Cold-Weather Styling Tips: How to stay warm while still looking good in family photos this winter
It would be nice if it was 70 degrees outside year-round, but if you’re like me and live in a state where Winter sticks around until April, you’ll probably need to bundle your family up for Fall and Holiday photos. I’m not talking about your kid’s neon pink puffer coat, though. There are ways to add layers and warmth into your family’s outfits that won’t compromise the overall style of your photos. It just takes a little bit of practice and time. Personally, I love the visual interest that additional layers and cold-weather accessories add to photos, and, chances are, you have a lot of the pieces you need in your closets already.
Layer Up
Instead of just relying on one, heavy coat to provide warmth, think about how you can incorporate extra layers into outfits. Is it possible to add a neutral colored thermal shirt under a button down? Can you add tights or leggings under a dress or an oversized sweater on top of it? Even adding small layers can make a big difference, especially if you’re able to add more than one to each outfit. In doing so, you may be able to get away with a less bulky coat to finish off the outfit, too. Below are some of my favorite examples of layers that can be added to existing outfits. I would throw the first sweater on over a dress or pair it with a long sleeve top and skirt for added warmth. For men and boys, I love the look of a thick button-down over a hoodie, henley, or thermal top. The two-pack of henley tops would be perfect to add under a sweater or button down, and the ribbed leggings will keep legs warm while also adding texture to the overall look. There’s no right or wrong way to add layers and every little bit helps, so get creative and play around with layering different pieces together!
2. Add a (stylish) Coat
The important thing to remember here is that not all coats are made equally. Chances are a puffer coat is not the best option (unless you’re going for a very specific look) but there are a lot of other coats and jackets than can keep your family warm without compromising your style. My big tip here is to opt for something neutral and understand that some warmth is better than none. Whatever you choose will probably not be as warm as that cozy puffer coat you have at home, but it will do the trick for your session. The goal here is to help make your outdoor photo session more bearable, not keep you warm through a blizzard :) In some cases, you may already have a coat that you can incorporate into you family’s photo wardrobe. Think outside the box- does someone have a denim jacket or plaid shacket (I can’t say that word seriously) that could be paired over a sweater or button down? If you do have to go out and purchase items, think neutral, but also use this as an opportunity to incorporate texture into your overall look. Below are some of my favorites examples of stylish coats to wear for your session. I’ve included options for all members of your family and all of these coats were sourced from H&M, Zara, and Old Navy- which, if you’ve been here for any amount of time, you know are some of my go-to’s when looking for neutral, affordable pieces to style my family and clients with.
When styling your family’s coats for your session, make sure to play around with proportions and textures. If you’re wearing a long dress or skirt, a longer coat is probably your best option to keep the long line of your body. If you’re wearing pants, a long or short coat will work, just make sure whatever you choose looks good with everyone else’s outfit, too (for example, I wouldn’t put every member of the family in a long pea coat, or fuzzy jacket- keep it interesting and mix it up.) Whatever coats you choose, make sure the colors are tied in to your outfits in at least one other way, either through clothing items, shoes, or accessories. For my own family session this past week, my husband wore a black bomber, I wore a cream colored shacket, and my daughter wore the longer, fuzzy, brown coat pictured at the bottom right. To make sure my family’s overall look was cohesive, I tied my husband’s coat tied into my black jeans and my daughter’s leggings and boots; the brown from my daughter’s jacket was similar to the color of my husband’s beanie, and the cream from my coat coordinated with the pattern of my husband’s shirt and my daughter’s dress. I always suggest choosing three or four colors (including neutrals) for your family’s outfits and then incorporating them in at least 2 different shades or pieces throughout.
3. Add accessories
Finally, make sure you add accessories into your family’s outfits. There are a ton of cute hats, scarves, blankets, and mittens out there that you can wear while still looking stylish. Again, opt for neutral pieces that add texture and visual interest to the overall look and tie in to other pieces within your family’s wardrobe. If you note in the images I shared at the top of the blog post, mom put the kids in beanies that added to the overall style of each outfit while keeping them warm (ish- it was 20 degrees and snowing that day. Hopefully your session won’t be quite as cold!). The tan, cream and rust colors found in the boys’ beanies each tied in with at least one other piece/color throughout the rest of the family’s outfits to create a cohesive look.
When in doubt (you guessed it) choose a neutral, as chances are the color will tie in to at least one other article of clothing throughout your family’s wardrobe without you having to try too hard. Or, if your family’s overall look is a little one-dimensional or boring, this can be a great way to incorporate a pattern! Choose a plaid scarf or blanket to add a pop in your photos and bring your styling to the next level. Once again, play around and don’t be afraid to mix and match pieces for more of a coordinated vs. matching look.
I know that styling your family for photos can feel like the most overwhelming part of the entire process, but have fun with it! There are a lot of great resources that can help if you don’t know where to start. One of my favorites places to start looking for inspiration is Pinterest and I’ve created a board to help my clients style their families for the cold-weather, which you can find here! It’s also easier said than done, but try to start nice and early. Give yourself plenty of time to go through items you already own, while also giving yourself time to find, purchase, and ship any items that you need to buy.
I also find that when adding layers, it’s easiest to work from the inside out, so to speak. Start with everyone’s base outfit (dress, pants, shirt, etc. that you prominently want on display), then add layers underneath before moving on to shoes, coats, and accessories. Finally, take the time to lay everyone’s clothes out together, including all coats, shoes, and accessories. This is really helpful for making sure that all pieces for each individual family member tie together, everyone’s outfit is coordinated to the other members of the family, and can be helpful in making sure that you aren’t forgetting anything for anyone! Doing this ahead of time will also help alleviate some of the stress that comes with getting everyone ready the day of your session, so it’s a win-win!
And that’s it! Those are my best tips and suggestions for keeping your family warm and happy for photos this year (aside from maybe sticking hand warmers in everyone’s pockets and bribing your kids with hot chocolate, both of which also work wonders :)) What am I forgetting? Do you have any other favorite ways to add warmth that I missed? Let me know in the comments!