31 Outfit Ideas to Start the New Year in Style
With the days getting shorter and the temperatures dropping, it can be easy to default to wearing opaque tights and puffer coats. Well, these 31 women are here to prove that winter dressing doesn’t have to be boring. Here are an entire month’s worth of styling ideas, so you can use your brain power to focus on more important things (like figuring out how to actually stick to that new ketogenic lifestyle).
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Add a Single Pop of Color
Couple a bright hue (like marigold or ultraviolet) with your all-black favorites for a simple outfit upgrade.
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Swap Your Decades-Old Puffer for a Cropped, Printed Version
Fact: Voluminous coats don’t always make you look like a giant marshmallow. Opt for one that hits right at your hips and sports an artsy pattern. Pair it with tapered pants to maintain your gorgeous, non-dessert-like shape.
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Match All Your Extras
Sort of. In order not to get too matchy-matchy, try multiple shades of a color for a look that’s coordinated without trying too hard.
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Give Your NYE Dress a Second Go
You looked like a damn bombshell. We say, go ahead and break out your party dress for date night or dancing with the girls.
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Or Incorporate Your Sparkly Pieces Into Your Everyday Wardrobe
It doesn’t need to be a special evening to wear sequins or glitter. They pair just as nicely with a cozy oversize sweater or graphic tee for work, brunch or whatever else you have planned.
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Layer Tights Under Your Jeans
The oldest trick in the book. They provide extra warmth and turn a basic pair of heels into a cool pair of sock boots.
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Lauren Ralph Lauren blazer $220
GET SOME COLORFUL BOOTS
Swap your go-to black or gray OTK boots for a more colorful pair. How fun are these rusty red beauties?
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Belt Your Scarf
Don’t just wear a scarf around your neck. Make it part of your dress or outerwear by tucking it into your belt.
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Or Drape a Faux-Fur Version Over Your Shoulder
A furry stole instantly ups the luxe factor of any outfit, plus it’s extra nice to snuggle into when Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose.
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Get Comfortable in a Soft Sweatshirt
Mondays are tough enough without having to sit through your commute in a scratchy sweater. Swap it out for a chic embellished crewneck.
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Michael Michael Kors sweatshirt $113
Dare to Go Out Sans Tights
Choose a skirt that goes just a few inches past the top of your boots and you’re legs will be nice and warm without having to go through the struggle of putting on tights.
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Mix Big and Small
Sizes of plaid, that is. Pick one print and have fun with proportions knowing that patterns in the same color of pattern family will almost always look good together.
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BRING RED INTO YOUR WORK UNIFORM
Make like Krystal Bick and bring a bright, bold red to a polished, professional ensemble.
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Show Off Your Curves (While Staying Warm)
Alyssa Amoroso’s look here is proof that you can wear a sweater dress and still look sexy.
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C/MEO Collective sweater dress $170
Ground Your Most Over-the-Top Pieces
A red, oversize faux-fur coat can feel like a bit much for every day use, but a simple pair of black skinny jeans and some cozy ankle boots bring it back down to earth.
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White House Black Market jeans $89
Reverse Your Layers
A silky cami feels nice under a wool sweater, but it looks so much more fun when worn on top.
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Show Some Skin
Yes, you can wear a miniskirt in the middle of January. Pro tip from Coterie member Barbie Conga: Pair it with some over-the-knee boots and a cozy sweater to give it that wintery vibe.
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Rock Your Cardi Like a Sash
Draping a sweater around your shoulders instead of tying it around your waist helps avoid the illusion of extra bulk on your hips.
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Break Your Fall Dresses Out of Storage
No need to stow those babies away for next year. Just layer them over a thin knit, toss on some cute booties, like Coterie member Taye Hansberry, and you’re good to go.
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Spell & The Gypsy Collective dress $160
Play With Layers
Your walk to work is frigid, but your office feels like a sauna. Think like an onion and pile on layer after layer until you're ready for any temperature.
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Cut Down on Bulk with a Cropped Sweater
A crop top in January? Take a note from Coterie member Caroline Juen and pair your short knits with high-waisted pants and skirts to keep everything covered and warm.
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Wear a Long Vest Over a Jacket
Sad that you only got to wear your lightweight jackets for a few days this year? Throw a long, warm vest on top and you'll be able to get even more use out of those autumnal coats.
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Give Your Suit a Funky Twist
Mod touches, like a wide belt, black turtleneck and stark white sneakers, help even the stodgiest pinstripe suit feel less overtly masculine.
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DIY Your Own Fanny Pack
Not sure you’re ready to invest actual money into the trend? Follow Sommar Theodore’s fashionable lead and take a small bag you already own, wrap the strap or chain around your waist and tighten so it will stay in place. Voilà!
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Make Your Coat the Star of the Show
A giant faux-fur coat makes even the most basic T-shirt-and-jeans outfit feel fresh again.
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Free People faux-fur coat $298
Mix it Up with Different Textures
Leather and corduroy and suede, oh my! It might sound like a lot to handle, but Coterie member Monroe Steele shows us how to do it elegantly.
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Embrace Pajama Dressing Full Force
Wearing a slip dress and robe coat might feel like a no-no, but if you go for luxe fabrics (like velvet and satin), you'll keep the look elevated.
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Catch Disco Fever
The '70s are back and more stylish than ever. Bring the decade back to life with a classic rainbow sweater and pair of bootleg cords.
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Update Your Denim-on-Denim Outfit
Swap out a basic jean jacket for a long trench and a clean chambray shirt for a cheeky patchwork version. A little less country and a little more rock and roll.
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Double Up on Scarves
Layer your thin cashmere under a faux-fur stole or a fringed knit version under a fleece infinity scarf. Your neck has never been so cozy.
Get the look:
Charlotte Simone faux-fur scarf $263
Try WASHED-OUT SHADES INSTEAD of Brights
Who says pastels are appropriate only in spring? Bring on the robin's-egg blues, delicate lilacs and pale greens for a look that invokes a winter wonderland.
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