Our Uniform, Vol. 3: Cold Weather Accessories
With a collective interest in aesthetics, of course, some of the strongest bonds for us have come from sharing fashion we love. Our styles vary, without a doubt, as we each have our own histories, proportions, and even color mood preferences, but it’s not uncommon for us to gravitate toward the same pieces over time, and even wear them at the same time. Every coven has a uniform, after all. In this series, we discuss our forever pieces, and how we wear them. Think of it as a “How To Dress Like The Attic.”
Photo courtesy of Olivia Gündüz-Willemin.
“The beauty of accessories is in their infinite possibilities, from styles and colors to materials and utility.”
Winter looks differently all over the world. Snow, sleet, rain, or even the odd spring-like day with blinding sunlight and a light chill in the air — with Attic members on both sides of the ocean and equator, and with varying personal styles, our wardrobes may differ but the one thing we can agree on at this time of year is the importance of a suitable weather accessory. Hats, shoes, scarves, and more; we never leave the house without being properly equipped.
The beauty of accessories is in their infinite possibilities, from styles and colors to materials and utility. Wool berets, knit toques, vintage fur collars, boots of all materials and heel height. As dark or gloomy as the weather may force the rest of our outfit to be (whomst among us hasn't been relegated by a cold or flu to layers of leggings and sweaters at some point this season already?), a bright or interesting accessory will make all of the difference.
In this edition of The Attic’s Our Uniform series, a few members share their favorite cold weather accessories for chasing the winter blues away.
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Photo courtesy of Raquel Reyes.
Raquel Reyes
Cold weather is a fickle thing where I live, and this season specifically, has chosen to come and go as it’s pleased instead of arriving and settling down like a normal climate. December was particularly summer-like, with a bit of rain finally arriving in the last week of the year and cold temperatures (by which I mean low 60/50s — somewhere around 15 to my celsius people) in the last two weeks of January. February has been a daily struggle. As such, most of my winter dressing at this point has been relegated to accessories. Hats, scarves, socks, and boots have completed otherwise autumnal and spring-like outfits of light knits and dresses. I hate it, as someone who truly loves a good winter (and lives for her winter coats), but as someone who’s always gone for the extra, bright or maximal accessory, I’ve still found accessories a good way to dressing as someone who perhaps was in the same room as winter at some point in her life, be it a colorful beret or fluffy collar atop an otherwise weather nonspecific outfit.
However, my most worn accessory at this time of year is the forever classic ankle boot, a signature I’ve kept probably since the style came back to the fashion forefront at some point in the early 2010s, and which I fell for and clung to like it was going out of style. I could list each pair from my collection (as a sturdy investment, not many have fallen apart, leading to a vast array over the years) but we honestly don’t have the time, so I guess I’ll stick to a few keywords describing my favorites: metallic, oxblood velvet, suede chelsea, pointed toe... As someone with a more eclectic style, I find they add the right touch, whether dressing up a minimal outfit, adding a glam-rock flare to a casual outfit, or even toning down the sweetness of a more feminine outfit, and tend to be comfortable and sturdy enough for everything from morning coffee runs to post-dinner walks around town. At even the most tragic points of my winter wardrobe confusion, I will wear ankle boots with a sundress so long as the calendar still says anything before April.
Photo courtesy of Raquel Reyes.
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Photo courtesy of Olivia Gündüz-Willemin.
Olivia Gündüz-Willemin
I love winter. I was a February baby, born in the frozen Midwest, and so I always think of this time of year as my prime season. Dipping temperatures, chilling winds, and nice soft knits. I go for all winter clothing, but as weather has become fickle over the past few years, like Raquel, accessories have been my favorites. Scarves always – I always think back to that line in The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (circa 2012) about Darcy and how he “wears scarves in summer” because, same. Gloves. And now, finally, hats.
Hats and I have always had a complicated relationship. I have a big head. Quite literally. I’m stubborn as can be, but also, most hats and headbands are too small for me. I’ve consequently always rejected most head accessories because either they hurt or, as I convinced myself, they looked silly on me. Thankfully this fear has relaxed along with most sizing. Headbands became accessible to me at some point in the past two years. Instead of giving me headaches, they gave me joy. On less frigid days, you can find me with a red turban headband or a plush beaded deal of some kind. On the colder days, my hat silhouette of choice from childhood to now has returned: the beret. The beret is a favorite hat here at The Attic on Eighth, and it’s the only hat that hasn’t bitterly disappointed me over the years. This year especially, having found the perfect beret that’s both purely wool and toting a nice, big, fluffy pom pom at its center — it’s all I wear.
