The year-end holidays are fast approaching, and you know what that means – it is officially the festive season! While the most important thing about planning a winter escapade would be deciding the best location to have it, a close second would be to wear the perfect winter outfit on your holiday. Truly, wearing the right winter outfit is not just about styling and covering oneself from top to bottom in multiple layers of clothing- it is about wearing the right fabrics and materials that will keep you warm and comfortable during the harsh cold weather.
If you are feeling slightly overwhelmed with all the winter attire choices out there, have no fear! Here is a comprehensive guide breaking down the fabrics you should wear in order to be comfortable and stylish during your vacation. Read on to find out what type of fabric would suit your winter apparel needs.
- Wool
When it comes to winter wear, we love donning natural fabrics such as wool, as it is great for cold weather due to its great insulating properties that can definitely keep you warm without having to pile on layers upon layers. For centuries, wool has been an integral insulator that helped people keep warm in cold and harsh climates. From mohair to flannel and corduroy to tweed, wool has some of the most stylish fabrics around, hence why wool is usually the go-to winter fabric to wear.
Sheep’s wool fibers are composed of protein molecules called keratin, which makes it extremely effective at trapping air and moisture to help keep you toasty in the winter-in fact, it can collect up to forty percent of its weight in moisture and still remain dry which can help to regulate your body temperature and keep you comfortable. It is both the wool’s warmth and ability to perform while wet that makes it one of the best cold-weather fabrics to wear. Fun fact-the material also keeps you cool in the summer! Hence, a woolen jacket or sweater is a good investment for us tropical climate dwellers, as well as the fact that it is the most durable material that can withstand a lot of wear and tear.
- Flannel
While people usually associate flannel with fall fashion, it can actually be worn all year round, including winter! An inherently casual fabric, flannel is an infinitely soft, medium-weight cotton (sometimes made from a mixture of wool with synthetic fibers) that has a napped finish on one or both sides. Cotton flannel is a great option to keep warm during frigid days, as in addition to being one of the warmest textiles, it also outperforms other fabrics as a cold-weather material. Furthermore, flannel is intended to be both functional and comfortable- you can keep warm and cool temperatures in mind with flannels as it is a lightweight, highly absorbent material that is also highly recyclable.
One of the best ways to wear flannel in the winter is to layer it over a long sleeve shirt or under a sweater-you don’t have to be too concerned about fitting properly, as flannels are very soft and pliable, thus they would not get stiff when you wear it over a dress shirt. This will not only keep you cozy and warm, but also makes you look stylish and put together. Based on the current trends gracing the catwalks and runways, cotton and plaid flannel is currently the most popular choice for its fashionably classic appeal.
- Cashmere
Cashmere comes from the undercoat of the cashmere goat, and it is a type of fabric that provides excellent warmth due to its thermal conductivity. Due to it being made from ultra-thin fibers that are more delicate than sheep’s wool, the cashmere fabric is not exactly the most durable fabric nor the easiest to maintain. However, it is known for its luxuriously soft and supple texture, as well as being hypoallergenic, unlike many other fabrics, thus making it the best kind of clothing to wear for those with allergies or sensitive skin.
We mentioned earlier that the way cashmere traps warm air slows the rate of heat loss down, hence the material helps you stay at just the right temperature to be comfortable – not too warm, nor too cool – and perfectly dry, making it the perfect material for popping in and out of exciting places during your winter holiday while indulging in some festive cheer. While cashmere is a high-value product that is notably on the upper end of the price scale, you do not have to break the bank to own one-garments do not necessarily have to be made from 100% pure cashmere for it to have the same benefits of one. There are many types of good blends that let you experience the benefits of cashmere at a fraction of the cost, and oftentimes even more durable as well.
In short, cashmere truly gives you all the best elements of winter wear – cosy warmth, huggable softness, and style that is both classically elegant and timeless. Really, you can’t go wrong with a beautiful, luxurious knit made of this lustrous fabric.
- Fleece
Despite its name, ‘fleece’, which technically means the fur coat on the sheep, the fleece fabric actually means a material that is completely synthetically made and is derived from plastic materials rather than a warm and fluffy sheep’s coat. It is extremely fuzzy to the touch, ultra-soft, warm, and overall amazingly breathable material that makes it perfect for winter outerwear.
Fleece is without a doubt, favored by people of all ages and genders to keep them safe as well as warm and cosy from the extreme cold. It is extremely versatile, comes in a lot of color options, and can be paired with almost anything. With fleece jackets and inner layer options like fleece shirts, fleece pullovers, fleece hoodies, and fleece knitted sweaters, your winter holiday wardrobe will definitely be colorful, stylish, and warm. Other than it being extremely stylish and wear-resistant, it is also very cost-effective. While other winter-friendly fabrics like fur may cost a lot to purchase, maintain, and repair if needed, fleece is highly approachable and low maintenance. Not only is the fleece material extremely lightweight and easy to carry, but it is also designed to function as a lightweight & breathable mid-layer for outdoor activities, making it suitable to wear for all sorts of winter festivities.
- Tweed
Tweed is a very versatile fabric that can be styled and worn in almost every situation. The fabric is made from wool and created by combining three differently colored yarns, which are then twilled.
Tweed is often associated with traditional British countryside style-timeless in both its design and wear, tweed is known to be a trend that will always grace the runways and fashion editorials in its original look, as well as redesigned with contemporary cuts and silhouettes to reflect the modern-day lifestyle. Not only that, but it is also known as robust, thick, warm, water-resistant, and protective clothing perfect as outerwear in cold weather. While tweed jackets and suits can be a little heavier compared to other winter apparel and a bit more coarse to the touch, it is an excellent fabric to wear if you are heading for a holiday in a frigid climate.
As a modern-day staple that exudes an air of elegance and sophistication, a tweed coat can be styled in numerous ways and in any situation, making this fabric the perfect winter staple for you to create a classic statement look.
Looking for the perfect winter jacket to keep you looking chic and also warm and toasty? Look no further. Check out Zalora for a wide selection of winter apparel, coats, jackets, and other accessories that would have the right insulating properties to keep you warm on your winter holiday.
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