As a southern born-and-raised girl, my transition to Chicago has been…. educational. I’m used to throwing on a light jacket until January, and then pulling out a cute wool coat to wear every few days when the temps dropped below 50. Once March hit, we could pretty much guarantee that our cold days were over.

Lets just say the upper Midwest is very different! I needed to create the warmest winter wardrobe, fast.

This year was unseasonably warm through the fall, thank goodness! But once Christmas rolled around we had a freezing dose of reality. Snow has been on the ground since New Year’s Eve, and temperatures regularly dip to near-zero. I quickly learned that my southern winter outfits wouldn’t pass the Chicago test!

My top trick for staying warm is to layer tank tops or long-sleeved t-shirts under all my sweaters. I also have found that jeans keep my legs warmer than thin leggings, unless they are fleece-lined or Spanx. Big cozy sweaters are impossible for me to pass up now! The thicker the better.

Another lesson I’ve learned is to wear warm, but thin jackets. Cardigans, shirt jackets, and fleece hoodies are great for wearing in the car on short errands. There is no need for a big puffer coat when I’m going from a heated car to a heated store! I found myself sweating more than once when we first moved here because I didn’t know how warm the buildings would be. 😀

A good pair of lace-up boots with deep treads (no ice falls, thank you very much), chunky knit beanies, and cushioned socks round out my winter must-haves. Surprisingly, gloves and scarves are not something I’ve needed very often. Unless we are planning to walk around outside for an extended period of time, they are more of a hassle than a help.

My warm winter wardrobe has evolved quite well this season! Maybe next year I’ll be able to walk past a cozy sweater without buying it immediately. 😉