Tweed and other manufactured wools

Tweed is a very strong, rough, tight-knit, yet flexible and stylish fabric. It has been used for winter clothes for over a century, especially for suit jackets, waistcoats and even trousers. Wearing any of these items in a tweed fabric, you will not only feel warm, but attract the right kind of attention as well. Tweed has been associated with the upper class of British society for decades during the Edwardian era, but, even with the democratization of fashion and clothes, it has still kept its place as one of the best and top-rated materials to be worn during the cold season.

Investing in tweed is definitely worth the money: this fabric is strong, elegant and durable and can be worn with a series of other materials and textures. If you buy a tweed suit, you can even wear the pieces separately and still turn a lot of heads, as tweed is a very visually strong as it is.

Basically, any manufactured wools, such as flannel, cashmere, gabardine, chenille, felt, plaids and mohair will look great and keep you warm during winter. When you are looking to buy clothes in these fabrics, you should always make sure they are natural, as otherwise you risk buying clothes that won’t add any warmth to your outfits.

Leather

Leather is the perfect year-round fabric. Because it features a series of great features, leather can be worn in almost any environment and is sure to style up any outfit. A jacket, a shirt or a pair of pants made from natural leather will not only look great for a long time, but it will also keep you warm, it will mold on your shape without losing its strength and will work like a perfect shield again the elements, which seem to rebel during this season.

Velvet, velveteen and velour

Velvet, velveteen and velour have in common the element of a cut pile.

However, there are a few differences between the three:

– Velvet is woven, cut and crushed; it is made from silk, linen, mohair, wool and sometimes even from cotton. It is very luxurious and elegant and can be worn on special occasions. Velvet stands out and is a great style statement for men who want to be remembered

– Velveteen is also woven, features a short pile, and it is never more than 3 mm deep. Velveteen is usually made from cotton and silk. It has less sheen than velvet and is suited more for casual settings than for upscale events

– Velour is a knit fabric made from cotton or even from synthetic fibers; it drapes well and can be worn best on casual outfits

These three fabrics can be worn during winter with confidence, as they will keep you warm, but you must make sure you don’t opt for a too thin fabric, as you risk getting cold. It is recommended to wear accessories made from these fabrics, but a velvet jacket worn with a coat over it is also a good idea.

Also, if you are not a native American speaker, make sure you translate these words correctly. For example, the French word for “velvet” is “velours”, and it is not the same as the English “velour”.

Corduroy

Corduroy is another great fabric for winter. Because it’s warm and very flexible, corduroy is mostly used for trousers, but designers have realized that it can be used for other pieces as well, such as shirts or jackets. A corduroy shirt can be worn over a thinner shirt as well. This will not only keep you warmer, but, due to the several layers of clothes which you will be wearing, your outfit will be more interesting from a visual point of view, as adding layers to a look gives it depth and volume.

For great aesthetic combinations, corduroy can be worn with denim or wool, as it is a great fabric to be worn in casual outfits.

Fur and fake fur

Natural fur is one of the oldest materials used by people to cover up and keep warm during the winter time. Mink, rabbit, fox and beaver fur are all furs that will keep you warm and fashionable during a winter day or at night.

For those who don’t want to wear real fur, there are some extraordinary fake fur alternatives on the market as well.

If you are opting for fake fur, make sure you buy a better one, which are usually also more expensive. Poor-quality fake furs can keep you cold, tear rapidly and also don’t add much style to your look.

Silk

Even though it may come as a surprise to many, silk is also a great material which can be worn in the winter time. Silk keeps us cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This does not mean that you can wear the same silk clothes you wore during the summer when going skiing, but there are many silk winter clothes out there. In fact, silk is the strongest natural material and it washes well, without losing its color, shape or strength. Because silk is a luxurious material, it will cost more than an average fabric, but it will last long, feel amazing and look incredibly well.

Fleece

Fleece is one of the few synthetic fibers that can be worn more often, even though we don’t encourage you to wear it every day. Fleece is warm, soft and can be very comfortable! A good fleece sweatshirt can help you add an extra layer of warmth on a very cold day. Polar fleece is mostly used for jackets, hats and sweaters. As you can see, you should not wear fleece on your bare skin, as it still is a synthetic fiber.

What to avoid

On the flipside, we don’t recommend wearing synthetic fibers, unless they are designed for special gears, such as skiing gear and other utilitarian garments that feature special materials such as Gore-Tex. Wearing polyester sweaters or pieces made from nylon or other similar materials will keep you either very cold or it will suffocate your skin by not letting it breathe. Moreover, these fabrics can cause rashes and even small electrical sparks, which are nor comfortable or stylish.

Cotton is also a fabric you should avoid during winter, as it absorbs moisture and sweat, therefore clinging to your body and taking all the heat away, leaving you uncomfortable and cold.

Which fabrics best suit different types of clothes?

Generally speaking, some materials are better suited for certain types of clothes than others. Here is what you should know:

– Wool is used mostly for trousers, blazers, suits and sweaters, but also for accessories such as socks and scarves

– Leather, suede and sheepskin are used for coats, jackets and accessories such as gloves, belts and shoes

– Velvet, velour and velveteen are soft, but warm fabrics and are used mostly for indoor wear

-Corduroy is mostly used for casual pants, jackets and long-sleeved shirts

As you can see, there are a lot of materials that can be worn during winter, so why limit yourself to fleece and classic wool? There are many choices you can make, and, in the end, the choice is yours: find what fits you best, mix it with other fabrics and voilà, you have yourself a warm and stylish winter!

Fraquoh and Franchomme

Further reading:

The guide to mixing fabrics for great effects

10 qualities of leather

The guide to socks and fabrics: From cotton to vicuña wool

Everything you should know about accent fabrics

Winter: Articles archive

P.S. What materials do you like to wear during the winter? Do you wear natural or fake fur? Share your thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!