The Magic of Winter Layers

How I added these effortlessly cozy pieces to elevate my cold-weather looks

I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, from the shoppable links included in this article. Gifted and/or Ad items will be identified as such, if included in an article.

---

I write wrote this in the middle of today’s yesterday´s west coast storm layered up in unusually alpine form (so shearling shoes, thick socks, knit pants, oversized wool scarf and ok, yes, a touch of California via an Acne rainbow polo sweater). Palm trees are were swaying in less of a SoCal vibe more like in torrential form, bright magenta flurries swirling from the bougainvilleas in the garden, thick drops plunking to the ground with aplomb.

View from the living room table / my writing desk (which failed to capture the magnitude of the rain aside from the few drops in the fountain) listening to a mix of whatever my son (aka today’s DJ, who stayed home due to weather) has thought up to play.

I was actually planning on continuing a commenced draft about vintage somethings but, decided on keeping with today’s stormy cozy theme so, here we go. . . a little bit on layering on some of winter magic in the most effortless way: via bright little or make it oversized sweaters, big coats, knit trousers and The Scarf. I emphasize the latter as it truly is the key the that literally ties a whole look together. In this article, I will be analyzing two winter looks I wore this week and highlighting the magic of the layered elements to create an effortlessly luxe winter casual.

Yes, while I realize pairing a scarf, hat, jacket, is not a totally innovate and rather a very quintessential winter layering technique, the key is in a few playful tweaks that can make it wholly your own. In my case, these elements attribute a sense of classic true cold-weather bliss to my very California-winter looks, upping the cozy factor in a playfully/luxuriously cozy way.

This was taken Wednesday, the day before the storm but, I was already getting in a California winter storm state of mind. Shown are my trusty Janessa Leone wool beanie and Loewe oversized brushed rainbow wool scarf. Exact scarf but pre-owned option here, pastel tones version here. To be honest, this scarf was an impulse purchase a few years back and one that has proven to honestly, be one of my best sartorial investments to date. It brightens up the day - rain, snow, shine, or all at once.

I can go on and on and on about the sartorial power of layering contrasting textures together (not to mention the bonus of when there is rich colors involved in the mix). There is just something about a lush(ly?) built outfit that makes for a mood boost and a style boost.

I was in somewhat of a style rut/lull if you will, start of this year and it was starting to vex me that I wasn’t in my usual styling mood, relegating myself to my go-to “I don’t know what to wear“ uniform of sweatpants and a sweater (of course, make that a playfully elevated luxe sweater but, again, the sweatpants! Ah!) I had to start sartorially diversifying myself. So, I did for more reasons than one.

One of the most impeccably elegant people I know passed away this past month, my impossibly chic grandmother. I will always remember our shopping days, perusing fashion magazines commenting on the style of the day and I will forever be inspired by her infallible style, the epitome of elegance, always.

I decided these memories would be my style catalyst, providing the sartorial energy boost I needed to stay out of those sweatpants (she would not have approved of said sweatpants on-repeat, by the way!)

She gravitated towards rich greens, camel tones and I, a penchant for mixing minimalist tones of brown, black and beige with bright in your face colors or even rainbow sweaters - my elevated California casual style personality at its finest. A casual style I elevate via laid-back luxury pieces like Khaite sweaters and blazers, leather boots and a mix of classic or slouchy denim and St. John evening jackets.

On that note, there is nothing better, sartorially speaking, than pairing an early 90’s sequin St. John evening jacket with a pair of slouchy jeans and boots - this, my grandmother would have approved of. She had a love for all things St. John and I tend to agree with her, there is just something about those luxe little knit jackets.

**So, there you go, a sneak peek of sorts into an upcoming article I am currently drafting which will feature said St. John vintage jackets from my mother’s closet (who loves seeing how I have given them a different twist and that we both love seeing how a brand can so effortlessly transcend generations) as well as a very special new St. John jacket. One that I purchased specifically in honor of my grandmother. All paired with varying styles of denim, of course. Stay tuned.

Examples of St. John vintage paired with denim. These are looks, documented on my IG, @styledespresso, I styled last year for dinner dates with my husband. These jackets are pure magic!

And so, I started on my path to more elevated dressing via knit trousers. Up until last Fall, I did not really have the appetite for knit bottoms. Everything in my closet was denim, leggings (leather too, not just the workout kind) or wool trousers. Then, the knit pant came into focus. I currently have a two really good pairs.

Here are two outfits in review showcasing how I built each layer in to compliment the other to create a playfully cozy look. The first, is a comfy striped pair that is equally at home in the summer as it is in winter, at the home office as it is to coffe runs and casual lunch/dinner.

Although Summer immediately comes to mind upon first glance at these Zulu & Zephyr striped boucle/terry trousers, one-season only pants they are not. I purchased these last summer from local surf shop, Hermosa Surf, in La Jolla.

By adding a quilted jacket (this one I am wearing is an old silk jacket by Ulla Johnson) via a darker shade yet still in a tonal fashion with the gold/burnt yellow tones of the trousers, this takes the look into Winter territory by adding a layer of cozy weight to it.

