Don't wait for winter: 7 wardrobe staples to buy right now
Halyna Denysiuk (photo: Halyna's heritage)
Winter is still months away, but now is the right time to start building your winter wardrobe. New collections are already arriving in stores, while the selection of sizes and styles is still much larger.
Stylist Halyna Denysiuk told RBC-Ukraine which pieces are worth looking for this fall and what will be on trend this winter.
According to the expert, you don't need to buy dozens of trendy pieces this season. It's smarter to choose a few standout items that can serve as the foundation for most of your winter looks.
A puffer that doesn't look sporty
The main winter purchase is outerwear. Denysiuk recommends looking for oversized puffers with clean lines and minimal zippers, logos, contrasting hardware, and unnecessary embellishments.
"I would look for a puffer that you can wear just as easily with jeans and sneakers as with wide-leg pants, a dress or boots. The simpler the cut, the more expensive the piece usually looks, and the longer it tends to stay relevant," the stylist explains.
In addition to black, consider chocolate brown, charcoal, cream, navy, and deep earthy shades.
A wool coat: Preferably a little roomier
Another investment piece is a long coat. Halyna recommends leaving enough room underneath for a blazer or an oversized sweater.
Overly fitted styles are harder to layer, while a straight or slightly oversized silhouette offers more styling options.
"A good coat shouldn't work for just one beautiful outfit. It should be able to handle a real winter: a sweater, blazer, scarf and several layers of clothing, without making the silhouette look bulky," Denysiuk says.
Knee-high boots
The shoes can completely transform even the simplest winter outfit. Among the most practical purchases, the stylist highlights tall leather boots with a sufficiently wide shaft.
They can be worn with midi skirts, short skirts and opaque tights, dresses, or with slimmer pants tucked inside.
You don't need to stick to black. Dark brown and burgundy shades can look more interesting while remaining versatile.
A sweater with 'personality'
Instead of buying five identical basic sweaters, Denysiuk recommends finding one or two that can create an outfit on their own. This could mean a textured knit, an interesting collar, unusually voluminous sleeves, or a beautiful color.
Chocolate brown, gray, cream, burgundy, red and deep blue remain especially relevant for a winter wardrobe.
"In winter, we often see only the upper half of an outfit—a coat, sweater, and scarf. That's why good knitwear can turn even the simplest pair of jeans into a styled look rather than just an outfit," the expert explains.
.jpg)
Stylist Halyna Denysiuk (photo: instagram.com/galina_denisiuk_)
Leather gloves instead of random accessories
A winter wardrobe often looks cheaper not because of the main pieces, but because of the details. That's why the stylist recommends buying gloves, a scarf, and a hat early, not at the last minute.
One of the easiest ways to make an outfit look more polished is with leather gloves. They look especially chic in chocolate brown, burgundy or dark green.
An oversized scarf
Another piece Halyna recommends buying ahead of time is a large, high-quality scarf. It can be more than just a way to stay warm—it can become a full-fledged part of an outfit.
You can wear it over a coat, wrap it loosely around your neck, or drape it over your shoulders. The key is to consider not only the color but also the fabric composition and how the material feels against your face.
Stylist Halyna Denysiuk (photo: instagram.com/galina_denisiuk_)
A bag that can handle a puffer and a coat
Small handbags aren't going anywhere, but for everyday winter wear, Denysiuk recommends looking for roomier styles with either a soft or structured shape.
One important detail is the strap length. The bag should be comfortable to carry with bulky outerwear rather than getting stuck under your arm because of a puffer.
"I always recommend trying on a winter bag not with a T-shirt in the store, but at least with a blazer or outerwear. Something that fits perfectly over a thin shirt can turn out to be completely uncomfortable in winter," the stylist emphasizes.
What not to buy just because it's trendy
Halyna Denysiuk also recommends asking yourself a simple question before every purchase: Can I create at least three outfits with this piece using what I already have in my wardrobe?
"Winter is an expensive season for your wardrobe, so it's especially unwise to buy pieces for a single outing. I would invest in outerwear, shoes, and good knitwear first, and only then add trendy details. That way, even after several seasons, you won't have to rebuild your wardrobe from scratch," the stylist concluded.
