I'm Freezing in NYC, so I Studied How My French Friends Look Stylish When It's Cold
A peek across the pond.
Melanie Masarin is a Who What Wear editor in residence; the founder and CEO of Ghia; writer of Night Shade, her Substack newsletter chronicling founder life, treasure hunting, fashion musings, and food diaries; and the author of the forthcoming cookbook Riviera.
If the cold-weather blasts before spring peeks through have you feeling sartorially uninspired, you’re not alone. I’m enduring my first really cold winter on the East Coast in a long time. After wearing my investment cashmere crewneck 20 times this month alone, I decided to spend my snow storm weekend decoding dressing for freezing temperatures. Even as it starts to warm, I probably won’t be able to wear ballet flats for a while, so I’m taking inspiration from my Parisian friends to find personal style in the dreariest season. Below, I share some of my tips.
Silhouette matters.
A single point of definition keeps you from becoming one big woolen blob—ankles, wrists, or even neck will do. The suggestion of shape is enough: a bodysuit under a big sweater or tights sticking out of a woolen dress. You are a sculpture!
Accessorize.
Earrings are the only thing that doesn’t get swallowed by layers. Similarly, I like to wear a clutch or smaller bag to offset a longer coat silhouette.
Moisturize.
Whatever extremities stick out of your clothing need extra care: healthy hair, dewy cheekbones, or well-cared-for nails make my day so much brighter.
Layer up. (My mom was right.)
My mom always said the heat builds between the layers, and she was right. If you run cold, a tank under the tee under your sweater will make a world of a difference. The top layer is basically the whole outfit, so invest in a few knits you are absolutely obsessed with—cost per wear, cost per wear! In France, the grandma store Damart makes the softest thermals. In the U.S., Intimissimi does a great job.
Going-out tops in winter are a no from me. My workaround is wearing a blazer or jacket as the top. Long sleeves, structure, texture—check, check, check. It looks intentional and cool, and you may even get away with a thin layer underneath.
Keep your extremities very warm.
There is no hack more powerful. For what it’s worth: tights + socks + loafers = extremely cute and rarely fails. If you’re truly freezing, invest in cashmere socks (I’m partial to Comme Si, but these are a great alt), and hide them inside boots.
Add texture.
Texture creates visual richness without needing skin. A cashmere set and nice “lounge-but-not-slouch” pants (I’m obsessed with these) can be a dream and also a great travel outfit. I also just got a vintage Mongolian fur stole on Etsy for $70 to add a little za za zou to my black wool coat.
Don't abandon color.
Cold weather does not mean going full noir. I love winter whites, tying a contrasting color sweater on top of my coat, and sneaking in a colorful sock or a striped or colored base layer to bring life to the January grayscale.
