jag målat svart.

Lucia said...

Ahaa, din mommos gamla, ok, men de är fina. Där var ju idé att köpa ett par med gummi kilklack, och måla den svart ( ofta är klacken i brunt ) Tack för tipset!