Here is a similar-ish (sportier in the same copper hue family similar) jacket aaaand wait, just as I wrote this I found the Exact Ulla Johnson jacket (yeeyyyy!) - This last linked one is perfect if you’re looking for a Medium size (pre-owned from TRR available in M and under $200…for reference I am wearing a size P) and a jacket that does it all, a closet collectible F/W topper.

My jacket is an all-time dream find, I can’t remember where I purchased it from but, glad its all mine. :)

The second, is a ribbed chocolate toned trouser by Helsa that is just so cozy and chic, I just can’t.

The weight of the ribbed material and how it falls on the legs is just beyond, especially given the price point. It’s currently on sale for $145, here. Now, this trouser is inherently more apropos for cold-weather given its dark brown hue and lush mid-weight ribbed knit construction but, let’s give it a little playful California at the beach at sunset twist via this little rainbow sweater number by Acne Studios.

Again, another example of a forever piece that brings me pure joy with each wear. Sadly, no longer available however, you can find similar pastel-like ombré/rainbow vibes all under $200 here, here and here. The latter is men’s sizing (love a good men’s sweater that has that natural oversized fit).

Now, here I added an extra long quilted coat in a more heritage-y aesthetic and classic tones to contrast with the playful ombré hues of the polo sweater yet tie back to the chocolate brown of the trousers via the similarly hued corduroy neck of the coat.

The coat is By Malene Birger and although an investment piece (it is on sale, here, here and here! in single sizes remaining at each e-shop and at regular price at the BMB online store in multiple sizes available, here) it was one of those pieces I couldn’t pass on. I’m wearing a size 34, btw. For more on how I decided on this piece, reference my last week’s Mid-Week Style Snack article:

No, I didn’t forget! Here is where the magic of the scarf comes in. The black wool Acne Studios scarf shown in photos above, further grounds the second look and ties back to my Jenni Kayne black shearling mock clogs. Add an optional baseball hat for an off-duty touch to your cool winter look. Mine is a silk-line cap by CommeSi at a pricier point but, love how my hair feels with the silk interior. Here is a similar option at $60.

Seen here, and circling back to the first look, I paired this wool beanie in the same tone as the quilted jacket and this can’t be missed scarf in fuzzy wool to provide rich visual contrast. The yellow and orange in the scarf ties the whole look back to the initial element of this outfit, the cabana striped trousers. This kind of outfit is a mouth watering sartorial dessert for me.

Multi-layers of contrasting elements of interest elevate a simple lounge wear look into something else, into a look that deserves to be taken outside the confines of your living room and savored in the chilly winter sun. Maybe, just sub the platform caged sandals seen on me (exact Prada caged sandal here, updated model here) with more winter-esque footwear before leaving the house. Thinking a The Row suede zip-up boot might do the perfect trick!

The key to a multi-layer, multi-color, multi-texture outfit such as this one is to keep tying each element back to each other.

The white of the caged sandals ties to the white of the cabana stripes of the pants and back to the scarf. The orange of the scarf ties to the orange of the pants and the tangerine wool vest and provides a tonal pairing with the muted copper tone of the jacket and hat. (This Everlane vest is sold out but here is a similar option in sweater form from Frame but, same tangerine tone and best for the current season)

The result is a whimsical uplifting take on tonal dressing for the season.

Back again to the magic of a good scarf, I was inspired to want to do more with the black wool scarf other than just wear it well, as a scarf. I was playing around with my Acne Studios oversized scarf when I folded it over my torso and manually cinched it at my waist and immediately went running for a belt. PS: for a while there I had seemingly forgotten about the belt as a key element of an outfit. That is to be changed!

Wearing my Déhanche Hollyhock belt here and immediately it took the outfit into look Part II. It provided a cool yet elegant vibe and transformed the ombré sweater into a kind of interesting vest. (Déhanche belts are currently my wishlist obsession accessory!)

An outfit ready for just about anything from casual cozy, to alpine casual when paired with denim and knee-high boots and my favorite kind of outfit that transitions easily from AM to PM with the switch or addition of an accessory. Apparently, someone else agrees, see below. :)

This is a winner of an outfit in my style book and one which I will be pairing with aforementioned alpine styling version of this look on our upcoming ski trip. More to come on this trip, including a where to eat/stay/ski with the fam and what to wear to stay cozy, comfy and chic, soon. **Another little preview for you of upcoming articles in the works :)

Me and my mini-me/styling buddy. Love getting his input and take on my styling combinations and experimentations (makes for major laughs at times to get his kid-approved or not! view on outfits.)

That finishes my California girl take on winter dressing/cold-weather layering and provides the perfect intro into that upcoming guide on ski travel/style I mentioned.

If you’re looking for some quick ski wear inspo right now, you can reference the gift guide titled For The Family of Skiers in a previous Holiday Gift Guides Edit article:

Ciao and until next time, where I will be writing to you from the slopes!🎿❄️

-Jazmín