Tips for Layering Clothes in the Winter While Still Looking Cute
- Layering for cold weather can be bulky and uncomfortable if you don’t know how to layer thinner pieces over thicker styles.
- To layer for winter and still create a feminine, elegant silhouette, you need to consider pieces of varying thicknesses, as well as styles that accentuate your shape.
- June Adel’s layering tips offer you a new way to explore boho styles for winter, ensuring you look comfortable and feel cozy.
Cute Layered Outfits for Winter
Whether you’re expecting a mild winter with soft snow or a stormy season full of dark, wet days, there’s no reason to sacrifice your style for comfort. At June Adel, we believe you can have it all when you choose appropriate pieces to ensure you’re properly layering clothes for winter.
Learn about layering winter clothes in a chic and fashionable way when you follow our guide here.
The Three-Layer Rule
The three-layer system is designed to keep you comfortable in all types of cold weather, whether you’re hiking the Himalayas or heading out for a quick grocery run in the rain. The rule here ensures each layer serves a specific purpose.
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Base
The first layer is your base layer and should be focused on wicking moisture from your skin. Consider lightweight, breathable fabrics. Your instinct may be to choose thick, heavy pieces for your base layer, but you’ll be much more comfortable when your base fabrics dry quickly, ensuring you don’t overheat and chafe when layering clothes for winter.
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Middle
Your second winter layer is the one that’s supposed to insulate you and retain the heat of your body. Mid-layers should be slightly thicker than your base, with warmer textiles. If you remove your outer layer while indoors, your mid-layer will be in the spotlight, so make sure to choose a stylish piece that delivers a cute layered outfit for winter. Think fun sweaters and cardigans!
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Top
The final layer for your winter outfit should create a shell to protect you against wind, snow, and rain. This layer will need to balance fashion and function with elevated colors and weaves made of waterproof or wind-resistant materials. Explore trench coats, shackets, and other outerwear.
Thin to Thick
As you can see from the three-rule layering clothes for winter, you’ll need layers of different thicknesses. Wearing your thinnest layers is about more than comfort, however. Trying to put a lightweight fabric over a cable knit, for example, will result in a lumpy shape that won’t look stylish, no matter how you try and make it work. Always wear your thinner tops as base and mid layers before adding textured layering winter clothes as your outer pieces.
Use Shapes

Many people think that layering clothes for winter will completely hide their shape. At June Adel, we know that you can still accentuate your body shape with winter clothing when it’s done right. There are many ways to create an elegant silhouette with your choices to ensure cute layered outfits for winter.
The simplest way to create a shape is with a belt. Whether you wear a jacket with a belt or add a standalone belt over an oversized sweater, you’re accentuating your waist to prevent a bulky look. You can take this concept a step further by playing with proportion in your clothing. Balance voluminous silhouettes with tapered styles when you choose an oversized top and a fitted bottom, or vice versa.
Finally, you can create distinctive shapes with accessories and shoes. Angular boots, thick scarves, and winter hats can all elevate your winter ensemble with unique silhouettes, colors, and textures that tie in to the rest of your outfit.
Making Short Hemlines Work
Many people move their skirts and dresses to the back of the closet when cold weather hits because they believe these aren’t appropriate for layering clothes for winter. At June Adel, we believe the opposite! There are so many options for layering winter clothes that feature shorter hemlines.
The best way to create cute layered outfits for winter using skirts and dresses is by using leggings and tights to add extra warmth. With tight-fitting options designed specifically for winter, you can enjoy wool-lined tights that add tons of heat without any added bulk! Other insulating materials, like thermal fabrics, also allow you to keep your silhouette slimmer for chic and fashionable comfort.
Play with Contrasting Fabrics

Moving beyond the basics of ensuring you still have shape in your winter clothing, it’s time to discuss adding visual interest to your outfit. You have the opportunity to use many more pieces than you normally do when layering clothes for winter, so use contrasting fabrics, textures, and colors to make your outfit interesting. We love the look of colorful knits beneath a suede trench coat or a velvet dress under a leather jacket.
Use Prints Galore
Layering winter clothes also gives you more opportunities to experiment with different prints. From tie-dye and animal print to mineral-washed styles and bow details, you should be mixing and matching neutral and wild pieces for statement-making style. Let a striped tee add contrast to a patched shacket or a houndstooth sweater shine against checked trousers.
Layering clothes for winter doesn’t have to be a chore! Make it fun when you allow yourself to experiment with the most unique pieces in your closet.
Find Your Fit Here!
Now that you know more about layering clothes for winter, you can play around with what you have in your closet to create unique combinations for the season. Share your outfits with our online community when you tag us on social media!