What’s the opposite of gatekeeping? Over-sharing? Spilling the beans? Of all the secrets that shroud the fashion industry, how to keep warm in the cold really shouldn’t be one of them.

But alongside the thermals that insiders swear by and the inevitable throwing of jumper on top of jumper to keep the cold at bay, there is an art to curating your very own ‘warmdrobe’. This is, after all, a time to huddle together to keep as collectively warm as possible.

The key to a warmdrobe – a wardrobe curated specifically for bitterly cold times such as these – lies in tri- and quad-layering. This is the practice of acquiring pieces that need as little thought as possible because you know you can rely on them to do all of the heavy lifting for you. If there’s one thing we don’t need to be doing first thing in the morning in Baltic conditions, it’s thinking about what to wear. That’s where a warmdrobe comes in handy. It’s essentially a cold-weather capsule wardrobe. 

There are three categories of insulators to look out for: arm warmers, midriff warmers and embellishments, ie the pieces that finish the outfit and, as such, telegraph meaning to the rest of the world. This is a formula that can be employed year after year.

Firstly, let’s address the base of the outfit: the arm warmers. These are the bread of the sandwich, the backbone of the warmdrobe. I’ve been reaching for long-sleeved thermals from M&S and Uniqlo on an almost daily basis since the temperatures plummeted. That’s my first port of call and I’ve built up my rotation to include a different one for every day of the week, meaning I never have to go without. 

The next step are the midriff warmers. These are like sartorial cuddles around the waist that keep the warm in and the cold firmly out. When I’m going to the office, the midriff warmers I reach for are a crisp white shirt and a snuggly knitted vest. When I’m working from home in a more casual environment, a statement textured jumper is my favourite.

The final step is reaching for a jacket that both looks the part and performs, too. It’s important to prioritise warmth here. There are a crop of brands making genuinely insulating coats that look the part. Damson Madders’s statement-making reversible padded jackets (two for the price of one) and Free People’s Pippa packable puffer are both among my personal favourites. It’s the wrapping paper on an outfit that otherwise could fall flat on its face, so choosing the right one – one that packs a punch and keeps you warm – is paramount.

In short, a warmdrobe is about layering, but not just in a throwing multiple jumpers on manner; rather, it’s about curating insulating looks that can do all of the talking when your chattering teeth can’t. 

Images: Getty; courtesy of brands