Your winter outfit essentials are unique to your wardrobe. We usually invest a bit more money into them than any of our other clothes, we store them away when the weather warms up a bit, and we whip them back out once the winter chill returns. This cycle means we hold on to a lot of our winter essentials year on year, even until we can’t remember the last time we bought a winter coat!
With the current cost of living crisis, as well as sustainability rightly making its way into mainstream conversations, a capsule-style wardrobe made up of timeless pieces is the route more and more of us want to go down when it comes to our fashion. That said, we wanted to explore exactly how long we hold onto our winter pieces, and what we buy to ensure our pieces remain timeless and can keep coming back to keep us warm and stylish year on year.
We surveyed 1,280 women to find out the ultimate winter garment by revealing the most common colour, style, material, and cost. This has helped us deduct what you need to be investing in to get a capsule winter wardrobe that will last for years to come, no matter the trend.
We also revealed what UK city invests the most in their winter wardrobe and what to look for in the ultimate winter garment, helping you to save money!
How often do we buy a winter wardrobe?
With additional material, heavier fabric, and waterproof materials, our winter wardrobes can be sometimes on the pricier side when compared to our everyday garments. But, with our coats, scarves, boots and jumpers serving a purpose other than making us look stylish, they’re always a great piece to invest in. But how long are we keeping our new winter garments around for?
Turns out, Brits are holding onto their winter coats the longest, purchasing a new one every 26 months. On the other hand, we’re switching up our knitter jumpers and winter trousers the most often, purchasing a new one every 14-16 months.
What city invests the most on its winter wardrobe?
Our capital city was found to invest the most money on its winter wardrobe, spending a collective £365.77 on a winter coat, jumper, skirt, trousers, bag and boots. Plymouth on the other hand was found to invest the least, spending £274.49 on their winter wardrobe.
Spending a lot on your winter wardrobe is always justified as your investing in pieces that are built to last and keep you warm. That said, they also need to outlive the trends and ensure they’re ticking all the boxes each year you dig them out the wardrobe.
So for the ultimate winter wardrobe shopping guide – read on!
The Ultimate Winter Coat
According to our study, the ultimate, most common winter coat is a black, puffer style, with an average spend price of £71. Not only are puffer-style coats a timeless and practical trend for winter, but black goes with everything.
The most opted-for material was revealed to be wool. A common clothing material for that time of year thanks to its insulating properties, a woolen puffer jacket would make for the ultimate winter coat that would be both stylish and toasty warm.
A winter coat is not only a staple but a great investment as it’s something that, when given the proper care, can last. That’s why it’s so important to invest in quality as well as style.
The Ultimate Winter Garments
As fun as summer dresses and shorts can be, nothing beats layering, wrapping up, and feeling snuggly in your favourite jumper. When it comes to putting together an outfit for winter, we usually rely on a good pair of trousers or a skirt and, of course, a good knitted jumper.
According to our study, the most popular winter jumper is the oversized black one with a round neck, with people spending an average of £28. Oversized is not only a style that’s not going anywhere any time soon but is also very practical when it comes to layering and keeping you nice and warm.
For those winter trousers that’ll get you through the chilliest commutes and walking around the shops, our study shows you’re best getting a black pair of denim jeans. Jeans go with anything and with the proper care can end up lasting you up to three years. Plus, they’re versatile so can come in handy even when winter’s over.
If you’re looking for a classic winter skirt, our results show you should opt for a a black, cotton, a line midi skirt to complete your winter look. This is a great way to switch it up if you’re getting bored of trousers, whilst keeping toasty at the same time.
The Ultimate Winter Accessories
The perfect winter outfit is not complete without the necessary add-ons to increase your layers and help you brace the chilly winds this winter, and all the winters yet to come.
Winter boots, for example, are essential for keeping your toes nice and warm, helping you cross those icy patches and, of course, adding the perfect finishing touch to your outfit. According to our study, the perfect and most popular winter boots are black ankle boots, with an average spend of £57.
Ankle boots are a classic style that can be worn with skirts, trousers, and dresses. They can also be dressed up or dressed down, making them the perfect winter boot for everything from winter walks to dinner dates. And, of course, black will always go with any outfit!
The same goes for your winter bag as our study reveals the most sought colour is black. With unpredictable weather, our winter bags need to not be able weatherproof, but big enough to store umbrellas, hats, gloves, and scarves.
A scarf is a quintessential winter accessory, and our study revealed that over a third of people don’t go for any particular colour, but 13% said they opt for a black scarf that would match the rest of our ultimate winter outfit.
The Ultimate Winter Party Dress
As well as wrapping up warm, the winter months also mean dressing up for the most wonderful time of the year. Whether that’s walking around Christmas markets or going Christmas shopping with your family, your wardrobe must accommodate to the festivities, as well as the wintry weather.
Another aspect of Christmas is the abundance of celebrations and Christmas parties which, of course, call for the perfect dress.
Our study revealed that the optimum winter party dress is a black, long sleeve, cotton midi dress, with people spending an average £53 on it. Black is always the best colour to go for when you want your investment piece to be versatile and last across time and trends. Long-sleeved is a great way to dress for a party and for the colder weather at the same time, and cotton is flowy, layerable, and won’t feel restrictive as the drinks flow and you tuck into some tasty Christmas food.
Summary
With the pinch of cost of living feeling tighter, we’re adjusting our shopping habits by investing in quality, staple pieces that will last not only this winter and next year’s, but throughout all the style trends. Your winter wardrobe provides two purposes: to keep you warm and to keep you stylish. If you’re looking to build your winter capsule wardrobe, be sure to check out our range of coats, jumpers, and boots.