Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits (and Lots of Fun Style Tips!)

by Julie Marshall

$200

20 Minutes

Easy

Even though the stores are talking about Spring, there are still eight official weeks to winter so I thought it would be fun to come up with Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits for you to wear. Many of the outfits have parts or all of the items in the look ON SALE, so be sure to click on the highlighted items and/or photos to see the GREAT PRICES!

In this post...

Outfit #1 (of the Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits):
Try Wearing Bright Colors!

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips, This is the first outfit of the seven smart casual winter outfits A turquoise boucle coat is worn over a turquoise cashmere sweater and tan wide leg trousers

This is the first outfit of the seven smart casual winter outfits. A turquoise boucle coat is worn over a turquoise cashmere sweater and tan wide-leg trousers.

Most of us tend toward darker colors in the fall and winter and I get that. But wearing a bright color like turquoise or fuchsia is really fun! When I wore this to a recent high school fundraiser, I got lots of compliments! It’s really uplifting to wear this turquoise boucle Talbots coat. And even though I live in Southern California in the winter, it gets plenty cool at night so I have already worn it three times in January.

My coat just sold out but I have linked several really cute brightly colored options for you that are all on sale! Now, look at the next photo. Pro-tip: You can see I went with a tonal look where I matched the coat to the sweater. This is a way to look like your outfit is expensive as it shows a depth of color. Try it by wearing a top and matching your coat to that. An easy one most of us have involves a black turtleneck or sweater with an overlying black coat, blazer, or cardigan. It looks very pulled together.

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips, Here is the outfit with a turquoise cashmere sweater tan wide leg trousers tan suede boots and a turquoise scarf

Here is the outfit with a turquoise cashmere sweater, tan wide-leg trousers, tan suede boots, and a turquoise scarf.

I also extended my leg line by wearing tan trousers with tan suede booties. The trousers are wide-legged but to balance that leg volume, I wore my turquoise cashmere sweater tucked in.

Here is the outfit with a turquoise cashmere sweater, tan wide-leg trousers, tan suede boots, and a turquoise scarf. This is a head-on view.

Pro-tip: A neck lengthening trick is to wear a v-neck sweater as opposed to a crew neck. Also if you have neck wrinkles (I am 66!) it helps to mitigate those if you wear a cute silk bandana scarf.

Here is the outfit with a turquoise cashmere sweater, tan wide-leg trousers, tan suede boots, and a turquoise scarf. This is a close-up view.

For accessories, I added pearl stud earrings and a strand of pearls. Both are classic and neutral. They look as cute with cashmere as with jeans (see outfit below).

Outfit #2 (of the Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits):

Wear a Bit of Velvet.

Here is a black velvet jacket worn over a burgundy tank and mid-wash jeans.

For years I considered black velvet a fabric exclusively worn in December around the Christmas holidays. Pro-tip: But, as a fashion blogger, I have come to view this sensual fabric, especially in a jacket, as a delightful addition to my overall winter wardrobe. It looks fabulous with jeans as I am showing above. I paired a burgundy tank with a cool gold single-pearl necklace and mid-wash denim jeans. I finished the look with black suede booties and gold jewelry.

Here is a black velvet jacket worn over a burgundy tank and mid-wash jeans. Hee is a close-up.

What do you think? Do you like the mixture of the dressy velvet blazer with the jeans as well as the sexiness of the tank? How about the gold jewelry? Does it all work? Tell me your thoughts below! I would love to hear your comments!

Outfit #3 (of the Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits):

Wear a Little Animal Print

I love to wear an animal print and I think it looks especially cute when layered over a blue cotton shirt with the cuffs and tails showing. It was paired with straight-leg cropped jeans, brown booties, and a brown bag. If it’s cold add a tan camel’s hair coat as shown in the next photo.

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips, Here is an animal print top worn over a light blue shirt with cropped straight jeans and brown booties and a brown bag

Here is an animal print top worn over a light blue shirt with cropped straight jeans and brown booties and a brown bag.

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips

Here is an animal print top worn over a light blue shirt with cropped straight jeans and brown booties and a brown bag. I added a tan camel's hair coat.

Outfit #4 (of the Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits):

How about a Classic Sweater Look with a Twist?

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips, Here I am wearing an olive Fair Isle sweater over a hot pink shirt with cropped jeans and leopard flats

Here I am wearing an olive Fair Isle sweater over a hot pink shirt with cropped jeans and leopard flats.

