As temperatures drop and rain drizzles, we retreat from leisurely walks through campus and instead briskly dash to class in zipped coats and flipped hoods. The rush for warm, dry shelter, combined with less daylight, all too often robs us of comfortable time together. This becomes a temporary loss of personal spark that is tangible in our energy and visible in our style.
Though the season dampens our moods, hair and sidewalks, we retain autonomy over our individual brightness. Battling winter’s gloom doesn’t mean sacrificing joy in our style and connection to ourselves — nor does it require excessive spending or consumption from never-worn clothing stores.
“I didn't know how to still express myself with winter clothing, but literally the definition of what it means to be creative is to come up with new ideas and solutions,” said Ruby Ford-Dunker, fashion, beauty and lifestyle journalist. “I think winter fashion is actually very creative because you have to figure out new ways on how to stay warm but also stylish and practical without losing yourself.”
Winter allows for expressive exploration that other seasons can’t afford. From bright colors to loud patterning to practical layering, many items of clothing we already own or that are available at local secondhand markets lend to continued self-expression and connection with peers through style.
Jade Weston, a Bellingham-based secondhand clothing sourcer, mender and seller, enjoys how shopping and dressing shift with the seasons. She finds that sourcing sweaters, jackets and easy-to-layer items is paramount in winter. By layering and rewearing pieces she already owns, Weston balances warmth with her fun sense of style.
“Something that I really love is wearing pants under a skirt or dress,” Weston said. “I love wide linen pants because they're so comfortable, and oftentimes when they're sticking out under a longer skirt or dress, they just kind of look like another skirt or dress, which I think is a fun feature of layering in that way.”
Students at Western are also committed to bright colors and patterning in wintertime self-expression. Styles that are less rigid and more flowing offer more opportunities to explore color, pattern and texture in accessories while still staying warm in sub-40-degree weather.
“I feel like my outfits are changing all the time — I don't know if I have one style,” WWU second-year Anna Amman said. “I do like to wear a lot more colors, and I do like bright patterns because I feel like a lot of my coats and jeans are so neutral that you have to have the pop of color with gloves.”
When winter calls for more layers and warmer items of clothing, responding with personalized items and rewearing them throughout the season provides a sense of both comfort and expression — and also contributes to less unnecessary consumption and spending. WWU second-year Jillian Slonecker wears the same pair of printed wool mittens every day, keeping both her fingers and personal style from freezing in the cold air.
Though winter requires additional or new clothing pieces, overconsumption doesn’t have to be the name of the self-expression game. Re-wearing the same items or buying secondhand is key in practicing sustainability and frugality as a college student. There are many places to find secondhand and inexpensive winter clothing, such as shopping at local thrift stores or vintage clothing sales like the Church of Vintage markets, coming up Feb. 8, March 8, April 5, and May 10.
“There are more than enough coats in existence right now that there's probably very little need for that many more coats to be created and bought,” Weston said. “There's such a broad selection in secondhand (style) that I feel like there's something for everyone.”
Incorporating your experience and style into expression enhances the sense of self that many of us lose understanding of or energy for in darkness and cold. According to Ford-Dunker, embracing personal style is a “form of art.”
“I love style because it's the first thing that communicates anything about you before you even say a word,” she said. “Even if you're just going to class or if you're just going to work, it's adding a piece of yourself. You're actually adding yourself into the conversation wherever you may be.”
In finding winter clothing pieces that authentically, sustainably and joyfully represent style, practicality remains essential — staying warm takes the reign over what may be the more stylish option. However, according to Slonecker, a piece of yourself can still be added through accessories or warmer pieces like printed hats, colorful scarves and bright gloves.
“Get warm first, and then add something really weird on top of it – something that makes you happy to put on,” Slonecker said. “Everyone can see it on the outside of all your layers, because then that's what they're looking at, even if you're bundled up like Cartman.”
Rosalie Johnson (she/her) is an opinions reporter. She is a second-year journalism major on the news/editorial track and is excited for her second quarter writing for The Front. Outside of school, Rosalie can be found training for KUGS radio, visiting Bellingham’s local trails and beaches, and devouring late-night Pel’meni. You can reach her at rosaliejohnson.thefront@gmail.com.
