Staying comfortable yet fashionable this winter

When buried under a pile of winter clothes it can be hard to move, let alone coordinate a stylish outfit. But don’t despair, the weather outside may be frightful, but with some help from a few of D.C.’s boutiques, your holiday wardrobe can be downright delightful. 

Interestingly, holiday fashion is thought to have ancient roots — the biblical tradition of hanging apples on evergreen trees gave birth to the classic holiday colors of dark green and vibrant red. 

Nowadays, winter style has surpassed the classic red cashmere sweater. Instead, the season has inspired a slew of fashion choices. 

To help navigate the wooly world of winter wear, we sought advice from employees of two of Washington D.C.’s best boutiques: Urban Chic in Georgetown (1626 Wisconsin Ave. NW) and Current Boutique (1809 14th St. NW), in D.C.’s U Street neighborhood.

Urban Chic is an upscale boutique known for its gorgeous cocktail dresses and impressive accessories, while Current Boutique offers customers stylish options, great prices and one-of-a-kind pieces. They also specialize in modern consignment. One of the store’s current consignment pieces is a blue bodycon Tibi dress with festive tribal embroidery on the sleeves — perfect for a holiday party.

As the old adage goes, “beauty takes pain,” but sometimes that winter wind becomes too much, comfort wins out and fashion flies out the window as fast as you can say pink fleece earmuffs. 

To defend against this trend, Carmen Lopez, the owner of Current Boutique advises, her customers to invest in a high-quality coat that will keep them warm during the cold months. And for those romantic evenings she offers this great tip on how to stay warm without sacrificing style: “It’s cold outside, but there are ways to show your figure. Get attention by wearing a fitted sweater dress with tights.”

With an answer all their own, the employees at Urban Chic hold that “layering is key,” so throw on blouses, blazers and scarves before you hit those chilly streets.

After the immediate concern about body temperature is taken care of, a D.C. fashionista is free to focus on more detailed style tricks and keeping up on the latest winter trends. 

The folks at Urban Chic have a window on all the Georgetown fashion as visitors and residents alike step into the store or walk by.

“We’re seeing a lot of our favorite fall trends revamped for the holidays — leather detailing, metallics, and touches of sparkle here and there,” said owner Lindsay Buscher.

Current Boutique’s Carmen Lopez agrees, but suggests a little something extra. She says that statement necklaces are a must. 

“This holiday season metallics are a big hit. It’s time to have fun, break out the sequins and shine all night long.”  

Of course, our fashion advisers have some simple tips for the gentlemen, too, suggesting they spice up their holiday wardrobe by adding pops of color.

“Black, brown, navy and gray are all great fall/winter colors, but during the holidays, be fearless and add burgundy, red, purple and green in your ties, pocket squares and socks,” says Lopez.

 Urban Chic’s Buscher suggests that men keep their style simple and refined this holiday season. 

“A nice scarf can change an entire look, and dark, dark denim will make any guy, no matter how casual, look a bit spiffier,” said Buscher.

With such easy tips and convenient local stops, there is simply no excuse to let winter weigh you down. Take advantage of the fashion choices that Washington, D.C., has to offer and hit the streets in holiday style.