The Textures of Winter: Elements of an Enduring Wardrobe

By The Line

As the seasons shift, so do the contours of a day. Each aspect of daily life is adjusted to suit the changing environment, transitioning sources of nourishment, modes of transport, recreational pursuits—and, most expressively, ways of dressing. Plummeting temperatures prompt bundling and layering: a craving for cozy insulation. Yet this instinct to dress for utility and comfort need not be achieved at the expense of style and sophistication. A refined winter wardrobe relies upon distinctive textures and rich fabrics to be elegantly prepared for the elements, year after year.

Speckles and splatters give a celestial depth to knits from Proenza Schouler: Crewneck Curve Hem Sweater and High-Waisted Knit Skirt, pictured with Proenza Schouler Runway Creeper.

Some choose to counter the starkness of winter with bursts of color, but a palette of beautiful blues and contrast neutrals that embraces the subtleties of the season can be just as powerful. Such is the atmospheric effect created by Proenza Schouler’s speckled wool sweater, a luxuriously cozy layer with its wide sleeves, extended cuffs, and low, curved hem. The designers’ black-and-white flecked skirt completes the ensemble, with the overlapping low hem and high waist of each respective piece providing added insulation from the cold.

Chunky black creepers, also from Proenza Schouler, are a sleek, firm foundation for a range of cold-weather looks. Lug soles provide traction on icy or wet terrain, while criss-crossed ponyskin panels and a tapered toe box add a feminine touch. A necessity for any winter wardrobe is an elegant coat. Christophe Lemaire’s maxi coat is an expansive option that can envelop any combination of layers beneath, and its marled beige is universally complementary.

With its oversized, notched lapels and capacious patch pockets, Christophe Lemaire’s calf-length coat is a slouchy reference to menswear.

A buttery-hued blend of virgin wool and soft angora, this knit dress by Christophe Lemaire keeps its relaxed silhouette refined with a knotted, drop-waist sash.

A warm interior layer with full-body coverage, Christophe Lemaire’s knotted wool dress is classically beautiful yet ultimately practical. The shallow scoop neck, pleated back, and tied sash at the waist refine this winter staple. A bell-sleeved sweater in fine merino wool from J.W. Anderson is the perfect lightweight, snug sweater, with its rich camel hue and contrasting black collar. Layered beneath Totême’s streamlined black dress, the two-tone effect of the merino wool sweater is enhanced, and the flare of its sleeves accentuated.

In a dense yet lightweight knit, an understated black dress from Totême is ideal for layering. Pictured here atop J.W. Anderson’s bell-sleeved sweater.

Designer Christophe Lemaire looked to the elegant ease of a kaftan as inspiration for this oversized lambswool coat, realized in a warm and sooty tweed.

Another covetable coat from Christophe Lemaire adapts the kaftan for colder climes. The nuanced texture of grey wool bridges leisure and luxury, functioning almost as a robe. And contrary to the old adage, white can make a dazzling impression long after Labor Day, serving as a fitting hue in brisk wintry weather. Atea Oceanie’s ivory overcoat is a model of simplicity, with only the most tasteful embellishments and the woolly texture of the fabric’s bouclé knit distinguishing its simple form. Worn over a sleeveless cream sweater, it provides total coverage and warmth without encumbering the body in excess layers.

Atea Oceanie’s ivory cocoon coat envelops the body in pure wool textured with a bouclé knit. A cashmere halter tunic by Soyer and J.W. Anderson’s wrap skirt with cuff complete the all-cream look.

Discover more of the quintessential and other refined essentials for everyday living at The Line.