EEveryone knows that the most beautiful pieces of winter are those precious snow days. This time of year, when it feels like we’ve been wandering around like moles in near-constant darkness for as long as we can remember, we long for the brightness and that splendor that comes when snow falls. Frost’s disco ball sparkle is a counterpoint to chapped lips and a sob that won’t budge for three weeks.
We can’t make it snow, but we can create our own little storms. A pop of pure white is the best boost you can give your outfit right now. White in January is like rust and orange in October. Colors taken from nature to remind us of the best moments of the season. After all, fall also brings gray skies and muddy puddles, but we ignore them and instead rely on the brilliant colors of fallen leaves.
The same method works in the middle of winter. A burst of white somewhere on your clothes feels like a snowflake, or the first snowflake that nods off. This is a reminder to focus on the positive. To stay sane when life feels a bit boring, you need to celebrate the small victories.
Adding white to your winter look will instantly change the mood. We need to stay warm, so our clothes can be heavy as needed, but we don’t want the atmosphere to be too heavy, right? A white flash brightens the atmosphere.
The white ankle boots I bought a few years ago were one of those seemingly trivial purchases that turned out to be surprisingly useful. I was fascinated by their rink energy. (Actual ice skating is my idea of hell. I’m a guy who hangs on to the edge for dear life. But I’m very much here for it as a winter aesthetic.)
However, you can use small doses of egg whites as desired. If you want to channel Cameron Diaz in The Holiday, a white knit beanie is your friend. But socks are (often) the starting point for chic. White socks may look like a school uniform, but they add sharpness to the grammar of your look. That they are equally eccentric and chic is the tension that makes the costumes interesting. When worn with dark pants and loafers, the bright light that shines slightly down to the ankles transforms the energy of the moody outfit, like dazzling sunlight on an icy road. Let them look in without making excuses. Visible contrast is the point here.
Of course, it’s too cold to wear just a shirt or t-shirt, but a crisp white button-down shirt or simple white long-sleeved t-shirt is useful as a supporting role. Winter outfits tend to be boxy and blocky, but if you wear a shirt under a sweater and leave the tails loose, the fluttering hem will add a poetic touch.
But not everyone likes to wear shirts. I know a lot of people who think buttons and bits and bobs are too formal and prefer a sleek crew neck as a bottom layer. If this is you, all you have to do is wear a t-shirt under a sweater that reveals a bright white half-moon at the neckline. These small, almost coincidental details brighten your look like a slice of lemon or a pinch of salt adds flavor to a dish. The flash of white breathes air into your clothes, making them feel more refreshed, like a breath of cool, fresh air.
But just like when adding lemon or salt, use caution. White from head to toe takes a look into a whole different realm. It’s more cheerful and quirky. To maintain the mood, the perfect recipe is about 1 part white to 5 parts dark.
The days are short, the weather is downright rude and there are crumpled tissues in every coat pocket. But adding white can make it look (and even feel) a little sunnier. Why wait for a snow day when you can make it yourself?
Model: Orla at Milk. Styling Assistant: Charlotte Gornall. Hair and Makeup: Delilah Blakeney using Moroccanoil and Charlotte Tilbury. earrings, £160, and ear cuff£130, all Otiumberg. Coat, £339, whistle. Rugby shirt £89, The White Company. Jumper £45, John Lewis. Pants £99, shoes £179, both Arket.