When I wear winter-white, I have two general parameters.
- One: Go the whole hog. Winter-white means completely monochromatic — one palette, all the way down to the shoes.
- Two: Don’t get within a 10-block radius of a cup of coffee.
I love all-white for its complexity. White is one of the most neutral tones out there — but as soon as you wear it from head it to toe, it becomes one of the most dramatic statements you can make. (It’s also a fairly apropos outfit choice, given that most of New York City is panicking over the blizzard scheduled to hit the city today.)
I knew I wanted to go for an all-over creamy look, so I initially paired this look with my cashmere coat. (Last seen here.)
But here’s the problem with wearing a white turtleneck with a matching overcoat: You suddenly look EXACTLY like Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. (Oh the irony — wearing an outfit that references a movie primarily known for its absence of clothing.)
In light of this unfortunate coincidence, I tried a different outwear option. Technically speaking, this next coat — my $40 vintage mink, last seen here — is completely stomping on my first parameter of wearing winter white.
But the tawny tones add a rock-n-roll patina to all-white. (The pelt also kept me from looking too much like an orderly at a mental health facility.)
My inspiration for this last-minute switch? Yoko Ono, who famously wore a snowy mod skirt suit for her wedding to John Lennon. Despite her granola, free-spirited vibe, she was also quite a fur collector. (Apparently, Ono and Lennon were such huge fur fans, they bought 80 fur coats from Bergdorf Goodman on Christmas Eve in the 1970s.)
You tell me: Will you wear all-white this winter? Tell me how you’ve pulled it off!
