Winter Outfits for Women: Ideas for Everyday, Office and Elegant Looks

A winter outfit for women is built from four pieces: a winter jacket or coat, a knitted layer for warmth, trousers or a skirt with opaque tights, and boots. Colours, fabrics and shoes decide whether the look feels elegant, office-ready or relaxed.

In winter, getting dressed is no longer about a light jacket over a top, but about how coat, jumper, trousers and boots come together as one outfit. Here you will find how to build a winter outfit and how it looks when elegant, at the office, at the weekend, with a skirt or dress and over 50.

How do I put together a winter outfit for women?

You build a winter outfit from the outside in. The jacket is what people see first outdoors, underneath comes the knitted layer, then trousers or a skirt and finally the shoes. When these four pieces match in colour and length, you get a complete outfit rather than separate layers.

• Winter jacket or coat: sets the length and the base colour. A short jacket ends at the hip, a long coat reaches below the knee. You will find a selection among our winter jackets for women.
• Knitwear as a warm layer: a jumper, a roll neck or a cardigan under the jacket. Styles are available among our knitted jumpers.
• Trousers or skirt: tailored trousers, jeans or wide-leg trousers, or a skirt or dress with opaque tights.
• Boots: ankle boots with trousers, knee-high boots with skirts and dresses.

One simple rule helps when putting it together: three pieces stay calm, one piece may bring colour or pattern.

Which winter jacket goes with which outfit?

The length of the jacket decides what looks right underneath.

Short jackets and blousons end at the hip and leave trousers or skirt visible. They go with wide-leg trousers, jeans and midi skirts because there is enough fabric below. Oversized styles in bouclé or teddy fabric look soft and relaxed.

Long coats create one continuous line. Underneath, straight or wide-leg trousers that peek out at the bottom work well, or a midi skirt that ends at roughly the same height as the coat.

Checked jackets and shackets are the answer for milder winter days or as a layer over a chunky jumper. The check sets the accent, the rest of the outfit stays plain. You will find the styles in our checked fashion.

Elegant winter outfits for women: what does a smart winter look look like?

A winter outfit looks elegant through few colours and calm fabrics. Instead of many eye-catching pieces, the look sticks to one colour family, for example cream, camel and brown or black and grey.

• Fine-knit jumper and tailored trousers: a smooth jumper in cream or brown with wide, flowing trousers.
• A long coat on top: a coat that reaches below the knee rounds off the outfit and looks calmer than a short jacket.
• Simple shoes: smooth ankle boots or heeled shoes look more elegant than a chunky lug sole.
• One accent: a scarf, a bag or gold or silver jewellery is enough.

You will find wide, flowing styles among our trousers.

Winter outfit for the office: what do I wear to work in winter?

At the office you move between the cold street and a heated room. That is why a layered outfit works: you take off the jacket and put the cardigan on or off depending on the room temperature.

• Wide-leg trousers, top and cardigan: the top or long-sleeve shirt stays visible in the office, the cardigan goes on when it gets cooler. Styles are available among our cardigans.
• Jumper over a blouse: the collar and cuffs of the blouse peek out. It looks neat and stays comfortable.
• Tailored trousers with ankle boots: straight or wide-leg trousers fall over the shaft, so the look also works in a meeting. You will find a selection among our wide-leg trousers.

Muted colours such as navy, grey, camel and cream work well for the office because they can be swapped with one another.

Relaxed winter outfit for leisure and weekends

At the weekend your outfit can be more comfortable without looking untidy. The base is jeans or wide-leg trousers, an oversized jumper or a chunky cardigan and boots with a lug sole.

Oversized cardigan and jeans. A chunky zip cardigan replaces the jacket on milder days and adds a warm layer over a top.

Boots with a chunky sole. They give a relaxed outfit a sturdy finish. You will find styles among our boots. Which trousers go with which boots is explained in the guide How to style women’s boots.

Winter outfit with a skirt or dress: how do I wear it with tights?

You do not need to put skirts and dresses away in winter. With opaque tights, boots and a knitted layer they become a winter outfit.

• Midi skirt with knee-high boots: if the skirt ends below the knee, the boot shaft disappears underneath and the line stays closed. You will find skirts among our skirts and matching styles among our knee-high boots.
• Short skirt with a chunky jumper or checked jacket: the volume sits on top, while tights and boots give a calm finish below.
• Knitted dress with a belt: a knitted dress is already half a winter outfit. Which shoes and jackets go with it is shown in the guide How to style a knitted dress.
• Culottes skirt: combines the freedom of movement of trousers with the look of a skirt. More on this in the guide Culottes skirt in winter.

With tights, a shade that matches the boots or skirt looks calmer than a contrast: black tights with black boots, dark brown with brown.

What colours do you wear in winter?

Winter colours are usually richer and darker than in summer. This season you will often see brown, burgundy, camel, cream and grey, with black as a base colour.

• Tone on tone: cream, beige and camel in one outfit look light and still wintry.
• Dark base, one colour accent: with black or brown, a jacket or jumper in burgundy, pink or red.
• Patterns sparingly: check, stripes or leopard print on one piece, the other pieces plain.

Winter outfits for women over 50: which combinations work?

From 50 onwards, nothing changes in how a winter outfit is built, but the emphasis often does: clear cuts, calm colours and lengths that suit everyday life.

• Coat and trousers in one colour family: camel over cream or grey over black looks cohesive.
• Fine knit or chunky knit: fine knit looks calmer and suits the office, chunky knit stays for leisure time.
• One piece with character: a coloured scarf, a checked jacket or a textured jumper makes the outfit personal.
• Ankle boots with a flat or mid heel: go with tailored trousers and midi skirts alike.

Three calm base colours are enough for many combinations.

Shop the look: winter jackets for women and knitted jumpers.

Frequently asked questions

What should a woman wear in winter?

A winter outfit consists of a winter jacket or coat, a knitted piece, trousers or a skirt with opaque tights, and boots.

How do I put together an elegant winter outfit?

With few colours and smooth fabrics: a fine-knit jumper, wide tailored trousers, a long coat and simple ankle boots. One accent such as a scarf or jewellery is enough.

What do I wear to the office in winter?

A layered outfit: wide tailored trousers, a top or blouse and a cardigan you can take off indoors. Ankle boots and muted colours go well with it.

Can you wear a skirt or dress in winter?

Yes, with opaque tights, boots and a jumper or cardigan, a skirt or dress becomes winter-ready. Midi skirts go well with knee-high boots.

Which colours go together in winter?

Brown, camel and cream combine easily with each other, as do black, grey and burgundy. Patterns such as check look calm when they stay on a single piece.

What should I wear in winter at 50?

Clear cuts and calm colours: a coat over wide trousers and a jumper in one colour family, plus one piece with colour or texture as an accent.