As much as we moan in the UK about our cold winters, we actually have it pretty good. Our winters just need a few snuggly jumpers, a couple of pairs of leggings, some cute warm accessories and a great pair of winter boots. Other places don’t have it quite so good. I’m spending a year in Duluth, Minnesota where winters can drop down to minus 30 degrees.  The ground has been snow-covered for a couple of weeks now and the days when we were still in positive Celsius are a faded memory. A few warm jumpers and a good coat will no longer cut it, even for my 5 minute walk to campus.

Keeping warm for a bitterly cold winter is hard. It’s one of the few occasions where practicality has to come before style.  My general rule has been to dress as stylishly as possible underneath, but load up on warm layers and accessories over the top. Underneath I am still wearing my usual, British winter wardrobe- my usual summery skirts paired with thick tights and warm jumpers, and cardigans over my dresses. I layer long-sleeved and thermals tops underneath everything and wear two pairs of tights instead of one.

One thing I have been taught is to get a warm weather jacket or even a ladies ski jacket. The Adidas Stella McCartney Ski Wear range is particularly stylich.  They aren’t necessarily the cutest jackets in the world, but they are the number one thing to have in a cold climate. They keep out the cold and wind  much better than a regular coat. Have a look in sports shops or outdoor clothing shops for something extra warm.

If the climate is especially snowy, it could be worth investing in a pair of snow boots. Look for ones that are not only warm and cosy inside, but that have good grips on the bottom and a thick, waterproof sole. These will be the best for cold, snowy weather.

Finally, stock up on warm winter accessories. Upgrade from soft wool gloves to thick, waterproof mittens and from thin cotton socks to thick wool ones. Then stock up on the usual winter pieces; hats (did you know 90% of body heat escapes through your head?!), scarves and if you don’t have a hood on your jacket, maybe a pair of earmuffs. Then make sure you have lots of layers on underneath your jacket- layer over with chunky knits and under with thermal tops and long, warm underneath. Warm underwear is discreet and often cheap, and can be worn under jeans and even leggings.

When the weather starts getting cold and snowy, try to spend as little time outside as possible. You don’t have to sacrifice style completely to keep warm during a cold winter; just layer as much as you can under and over- many thin layers are warmer than thick ones,  and get inside quickly so you can show off your style underneath!!