There is a great fashion mystery that has been bothering me for years and for which I have never received a satisfactory answer. Namely, how do all those über stylish Jak and Jill types manage to not only look stylish even during the infamous New York Fashion Week snowstorms, but also casually strut around with BARE LEGS on the streets. For example, Aimee Song from the blog Song of Style, who appeared last February in temperatures comfortably hovering around -10 in a blue miniskirt with bare legs and declared that with ‘the sun was shining.’ That may be all well and good, but it hasn't been warm. Anna Dello Russo is the queen of completely ignoring winter conditions. Snowstorm causing flights to be canceled? Perfect day for a flimsy mini dress from, oh I don't know, Dior, Dolce, or whatever. And no, of course, no coat is worn with that. A coat is for people with nerves who register temperature, and those are definitely not fashion people. Anyway. It's bothering me, that much is clear. Fashion and cold rarely go together, you say ‘Mukluk’ you certainly don't say ‘front row.’ So today in the explorer, how, HOW, HOW are we going to stylishly yet warmly face the approaching winter?

A few years ago, I went to Dublin with a friend. We were there in December and believe you me when I say that it is very cold there. Not just cold, but Irish cold – and that is really very cold. Almost every evening we saw dozens of girls stumbling from one pub to another, trudging through 30 centimeters of snow, in nothing more than an ultra-short dress and peep-toe platform pumps. Eventually, I approached one of those girls (myself clad in seven pairs of jeans, nine sweaters, and UGGS) and asked how it was possible that she wasn't dying on the street. Her answer: “well, it’s always cold in Dublin so if we have to wait for good weather to wear our party dresses then we could just as well pack our things and move to Mars.” I think it was the drink (and the cold) that made her start talking about Mars, but I actually understand her.

It is also the explanation given by Amelia Diamond, one of the editors for The Man Repeller: “you need some serious dedication to your outfit despite weather conditions.” Furthermore, we must not forget that the really big editors and fashion people only move around by car + driver and thus spend minimal time outdoors.

Now we at amayzine.com are of course at least as high in demand as the Anna's of this world, but I do foresee more minutes in the outdoors and thus the cold. Moreover, it is not exactly warm here in the Netherlands, so we could all use some tips. The first tip may be a bit too little too late, but it can still be mentioned. You should not immediately give in to the cold and wait as long as possible before putting on your thickest coats. This way, you train yourself better to deal with the cold and can ultimately withstand more cold with less clothing. Dublin style. But there is more to think about, so read and learn:

– You already know this, but it can certainly be repeated: wear layers. And not three layers of viscose and polyester, but of cashmere or mohair. Maybe the high price is a bear on the road, but you should think this way, for two cheap sweaters of 30 bucks, you can buy one nice mohair or merino piece that you will get at least four times as much use out of. Just saying.

– Work with large scarves. They keep you warm, complete your outfit, and are versatile. Also nice to drape over your shoulders when you wear a jacket that is just not warm enough but suddenly becomes very winterproof thanks to the scarf.

– Heat leaves your body mainly through your head, so a headpiece is absolutely essential. Think ‘Maison Michel’ and for God's sake not ‘beanie’ because then I won't talk to you anymore.

– Stock up on some pencil skirts and other leather items. Leather is not only incredibly trendy but also incredibly warm. What is warm enough for cows in the pasture is warm enough for us.

– You can buy those heat pads that you can put in your inner pockets (or gloves/hats/socks) and that really keep you super warm. Terribly not stylish but terribly practical, and as long as we don't tell anyone, this practical use can certainly go hand in hand with fashion interest.

– Invest in a good thermal pantyhose. A 100 denier pantyhose already makes a difference, but if you're going out with bare legs, choose one specifically for the cold. There are versions that are lined with fleece and oh how warm you stay in those.

With all this, you are already quite a way there, and even I see the trip to New York a bit sunnier (pun intended) ahead. And just when you think everything is solved, there is still one problem left. All those thick clothes and dozens of layers, HOW ARE THEY EVER GOING TO FIT IN MY SUITCASE?