As the seasons change from summer to freezing cold, our wardrobes change with them. Unfortunately, these layers are bulky and can look unfashionable, but there are some ways people have found to combat that.
One option is a favorite of middle school highlighter boys, which is just not minding the weather. Certain people retain body heat better and can be in colder temperatures for longer periods of time. This does very often result in getting sick however, or even developing an allergic reaction.
Dylan Silva is a senior at Horizon this year and says he, “used to care a lot less, when I was younger, about how cold it was, but when I was a freshman I developed cold urticaria.” He explained that cold urticaria is an allergy to the cold, making it dangerous for him to go outside without proper clothes.
Layering is the best advice for cold weather, but that’s a bit vague isn’t it? When layering, the first layer should be thin, either a thin long-sleeve or a thin t-shirt. This is to ensure that you don’t accidentally overheat, as well as in colder climates like the mountains, this is to absorb sweat. Then you go onto a mid-layer, this is the layer that will actually keep you warm. Top picks are sweaters, thick shirts, or hoodies. Although Instagram and TikTok’s general consensus is that the best mid-layers are anything made of non-synthetic materials. Lastly the top-layer is to break the wind, which is your coat. Our weather isn’t often as perilous so this can be omitted, but if you are walking to school or take time outside then this is important. The best coats are insulating on the inside and are the plastic-y material.
Ace Miller, a junior at Horizon says he, “put[s] away a lot of [his] short sleeves and shorts and long pants… and [he] layer[s] long sleeves and jackets,” for his winter outfits. He has a more ‘grungey’ style, wearing a lot of darker colors, especially during the winter.
Makeup can make or break a look, so how does the cold weather affect makeup? According to Grim Hinojosa, a senior at Horizon, their makeup has been “more long lasting… because in the summer I feel like it sweats off even when I do put extra stuff on.” Which might be why there are trends to darker makeup (along with the shorter days) on social media. Despite the idea that the sun isn’t an issue during the winter, everyone should be wearing sunscreen. Sun gives off UV rays no matter how hot it is outside and the snow can reflect a lot of it back onto a person.
Moisturizer and lotion are both very important. Many girls like Isabel Deck, a sophomore at Horizon, switch to more moisturizing bases, but men like Silva don’t often wear moisturizer and too many don’t even wear lotion. Keeping your face and hands properly hydrated is crucial during the dry winter air, so buying a cheap moisturizer and lotion are important.
Puffer jackets seem to be all over the place on Instagram and TikTok, but are not as prevalent in the school’s hallways. Often students don’t wear top-layers at all, mostly hoodies as mid-layers or light jackets. Hoodies specifically are mostly worn, but upper-classmen state that they’ve grown past that from their earlier high school years, growing their style more. A student with a very recognizable style is Deck. She likes wearing dresses and skirts, recommending tan fleece tights. Deck states she, “like[s] to get interesting graphic tees or sweatshirts since [she] can’t wear tank tops,” which is another great way to add color and interest to sometimes boring winter clothes.
There are a number of ways you can adapt your own fashion for the cold weather instead of relying on miss-matching jackets or forever hoodies. Many students champion thrift stores for their wide variety of styles. Social media is always pumped full of low-budget ideas or even quick buys.
