What to Wear in Winter?

It is still the winter season in most places (e.g. Europe, Japan, Korea, China etc) until probably March/April and then it’s winter in June in Australia. Australia’s climate is sort of “opposite” from the rest of the world. When it’s winter elsewhere, it’s summer in Aussie. Depending on the sort of weather and temperature of the place you’re going, you will need different types of winter wear.

Wondering What to Wear in Winter?

Firstly, it depends on the temperature. You can afford to wear a leather jacket in 16°C (roughly like Seoul in mid March) but you need at least a thick winter jacket with fur lining in -5 °C (roughly like Tokyo in December). Here’s a rough temperature guide on ‘what to wear for winter in Korea‘ but of course, it doesn’t just apply to Korea.

In this post, we’ll break down the common clothes to wear in winter:

1. Themal Wear

Think of thermal wear as undergarment for winter. Most likely you won’t be needing this unless the temperature is 5°C or less. You will be wearing these under layers of clothes and these won’t be seen at all so just get the cheapest and most functional ones.

2. Tunic / Dresses

Don’t make the mistake of thinking all you need is thick coats and thick dresses! The chances are there will be some indoor venues wherever you’re heading and it can get pretty warm. If you’re wearing a long-sleeved piece, do pick one where the material is not too warm. Want to wear a dress? Yes, you can! How to wear a dress in the winter? The trick is warmer tights!

Warmer tights are basically tights with a layer of fur etc. for slight insulation against the cold. They’re the secret weapon to wearing skirts and dresses in the cold.

3. Winter Coat

How I was there was winter in tropical Singapore / Malaysia so I can have the excuse to buy and wear all those beautiful winter coats! In choosing the right piece for your trip, check the weather forecast. If it’s just snow, you can opt for fur/wool material (like the one above). If there’s strong wind or rain (or if you’re skiing), opt for windbreaker or waterproof material.

If you don’t have ear mufflers or if you have extra sensitive ears, you may want the hooded kind. You may also want to look into pieces with fur neck warmers to keep your neck warmer.

Alternatively, opt for a turtleneck style jacket or get a thick scarf and warm your neck. To skip gloves, choose coats with pockets on both sides so you can put your hands in them.