Dressing for the indoors
What happens when the coat and boots come off?
Every season presents its own set of challenges and dilemmas for getting dressed. I think we can all agree that the winter more so than others. Besides trying to figure out the appropriate footwear to wear in 20 cm of snow, there’s often a disconnect between what I’d like to be wearing and my reality.
Maybe you feel this way, too. So much of the inspiration we see for winter styling revolves around a nice, long, structured coat and a great pair of boots. These pieces can help you feel more polished, even with something casual, like sweats underneath (see
’s Can You Be Cozy, Comfortable, and Cute?! for reference.)
I can’t deny feeling a lot more put together when I have these key pieces on. My outfits always feel complete when I’m dressed head-to-toe. However, this is not my everyday. I work from home, and with the exception of the occasional days I’ve got places to go or a nice dinner out, I’m mostly indoors. Even on weekends when we get together with friends, it’s usually at someone’s house, or I’m at a kid’s birthday party or playdate. Again—indoors—where the boots come off and so does the coat, and I plop my bag down someplace, instead of carrying it around.
Then, what happens? My outfits end up feeling incomplete and flat.
So, I’ve been trying a few things to help compensate for the pieces I’m lacking when I’m dressing for the indoors. They don’t fully fill the void, but they’re minor fixes that have helped me still feel (somewhat) put together.
Focusing on what I’m wearing on top.
Choosing something with a little more character versus a plain sweater can work harder when the jacket comes off. A cable knit sweater, for example, adds texture to your outfit. Some options I love from: Varley / Modern Citizen (currently on sale) / J.Crew / SISTERHOOD / Free People. I also like the idea of a cool zip-up or long, belted cardigan that almost makes you feel like you’re wearing outerwear indoors.
Photos: @lucyalston_ / Swin necklace / Zara Home / @marina_torres / Ribbed Maxi Gold earrings / Alys Fair Isle Knit Jacket / Decorative Straight Candle set / Cotton cable-knit crewneck sweater / Callie cardigan / @ellenorkim 
Photo: From Angie’s (@thefoundjournal) Substack chat, which has been serving a ton of everyday inspiration (like this all-white cozy ‘fit) with her daily prompts for her January challenge. Highly recommend taking a peek! My wardrobe consists of mostly plain knits and sweaters, so I’ve had to rely on layering to add a bit more interest to what I’m wearing. Layering a white tee underneath a sweater is the obvious choice, but in the winter, I like switching it up with a turtleneck.
Mega Dome Earrings + Natasha High Neck (currently on sale) + Wool Polo Jumper 
Baby knot silver earrings + Aritzia Clio Turtleneck (sold out, similar here) + Gaspard cardigan + old Agolde Riley jeans Wearing sheer socks for more elevated looks.
Regular socks just won’t do when you’re wearing something nicer indoors. At Christmas, I wore this red off-the-shoulder wool cashmere sweater with black trousers and swapped my regular cotton socks for a sheer pair to keep the look polished. They’re nothing special—just a combo pack from Amazon. I got the knee-high style (not the shorter ones) so I could also wear them with my ankle-length jeans.
Leaving the house vs. at home. L: Old OAK + FORT brown sweater + Toteme coat I bought on deep sale two years ago + Gaspard cardigan + old Zara ribbed tank + Julia silver necklace + Old Agolde Riley jeans + tote bag + Cole Haan Devon Chelsea boots. R: Same outfit w/o all the layers and boots. I got the inspiration from
’s books and looks, where I saw her style her denim and ballet flats with a pair of sheer socks for cooler weather (so smart!)I’ve had multiple conversations with girlfriends about what socks to wear with ankle-length pants/denim that won’t look awkward when you take off your winter boots and I think sheer socks are the answer. Of course, this only helps when your destination is indoors, and you’re not planning to be outside in the cold too long.
Adding accessories for a finishing touch
Photos: @smythsisters / Kimsey watch / @ladydianamay / Triple Metal Keeper Belt / Rhode peptide lip tint in espresso / @tylynnnguyen I know this is probably a given, but as someone who likes to keep things simple, I have to actively remind myself to add accessories when getting ready. While my collection is limited and I usually rotate between the same few pieces (right now, it’s a lot of silver), wearing accessories always makes my outfits feel less boring.
recently wrote about how she’s been relying on jewellery to help break the monotony of winter dressing in Toronto:
Baby knot silver earrings + Tna Soft Feels All-time T-shirt + Soft French Terry Sweatshirt + Perennial Solid Brass Leather Belt (not super impressed with the quality, you can try this instead) + old Denim Forum Arlo Hi-rise straight jean (updated style) “It’s a means of taking a capsule wardrobe to the next level without taking up too much space.”
Photo: @meja from 09: Objects of Affection Her eye for special vintage pieces and heirlooms is inspiring and if you’re in Toronto, I definitely recommend reading her piece, which features a few treasures from vintage and consignment stores around the city.
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Your outfits won’t feel flat if you have on jewelry! Jewelry doesn’t come off when you enter someone’s Home. My earrings are so light, I wear to bed. I definitely need earrings to jazz me up. You can also buy a nice silver cuff as an alternative to gold. I wear my silver Elsa Peretti cuff with my gold jewelry.
Sent you a jewelry post.