Do you love a classic Fair Isle sweater? This multi-colored sweater is a classic style and I thought it would be fun to highlight the hot pink color that’s in the knit. Pro-tip: I think the use of bright colors against the olive green sweater is interesting and leans a bit more toward spring than winter. I wore Birdies animal print flats because they are fun, very comfy, and are considered neutral and therefore go with any color.

Here I am wearing an olive Fair Isle sweater over a hot pink shirt with cropped jeans and leopard flats. Here is a close-up.

If it’s too cold to skip socks, pop on some brown or tan booties along with a winter coat.

Outfit #5 (of the Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits):

Add Some Leather Pants

I think a pair of black leather pants are a great item to wear in the fall and winter. These particular Open Edit (a house brand of Nordstrom) drawstring pants are especially practical because they are lined in a very thin (but cozy) fleece fabric. Many leather pants are too cool to wear as they are unlined. THIS PAIR is a wonderful value! Check them out. I’m wearing a small.

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips, Here I am wearing black leather wide leg pants with a dark floral top and black booties

Here I am wearing black leather wide leg pants with a dark floral top and black booties,

I paired the pants with a dark floral top from 1State (another Nordstrom house brand). Pro-tip: House brands allow Nordstrom to charge less for these items than other outside brands so they tend to be excellent buys.

Here I am wearing black leather wide leg pants with a dark floral top and black booties,

Pro-tip: Wearing a dark floral top now in the winter is smart as it is a bit of a nod to Spring without being too bright. Also if it’s cold where you are, add a longer cardigan or a blazer to this look.

Outfit #6 (of the Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits):

Add a Puffer Vest for Cozy Warmth

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips, I am wearing a black puffer vest over a red turtleneck with a white shirt underneath The cuffs and tails are peeking out I am wearing skinny jeans with a pair of high black suede boots Lastly I am sporting a men s black foulard print scarf

I am wearing a black puffer vest over a red turtleneck with a white shirt underneath. The cuffs and tails are peeking out. I am wearing skinny jeans with a pair of high black suede boots. Lastly, I am sporting a men's black foulard print scarf.

I am a sucker for a puffer vest with a cute scarf! I layered a white cotton shirt (tails and cuffs showing) under a red cashmere turtleneck. Over that, I popped on a black puffer vest and a black foulard scarf. My jeans were skinny and they worked well with my black suede high boots.

Pro-tip: If it’s cold where you are, add a black or tan overcoat over this look and then when you get to your destination, just take off the coat but leave the rest of the outfit! It looks so put together!

Outfit #7 (of the Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits):

Go with Pink!

seven smart casual winter outfits and lots of fun style tips, I am wearing a pink damask print halter tops over pink narrow pants and silver sandals

I am wearing a pink damask print halter tops over pink narrow pants and silver sandals.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much pink is my favorite color! I love it all year round and was delighted when Talbots offered this pink damask halter this winte r. It’s so classic in its lines and it’s great for a date night. I wore it recently to dinner here in the desert and wore the blue coat from the first outfit over it. But out here in California, they have outside heaters so you actually get warm enough to remove your coat!

I am wearing a pink damask print halter tops over pink narrow pants and silver sandals. I am out to dinner with Mr. G.Q. and my friend Irena.

This top is so worth purchasing now. It’s on sale as of today for $36.12!!! It was originally $109! A halter is always a great look. This one looks terrific paired with pink Talbots pants and silver sandals. For summer it would look great with white jeans and nude slides. (Since the halter is almost sold out, I will pair a similar one, here). Pro-tip: Many of my readers don’t like the fact that their arms are exposed with a halter. But since the front neckline is so pretty, consider adding a coordinating cardigan so that just the front of the top shows.

I am wearing a pink damask print halter tops over pink narrow pants and silver sandals.

I am wearing a pink damask print halter tops over pink narrow pants and silver sandals. I am out to dinner with Mr. G.Q. and my friend Irena. I put a turquoise boucle coat over the outfit.

Shop My Looks on LTK!

Conclusion to Seven Smart Casual Winter Outfits:

There you have it folks! Seven smart casual winter outfits to get you through the gray days of winter. Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below or DM me on Instagram @drjuliemarshall. Happy Monday!

XO,

Dr. Julie

PS Here are a few more posts for you to enjoy:

A Savory Valentine’s Day Appetizer Or A Quick Super Bowl Party Appetizer

Three Cute Looks: Same Valentine’s Day Shirt

Happy Valentine’s Day to Everyone!

How to Declutter Your Closet so You Can Love Your Stuff!

Delicious Squash Soup

How to Fix Dry, Cracked Hands Easily