How To Wear Color This Winter

How to wear a colorful caftan in the winter months

At first I was going to apologize for bringing you seasonally inappropriate content, but then I thought, “F*ck it, I live in California now—we don’t have real winter, and I won’t be ashamed of it!”

When I lived in New York, I tended to shy away from bright color in the winter, favoring a deeper color palette (blacks, grays, browns). But in my heart, a color-lover was still there, buried under a few inches of NYC slushy snow. Now that I’m back on the West Coast, I’m opening up my winter wardrobe to include the full spectrum of the rainbow.

My tips for rocking a brighter color palette during cooler seasons. Sidenote: I fully realize that I am breaking some of the tips in these photos. It’s just not that cold out here!

Make sure the style of your garment isn’t too summery. Longer hemlines, long sleeves and higher necklines always feel more winter appropriate. Shy away from traditional summer silhouettes: apron, babydoll, off-the-shoulder, etc.
Add neutral luxe accessories. Keep your summer bright bags and jewelry in the closet. Look for bags in a sturdy material like velvet, beading, or leather. Stash your straw, raffia, and tasseled totes for now.
Layers are your friend! When the temp drops, add tights and turtlenecks underneath, and sweaters and jackets on top. Keep your layer in the same color family, or stick to neutrals.

Now, if I were still in New York, I’d add a few more elements: a black turtleneck from Uniqlo or Everlane, thick black tights, ankle boots, and a cozy coat.

How to wear a colorful caftan in the winter months