Searching for the Perfect Outfit to be Stylish and Warm on a Winter Night Out

Ever since being a teenager who refused to wear a coat on cold nights out, because it hid my outfit, I’ve never really grown out of dressing for fashion rather than function. Although these days in my forties I couldn’t think of going on a night out without a coat, and definitely feel the cold more the older I’ve got, I still care a great deal about what an outfit looks like, as well as how practical it is.

So with the winter months here and lots of social occasions coming up that will be a mix of inside and outside, I’ve been looking for an outfit that makes me feel glam while also keeping me warm.

Whether its a Christmas market in the daytime, a festive afternoon tea followed by a winter walk, or an evening wandering through an illuminated light trail, there are so many occasions over the Christmas period where you need to be warm while also wanting to feel stylish. One such brand I’ve been introduced to recently is Cotton Traders. I was recently sent a few items to try and have been so impressed with both the quality and fit of the items.

First up they have a lot of beautiful dresses on their website this winter, but the one that caught my attention was this shirt dress. I loved both the print and the fact that it had rouching in the middle to hide my tummy, while also accentuating my waist. It’s comfy too, with long sleeves to keep you warm on a winter day.

When it comes to outfits, I may have moved on from being a freezing cold teenager without a coat, as I definitely feel the cold these days, but I still want the overall look to be good whether I’m inside or out. This is where Cotton Traders comes up trumps again, with a fancy faux suede trench coat.

I loved this coat as soon as I tried it on, its weighty and warm yet isn’t too bulky. It comes up on the big side though, I’m wearing a size 12 in this pic and there was lots of space to layer up with jumpers, so I’d size down if you are in between.

Along with these two items, they’ve also got some great accessories to keep you toasty warm on winter days and nights out. I’ve had to hide these long fair isle sleeveless gloves, as my daughter kept taking them to wear to school the last week and you can’t beat a bit a bit of leopard print in these socks, even if they are mostly hidden under my boots while its cold.