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Photos courtesy of Zoë G. Burnett.
Zoë G. Burnett
“Fur” is a dirty word of late, and for good reason. Many practices surrounding fur harvesting even to this day are a hole down which I’ve jumped a few times, and it is indeed heartbreaking. The boycott placed on fur in the fashion industry has gained a good deal of traction in the past few years, and though one can find responsibly acquired fur, the stigma surrounding it still turns some stomachs. The warring discourse as to whether fur or faux fur production is worse for the environment certainly turns mine. And yet, I still risk the wearing of my vintage red fox fur hood.
Unsurprisingly perhaps to regular Attic readers, I have a modest collection of vintage furs. Fox and mink mostly, sourced from estate sales and flea markets, those that I’ve bought seemed fresh out of grandmama’s cedar closet. Found at an antiques store, the fox in question has been dead for at least sixty years. With no maker’s label, I believe it’s homemade. Tying closely under my chin and is shaped to accommodate a bouffant, the style has reappeared in the past few winter seasons in faux fur copies. When the temperature hovers above or below freezing, there’s nothing like the warmth foxy provides. Plus, I love the Look.
Do I still worry about being verbally assaulted when wearing it? Yes, but that’s also the hazard of being a woman in public. It’s also a matter of reading the room when preparing an outfit. For example, last Sunday I attended a 1940s-themed brunch and had to pick up some flowers for the hostess on the way. Although I wouldn’t have worn my mink stole into Trader Joe’s, the florist at Roche Brothers didn’t bat an eye. I understand that fur has historically been a product rather than a by-product of animal husbandry, but the argument against wearing fur of any kind is lost on me. Rather than toss a perfectly serviceable hood into the dustbin of history (aka the landfill), I prefer to appreciate the animal by keeping it in wearable condition. That, and for me faux fur is the sartorial equivalent of tempeh bacon: a fraction of the taste with the texture all wrong.
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Photo courtesy of Corinne Elicona.
Corinne Elicona
In the Northeast of the United States winter is inhospitable and unforgiving. Even though I do my best to look well put together everyday, when the temperature drops to 5 degrees Fahrenheit it’s hard not to leave the house looking like that gif of Ron Swanson when he has the flu. My nose runs, my eyelashes freeze, and my hands develop dragon scales as I clench my cup of coffee, siphoning its heat to warm my soul.
(gif for reference.)
Many times I have lamented that they don’t make fashionable clothes for winter like they used to. In my naivety I have researched “winter fashion” in my favorite publications and I have come to learn that LA fashion trends rule the United States. Where are my velvet capes and cloaks at? Woolen maxi skirts? Layers upon layers upon layers of cashmere turtlenecks and cardigans? Over the years I have learned to craft my winter wardrobe so as to not sacrifice warmth over style, or vice versa.
Last year I was introduced to the wonder of woolen pants with satin linings. The wool on the outside keeps your legs warm, but the satin on the inside feels soft, not scratchy. This year I am completely converted to the “office slipper” trend. Why wear your bulky, snowy, and salty, winter boots all day at your desk as they drip and scuff up the floor? Quite simply, don’t! About a year ago, I was fortunate enough to come into possession of some Italian velvet house shoes that look like something straight out of a Venetian palazzo to, quote, “elevate my inner doge”. The slippers are narrow and pointy and look slimming on my foot even when I’m wearing bulky wool socks to keep my feet warm. Every morning I shed my knee high winter boots and slip them on. They’re comfortable, easy to maneuver in, and they look extremely elegant alongside anything I’m wearing that day.
Whatever your winter wear, stay warm, stay healthy, and in the wise words of Tan France “Put in a bit of effort”.
Photo courtesy of Corinne Elicona.
Raquel Reyes is Creative Director at The Attic on Eighth. She enjoys styling photo shoots, dramatic hair accessories, and old fashioned cocktails.
Olivia Gündüz-Willemin is Editor-in-Chief of The Attic on Eighth. She is dedicated to reading her way through the world and trying to stay as calm as possible.
Zoë G. Burnett is a writer, menswear stylist, and film enthusiast based in Boston, Massachusetts. A born and raised New England Yankee, she feels equally at home in the 7th arrondissement. She is currently editing her first novel. You can read her personal blog here.
Corinne Elicona is an Event Coordinator and Crematory Operator at the historic Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She curates Mount Auburn's "Death Positive" programming and can often be seen roaming the cemetery in search of fascinating epitaphs for her next historic walking tour.
In our latest look at The Attic’s personal wardrobes, we visit the favorite cold weather prints, patterns, and cozy textiles that break us free of the hum drum dark days of the season.