This is why the TikTok trend ‘a Frank Sinatra winter’ is great
Let's be honest: winter isn't everyone's favorite time of year. It's freezing cold, it's always dark, you're overstimulated by your coat, scarf, gloves, and bag that keeps slipping off your shoulder. Yes, this isn't the prime era for many, but it's precisely in that cold and darkness that a quiet elegance lies. This is the season where you embrace your inner sophisticated winter self: you put on your finest coat, wear high boots, and brave the cold for candlelight, jazz, and an espresso martini in a dimly lit bar. As the city becomes quieter, everything becomes more intimate, and you suddenly see the beauty of the dark. So get that pantyhose out of the package and put on those slingbacks, because we're going out. And note: this is why you should embrace a Frank Sinatra winter.
What is a Frank Sinatra winter, actually?
I can hear you saying: is there a new ‘aesthetic’ again? Yes, it sometimes seems like there's a new way to present yourself on the market every month. That's why I understand if you're completely lost about what's trending and what's ‘last season’. We've left autumn behind, because with those temperatures below zero coming up, we've really entered winter. And honestly? I love it. It's true that it's cold and sometimes I'd rather stay inside, but I've recently started to see the beauty of winter. That's partly due to the Frank Sinatra aesthetic.
This isn't necessarily about perfectly styled pictures (those can definitely exist, trust me), but about a feeling: slowing down, refining, and choosing elegance over haste. It's the art of not just surviving winter, but experiencing it stylishly. In a world that always moves so fast, we tend to revert to the ‘good old days’. We're buying records again, digital cameras are flying off the shelves, and even journaling in a real paper book is totally in. This style fits right in with that. We want something timeless, and it's all inspired by the old glamorous world that Frank Sinatra's music depicts.
@dinasarraj A Frank Sinatra winter or nothing ✨ #oldmoneyaesthetic #classyinteriors #franksinatrawinter #luxurylifestyle #parisaesthetic
What does a Frank Sinatra winter look like?
What’s so nice about this aesthetic is that it’s very broad. You can fill it in a bit as you like, as long as you keep that ‘elegant’ at the center. Pull that old fur coat out of the closet, wear a high turtleneck, and yes: also grab those heels. Whether they are fifteen-centimeter stilettos or kitten heels — they both do the job. And especially: seek out those dark spots. And I’m not talking about a dark room in your house where you watch Bridget Jones with a tub of ice cream at three in the morning. This style is all about continuing to seek out social life in winter – and by primarily choosing stylish places as your stage, you’ll get the best out of it. Because yes, you’re not going to a fancy place and not enjoying it? You could sit on the couch in your fluffy pajamas every night, but then winter will pass by much slower. Now at least you’re doing something fun. But how do you experience the ultimate Frank Sinatra winter? You’ve heard some tips here and there, but I’ll outline it for you:
1. Seek out dark moody spots
Go to that dark restaurant with dark red walls, look beyond your nose, and enter a secret jazz club. Go (yes, seriously) to one of those country club-like buildings and just walk around. Even if you’re only going to the bathroom that looks nicer than your whole house: it’s about incorporating these intimate spots into your winter routine. Have that martini at a brown bar and walk in your heels through the puddles. Life is about having fun, so go do that in winter too. And it’s of course a nice bonus if there’s good food and great jazz music involved.
@aadavedenoja Frank Sinatra winter is here to stay🍸✨ #franksinatra #franksinatrawinter #oldmoneyaesthetic #oldmoneylifestyle @ClubLLondon
2. Pull out your finest clothing and accessories
Are you someone who prefers to sit on the couch in a tracksuit all day? Then I think this trend isn’t for you, because here you actually dress yourself up as much as possible. You wear a (vintage) fur coat or such a beautiful long coat that a man would have worn in the sixties. You know, those timeless items that you can wear every winter again. No fast trends, but stability. You lean towards neutral, dark colors like black, chocolate brown, burgundy, and dark green. You see this reflected in everything you wear: in your long dresses, light sheer tights, in those crocheted sweaters that could have been in a 90s Ralph Lauren ad, and in the finest fabrics.
And then we can’t forget the accessories, of course. Think of leather bags, high boots, slingbacks, pumps, French combs, and hairpins to neatly style your hair. In terms of jewelry, it’s a bit understated, with ‘quiet luxury’ items like good gold stud earrings, simple rings, and pearl necklaces. It might be a bit of your grandmother's style, but that’s exactly what you want to achieve. You want to relive that Frank Sinatra era. Without the misogynistic scenes, of course.
@sugarandspicetradingco A Frank Sinatra winter in Switzerland is everything #StMoritz #BadruttsPalace #KulmHotel #KulmCountryClub #ParadisoStMoritz #SwissAlps #FrankSinatraWinter #RalphLaurenWinter #OldMoneyAesthetic #AlpineLuxury #StMoritzStyle #WinterInSwitzerland #SkiSeason #LuxuryTravel #JetSetLife #EuropeanWinter #SnowChic #VintageLuxury #AspenToStMoritz #WinterElegance #CozyLuxury #EuropeanCharm #StMoritzMoments #ChicEscapes #WinterAesthetic #SkiInStyle #SwissLuxury #TimelessElegance #AlpineDream #luxuryresorts
3. Embrace the luxurious things in life
Okay, okay, I get that you might not have the budget to make last-minute trips to expensive ski resorts and wellness places where the Kardashians can be found all winter long, but it’s more about the idea behind it. You put yourself at the top of your priority list. So book a weekend to the spa, or start with just one day. Sit in that sauna, feel the warmth, and let yourself relax. Dive into a cold pool and yes: then go have an espresso at the restaurant.
Spend a night in the most expensive, beautiful hotel in your city or – if your wallet allows it – book a trip to Switzerland, Copenhagen, or another winter destination. Treating yourself to that little bit of luxury is exactly what this aesthetic is about. Prefer to stay home? That’s fine too. Put on something comfortable, but choose a satin pajama. Invite some girlfriends over, order sushi, drink a good white wine, and play some jazz music in the background.
So yes: maybe this is a romanticization of the ‘elite life’, but we all sometimes long for that, right? To escape the daily grind and the winter blues for a moment. You have to hang the decorations yourself, so you might as well do it in high heels.
