Seven tips to look great this winter. And no, we aren’t talking about boots and leather jackets

The mercury has dropped and getting out of bed is harder than usual. You totally deserve that extra 30 minutes of snoozing the alarm and snuggling in the blanket. I can always skip a shower, you think. I can even throw on a sweatshirt over whatever I am wearing, pull on the jeans hanging there, and be ready for office.

Of course you can.

But the question is, why?

After 10 months of wearing kurtas and palazzos because everything else is unbearable, winter brings in a whole new world of fashion choices. Choices that are kind and considerate, letting you hide everything you want to.

Don’t let go of this.

Here are 7 tips to seize the season sartorially — going beyond the done-to-death leather jackets and boots.

Work wear: Sweatshirts are not work wear. No matter how comfortable you find them. There is a universe of more grown-up clothing out there. But this can get tricky. You felt cold during the morning commute, but the afternoon has turned warm. Also, the office AC often has a mind of its own.

So, your best bet is to layer up: V-necked sweaters over collared shirts, jackets from fun to formal, duster coats if you like drama — all removable if you start feeling hot. If you want individual layers to speak up, wear peplums or ruffled tops, which will be noticeable under your coat/jacket/cardigan.

Life beyond leather jackets: Of course leather jackets are cool. Of course leather jackets are hot. But in all probability, you are neither herding cattle on horseback, nor vrooming away into the sunset on a motorbike. The in thing this season is leather dresses — from itsy-bitsy numbers to full-length gowns, there is nothing leather can’t do. Thing to keep in mind: on leather, it is okay to splurge. The rexine thing Sarojini Nagar sells is for seat covers on state transport buses, not your beautiful self.

Demand more from your puffer jackets: When it gets really chilly, nothing is as cosy as a puffer jacket. The only problem — they make you look like a sleeping bag. But a trip to the nearest mall will tell you that this season, puffers have gone floral. If your eternal summer never fades, these puffers are the thing to go for: they’ll channel your biker-girl-meets-chintz-loving-grandma soul perfectly.

Don’t sweat over skirts: Of course, winter doesn’t mean you throw out your summer wardrobe. Bring out those colourful cotton skirts and pair them with chic sweaters. Stores this season are full of cashmere sweaters in all sorts of lovely colours. Pick a monochrome sweater, pair it with a bright printed skirt and throw a colourful shrug around. In a world of black, dark blues and greys, be yours — and everyone else’s — rainbow.

Stockings to boot: Boots are awesome! To make you look and feel instantly sexier, there is nothing like a pair of loong boots. Wear them with skirts with interesting fringes, for both skirt and boot to stand out.

But there is more for your feet — embrace stockings. Knitted, ribbed, printed, lacy, frilled, there is endless variety to choose from. Wear them with thigh-length turtle necks or long lose sweaters, to add just the right pop of colour to your outfits.

Corduroys catch on: To keep things colourful and warm, corduroys, tweeds and plaids are the things to go for. Corduroys pants are soft and sweet, and come in a range of colours denim can never think of. Tweed skirts with turtleneck blouses will make you look like you live in pre-World War England, but they’ll also make you look good.

Throw-ons and wrap-arounds: Monkey caps have been reduced to a Bong stereotype in India, but this season, Calvin Klein, Gucci and Preen have all featured them — they just call them balaclavas. The other alternative is beanies.

But before you buy those cat-eared or pom-pomed beanie, ask yourself — are you a teenaged girl? If you are not, please don’t wear them.

Mufflers and stoles too come with a word of caution. You are not Arvind Kejriwal — don’t wear that muffler. Explore the gorgeous world of Kashmiri embroidery, with stoles with aari, sozni, or tilla work on them. Buy a plain muffler and get your darzi to embroider them.

Also, while throwing on a scarf/shawl/stole, remember you are not Nearly Headless Nick, and the garment is not mean to hold your neck in place. Drape, don’t wrap.

For the braver and the richer, animal prints are big this season. So are metallic jackets, jumbo sequins, and fabrics like vinyl, latex and plastic.

Let not winter clothes be your chrysalis — make them your plume. Ditch that snooze button. Rise, shine, and bloom.

Also read: Winter is here: Five food reasons to celebrate the season!