5 stylish ways to wear your summer wardrobe in winter (and still stay warm)

While Ireland may have a fairly temperate climate most of the time, we wouldn’t really get away with wearing loose dresses and short shorts all year round… or would we? We may be tempted to completely update our wardrobe every new season (at a massive cost to both our purses and the planet), but with the right styling, the majority of our summer wardrobes can easily migrate to cooler climates.

Taking some inspiration, as always, from our Instagram favourites, we’ve spotted five very easy ways to bring your summer clothes into winter.

Layer up

Yes, layering in winter sounds extremely obvious, but it actually can be quite difficult to know where to begin. If you’ve got a selection of summery blouses that you know won’t hold up on their own at this time of year, take some inspiration from the Scandi influencers, and layer to your heart’s content. Let the blouse peek out from underneath a knitted vest or jumper, and layer that under a coat or blazer. The possibilities are endless, and it’s a great way to wear a lot of your favourite pieces at once.

Chunky knits

If you’ve got a mini skirt or shorts that you lived in all summer, there’s no reason to retire them just yet. Throwing an oversized chunky knit over the top, and pairing with knee-high boots, is a great way to break up your silhouette and to keep warm too. Tights are essential for this look. Invest in a good flesh-coloured option (M&S have great ones) so you can keep the summery, legs-out look.

Leather on leather

While Olivia Palermo’s styling above is very autumnal, it’s a great lesson in how to pair a dress over trousers or jeans. Palermo’s suede dress could easily be worn with sandals during the summer, but pairing it with brogues and leather leggings in winter will keep you toasty and retain the impact of the dress. We know it can seem a bit twee to wear dresses over jeans at this age, but this look has actually come back with a bang. Just remember — the louder the print of the dress, the more understated your bottoms should be.

Polos are your friend

All those midi dresses you amassed last season aren’t dead yet — do yourself a favour and invest in just as many polo neck jumpers, in as many colours as you want. They are the perfect layering piece, and are a God-send for low-cut, floaty dresses this time of year. Simply mix and match the knit with the dress and you’re good to go. Don’t be afraid to clash colours, a lá Zeena Shah above — a camel knit with a black floral dress is perfect.

And when all else fails, just add tights

Ah, Katie Holmes. Where would our winter wardrobe be without you? Katie’s LBD is a classic at any season, but pairing it with sheer polka dot tights and a red lip gets her ready for a night out in no time. Patterned tights are back in a big way, and brands like Calzedonia are really doubling down on their selections, so you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Photography Jason Lloyd-Evans

This article was originally published in January 2022.