Growing up in the North of England with its frost laced mornings and gale-force winds, I had never questioned my ability to dress for winter. But that all changed with my recent move to Switzerland. In hindsight, I had been spending my English winters under a sea of non-descript dark clothing from the comfort of my car, only getting my mojo back for spring. On the other hand, Swiss folk live alongside nature and come alive with the snow-laden trees and steaming bowls of Gerstensuppe, embracing the theory “there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing”.
My winter wardrobe needed to evolve – from reclusive to exclusive, where fashion meets function!
Here I share my six winter style tips with you that have me more excited about my winter wardrobe than ever before.
The secret weapon: Base-layers
Layers are a vital component of winter dressing. Dressing in layers helps me feel prepared for all eventualities, just like a Swiss army knife. It allows me maximum flexibility, be that sudden weather changes, or impulsively popping into a smarter cafe for a luxemburgerli. Suppose I feel like wearing an elegant trench coat, I have learnt to conceal a thin down jacket or gilet beneath, guaranteeing insulation. Icebreaker and Uniqlo make great slim merino wool and down layering pieces that are perfect for this use. I also often use my yoga (my brand of choice is Lululemon in Zürich) wear as under-layers as it is thin, soft and temperature regulating.
Although generally reserved for skiing, sporty base layers are my Swiss winter secret weapon and an essential part of our everyday family winter wardrobe – I regularly send my two children out in them. They comprise of slim and comfortable moisture-wicking vests and leggings both made in the same material. Wearing base layers means I often don’t have to wear much else, and I have even been able to venture out wearing just a thick jumper and a beanie hat on a casual Sunday. North Face produces very fine ‘breathable’ base layers, and Odlo makes incredibly comfortable and colourful sets for children. Slightly thicker base layer bottoms can also be worn alone as leggings, and I like to linger in them as lounge-wear when the evening rolls in. The retail outlet in Landquart is a fantastic place to find base layers, having many discounted options and even an Odlo shop.
The ‘Stuebli’ sweater
As a lover of all things cosy, log fires, gingham checks, and cinnamon-spiced anything are all my ideas of heaven. My Swiss friends even tease me about my love of Stüblis, the cosy wooden mountain huts where people especially take pleasure in consuming lots of schnapps-infused fondues. So to honour those “stueblis” and celebrate all things cosy, I have a particular sweater I like to wear, which I call my “stuebli” sweater. It is not quite a Christmas jumper, but heading it that direction, my “stuebli” sweater incorporates various cozy patterns evoking thoughts of the Fair isles, Peru, and mountains generally.
I purchased my “stuebli” sweater (worn in the picture) from Hambro and Miller. Mama Owl does similar nostalgic cosy wear for children and adults. But you can find these winter sweaters in most places, just keep your eyes peeled, like these, I spotted outside the Joshele homeware shop in Klosters village, Graubuenden.
Footwear- fashionable yet firm
Fortunately, the ‘suggested sensible footwear’ from your school field trip has evolved to a level where neither style nor ergonomics is compromised. Think chic boots with shearling linings that ensure the snug feeling of toasty toes. Established brands like Timberland and Dr. Martens now offer them in their winter boot collections. Even the Aussie-iconic Ugg slipper, the king of comfortable home footwear, has developed ankle supportive hiking models with their signature shearling linings.
However, my absolute favourite range of winter footwear remains the Sorel winter-shoe line; it’s both aesthetically pleasing and practical in equal measures. Sorel boots are warm to minus degrees, boast good grip and come in a plethora of weights and heights for every terrain to be covered. An example model is the popular ‘Joan of Arctic’ high style, which is advantageous for heavy snow. I also like the ‘explorer model as it has a sneaker-like fit which is lightweight for cities whilst maintaining functionality for icy paths. As I like to dress fairly minimalistic, I am thankful for footwear that lifts an outfit and makes it appear effortlessly cool and chic, and Sorel boots do just that.
The “anywear” outfit
I find the Swiss dress generally smarter than my native country where nipping out to buy milk in pyjamas is not unheard of! So when my first Swiss winter arrived, I found it difficult to feel ‘put together’ as the overarching need to keep warm meant I was wearing very few dresses and skirts—step in the “anywear” outfit.
I once read that a fast way to look elegant is to wear the same colour on the top and lower half of the body, so I adapted that to my Swiss winter wardrobe. A navy jumper paired with my favourite navy jeans instantly makes me feel slimmer, taller and provides a smart background for accessories. Punctuating grey or camel coloured outfits with two-tone sorrel explorer boots incorporating the same colour is currently my favourite winter look. I use this trick whenever I need to be smart casual and am unsure of what the situation requires.
The heritage scarves and shawls
Scarves speak an international language of warmth as they are an integral part of both my Indian and Swiss family’s winter wardrobes. I have a dedicated scarf drawer in my cupboard, and this is where I feel my soul, history and heritage expressed. My Indian mother lovingly passed a few Indian pashminas to me when I got married. These heirlooms are earthy in colour and made by generations of artisan weavers with threads from Himalayan goats. I appreciate the craftsmanship when I wear them, and the soft light fabrics never fail to keep me warm almost like warmth insurance as I go out of the door! My family and friends know I love scarves and I have been gifted some special ones over the years, including a Hermes Winter scene silk scarf. Packing scarves such as these are fabulous when travelling, as a relatively straightforward ensemble can instantly be dressed up for an occasion without having taken up much space in a suitcase. Some of my favourite styles have been purchased from the Cross-Shop in London, but someday I dream of adding one of the vibrant cashmere shawls from the Swiss/ Srilankan sisters brand Kinsfolk in Zurich, to my collection. They have beautiful jewellery too.
The fireside scent
As Christian Dior once commented, perfume is the “final touch of (her) style”, and I couldn’t agree more. I like to group my fragrances into seasons, with these being my favourite winter ones.
Just one spray of one of these during other times of the year and I am instantly taking back to the cosy times by the fire, with my “stübeli” sweater, anxiously waiting for the first taste of fondue.
