I hate being cold, and I’ll be honest that I’m not all that interested in winter. After a long personal battle, I have decided to embrace winter. We moved to a place that regularly records some of the highest snowfalls and lowest temperatures in the continental United States. For example, on Thanksgiving, we were hit with a grand whopping 22 inches of snow. It was crazy in a way that I hadn’t yet experienced. But that’s where we live! I’m coming around in winter, mostly thanks to a few items that make the cold weather much more bearable.

SmartWool Knit Hat

I mean, you could have any hat, but this hat is the warmest, best hat I’ve ever used. It stays put, even when I’m being active, looks cute, and is cozy. I can’t speak highly enough about it. It’s not a cheap winter hat, but it’s worth the investment.

Sorel Snow Boots

You don’t live in the midwest if you don’t have a pair of lined snowboots. I have had Sorels in the past and they’re wonderful. I have a different pair of winter boots now, but if you’re going to buy one brand, you can’t beat the reliability and warmth of a good pair from Sorel.

Down or Down-Alternative Duffle Coat

It’s big and it feels like a hug. A good coat is going to run over $100 for high quality down or down-alternatives but will last years. My current it’s-cold-as-balls coat is a Tommy Hilfiger duffel coat that I bought 4 years ago. It’s still hanging in there.

Fleece-Lined Tights

This is the unexpected one, I know. I wear a lot of skirts and dresses to work even in winter. These tights are warm. Even on below-zero days, I haven’t felt the cold as these block the wind and chill almost completely! They are also thin enough to wear as a base layer underpants or other clothes that are a little too tight for my typical base layers.

Merino Wool Socks

Socks. Not the sexiest item, just like the tights, but they need to be a big part of any winter outfit. I love Smartwool myself, but any kind of merino wool works. Wool stays warm, even when it’s wet, unlike cotton. But the wool is itchy! Not ultra-soft merino wool. Splurge on good socks. It’s worth it.

Stay warm, ladies!