It is getting colder in the Northern hemisphere, and to me, wearing Lolita fashion in the colder weather is much easier than in the heat! In a place like mine with four distinct weather seasons, I embrace the Fall, Winter, and Spring with open arms (I have never been a fan of the heat - sweating is no fun in Lolita fashion). Although we have multiple layers on even in the most basic of outfits, there are a couple of problem spots for Lolitas that open us up to the cold breezes and wet weather.
The blog carnival this week was about staying warm in the Fall specifically, but I thought my tips were good for any type of cold you may be dealing with! As a person who lives in an area where we get heavy snow in the winters, I do a lot of workarounds to make my Lolita fashion outfits work in the cold weather.
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The blog carnival this week was about staying warm in the Fall specifically, but I thought my tips were good for any type of cold you may be dealing with! As a person who lives in an area where we get heavy snow in the winters, I do a lot of workarounds to make my Lolita fashion outfits work in the cold weather.
There are several items you want to break out when you have to deal with cold weather that can help with a Lolita fashion outfit:
- Layers, layers, layers. Wear an extra long sleeved cotton shirt under your blouse. Wear an extra pair of shorts under your bloomers. Wear an extra tank under your long sleeved shirt under your blouse. Depending on how cold it is, wearing layers traverses through all fashion styles - so do not get caught in just a blouse with nothing underneath if it is cold out - you will be freezing!
- Wear an extra pair of ankle socks over or under your decorate socks or tights. This might sound silly in practice, but wearing this extra layer will help keep your toes warm, especially if you opt for a pair that are wool or made of a heavy, thick material. If your ankles are showing based on the shoes you are wearing, you will have to opt for socks that are "crew cut" - they stop just before your ankle. That way they will not show. Sometimes the socks will make it too bulky to wear your shoes, so even if you can just get an extra basic cotton sock in there, it will help immensely.
- Wear a pair of long bloomers in a thick material. Fleece bloomers are amazing in the winter, and even if you do not like to wear bloomers, you might want to just have them on during the colder months. They really help with the sudden breezes under your skirt and keep your bottom and thighs warm. This is especially helpful if you want to wear knee socks instead of tights. Which leads me to my next point ...
- If you really want to wear knee socks, wear tights or fleece lined leggings underneath them. Go for a pair of neutral colored tights, like black, white, gray, or tan if you do not want them detracting from your outfit. The fleeced lined leggings will keep you cozy warm if you are dealing with extreme cold.
- Go for the boots instead of the shoes. You can fit more warm materials around your legs in boots, and if you really want to wear the shoes, bring them with you in a separate bag so you can change into them when you get to your destination. This is a thing people in my area do all the time because we get heavy snowfall, and you are just asking for trouble to walk through the snow in tea parties.
- When purchasing a coat, opt for the coat made in a heavy wool for the warmest experience. Especially in Lolita fashion, there are a lot of adorable coats just made in a cotton blend - avoid these coats if you live in a very cold area!
- Add a layer of warm material, such as wool, down, or fur, to the inside of your coat. If you do not want to make the addition permanent, you could always wear a vest of the material underneath your coat to help keep you warm, but adding it permanently will make your coat a warm haven for your body.
- Add those winter accessories! Hats, gloves, and scarves go with any Lolita fashion outfit, so pick up a couple of matching sets from your local retail store or thrift shop in basic colors to go with your outfits. If you feel it needs an extra lift to work with your outfit, you can add your bows to the outside of your hat or scarf, and DIY some cute bows onto your gloves. Either way, cold weather accessories are always in style when you are trying to stay warm!
- Opt for the Lolita fashion dresses, skirts, and tops made in heavy materials. Velveteen, wool, and heavy cotton are released from brands every fall/winter season, so if you can get your hands on one, that is always warmer than your breezy chiffon pieces from the summer!
I actively use all these tips for myself when dealing with colder weather, and the nice part is, a lot of it is just dressing appropriately for the type of cold you are dealing with. It is never stylish to be freezing for the sake of fashion - make sure your comfort is first!
It is essentially a circle of Lolita bloggers coming together to write about a similar topic to help them come up with cute post ideas, share each other's opinions and ideas, and share each other's work. To be involved, you must be an active, seasoned Lolita blogger - you can read more about the requirements in the group info at the Facebook group. Be sure to follow all the requirements to submit an application, and you can request to join. The moderators of the group include Caro from FYeahLolita, Victoria from Parfait Doll, and myself. Feel free to contact any of us about how to get involved, or with your application.