Formal occasions don’t seem to have the same social calendar as the warm weather. When the weather is cooler, staying warm in your evening gown takes a little strategy. Your everyday winter coat probably isn’t going to cut it. You can keep your look fashionable and stay warm at the same time by pairing the right materials like a fur wrap or a wool coat with layers, light lined tights, and camisoles. Let’s take a look at how to accessorize your formal evening dress for colder weather.
What to Wear Over Your Dress
The key to keeping your style intact during the colder months is smart luxe layers. You can wear a wrap or bolero as long as it’s the right textile. For formal attire, look for fur, satin, leather, or wool.
Fur Wraps
A fur wrap can create a very chic look when paired with a shimmery dress. It’s the perfect mix of soft and hard. Glitter, beading, and other shimmery embellishments give a metallic look that is considerably toned down with real fur. Consider a rose gold or champagne-colored gown paired with a light-colored fur wrap. Fur can be hard to pull for everyday style. If you’ve been dying to wrap yourself in something cozy, a winter formal event is a perfect opportunity.
Jackets
If wraps aren’t your style, or you’ll spend most of your time indoors with fewer layers, the right jacket can be a good choice for traveling to and from your event. For formal attire, a leather jacket is a classic touch.
Shrugs
For a lighter layer that you can wear as needed throughout the evening, choose a shrug. It’s a cropped sweater that fits like a cardigan but is styled as formal wear. A satin shrug or something cozy made from wool can both be good choices for formal events.
Coats
For a heavier coat, a classic wool pea coat in a longer, mid-thigh length provides a sophisticated formal look. Since you won’t be wearing your coat all evening, stick with a traditional dark neutral like black, navy, or grey.
What to Wear Under Your Dress
When thinking about colder weather, our attention always goes to the top layers first. But you can accomplish a lot with concealed underlayers. Make your formal gowns a lot warmer by swapping your regular undergarments for fleece-lined varieties.
Swap the Bare Legs for Sheer Coverage
If you’ve been suffering through formal events with bare skin because you think wearing hosiery is a dated look, we’ll ask you to reconsider. Even fairly light hosiery that is sheer and skin-toned can provide an extra layer of warmth. If your dress permits, bulk up with a thicker pair of tights or even opt for fleece-lined if you can get away with an opaque black look.
Under Additional Undergarment Layers
If you’re accustomed to wearing a stick-on bra and panties with your formal attire, consider going a little more full-coverage. The great thing about formal winter dresses is that long-sleeves and higher necklines match the look, providing more coverage to bulk up your underlayers with full-length camisoles and lined shapewear.
How to Accessorize for Warmth
The cold weather calls for a few more accessories. Choose your fashion accents wisely, depending on the weather. For layers, you can wear while traveling, think about a hat, gloves, and a scarf. And for warmth throughout the night, choose the right footwear. You can match your accessories to the specific style of your gown, but if you plan to attend a few formal events during the colder weather, you can make smarter choices by investing in dark-colored neutrals with high-end quality.
Get the Right Gloves
Invest in a high-end pair of leather gloves for outdoor travel or long, satin gloves to compliment your gown to add coverage you can wear all night long. Consider how your gloves will fit with rings and bracelets that are also part of your formal ensemble.
Add a Hat
A wool or fur hat can be a classy addition to your winter formal wardrobe. It’s the same concept of adding unexpected textures like a feather embellishment to a wool hat that makes the right hat fashionable.
Opt for a Luxe Scarf
The incredible softness of a cashmere scarf can be the perfect touch of cozy for your winter formal. Scarves are okay as long as they are luxe. A sheer or satin oversized scarf can also be a good way to add light coverage for all-evening wear.
Closed-Toe Boots Can be Classy
The perfect footwear for a winter event is a boot. The problem is that most boots are a little too clunky for formal attire. Pull the look off and keep your toes toasty with a stiletto heel that has at least two inches of length. Look for metallic tones or patent leather for a glam look or velvet boots for a soft, elegant touch.
The Takeaway on Staying Warm Without Freezing Your Style in Formal Wear
Formal events require a lot of fuss. There are rules about etiquette and rules about fashion. It can get confusing to figure out what to wear and what not to wear. Dressing up your formal attire with the right layers can provide much-needed warmth during cooler seasons, especially since most events take place after the sun goes down.
In addition to choosing heavier fabrics like satin for your gown, opting for a full-length dress, and adding coverage with long sleeves, you can add layers over and under your gown. The key to accessorizing your formal style is to stick with the right textiles–fur, leather, wool, cashmere, and velvet are all good choices.
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