Be both cozy and chic with these three winter wardrobe essentials

With the colder weather en route, I'm thrilled to announce it's time to pack away the crop tops and miniskirts that made their unwelcome comeback this year, and snuggle down into the giant jumpers and cozy tracksuits of winter. 

Of course, I'm writing this from Auckland, where we're only just beginning to break out the winter duvets and shut the windows at night. 

As a girl originally from Christchurch, I am fully aware people around the rest of the country will be reading this with scorn, having already been de-icing their cars and sporting boots, scarves and coats since March. 

But no matter where you are, there are a few key pieces you should be prioritising for your wardrobe this autumn and winter. 

Here are my top picks: 

A perfect pair of boots 

While a classic white sneaker can be worn year-round, there is something so deeply wintery about a leather boot. Every year I treat myself to a fresh pair, to the point I think of autumn as 'the season of new boots'. Knee and thigh-high styles are making a comeback, so if you have the calves to pull them off, Seed's 'Mae over-the-knee' boots are great for making a statement. But for an easy-to-wear, everyday style, I cannot recommend the Frankie4 'SHAUNA' boots highly enough. This Australian brand has recently made its New Zealand debut, and they feature a podiatrist-designed Sole Saver pack so you can fit them to any foot size - making them perfect to thrash through the cooler months. I've been stomping around in mine non-stop and they're bloody comfy. 

Find yourself a good pair of boots for stomping around the streets this winter.
Find yourself a good pair of boots for stomping around the streets this winter. Photo credit: Supplied/Frankie4.

Wide leg jeans - the bigger the better 

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably have heard word on the street from Gen Z that skinny jeans are a fashion death sentence, and now it's all about straight leg, wide leg, and flared styles. This is an absolute godsend for both our circulation and our stomach rolls. If this is all news to you, here's a Newshub report to inform you. My favourite styles right now are the Glassons 'Wide Leg Jean' and the 'Lee Beaut Jeans Revamp'. Both are comfy enough to be worn to brunch, but chic enough to rock to work. 

This winter, the bigger the jeans the better.
This winter, the bigger the jeans the better. Photo credit: Supplied/Glassons.

A puffy puffer jacket 

Back in the day when I attended Otago University, a puffer jacket was an absolute necessity, but not exactly a fashion item. We'd all surreptitiously sport them to the library and immediately pull them off indoors. Now, in great news for those cold-blooded creatures amongst us, they're a hot-ticket item for any winter wardrobe. The wet-look ones are my absolute fave, and if you have the budget, this Superette 'Aspen' Puffer elevates any look from chic, to chic and warm. At a much more accessible price point, Cotton On has recently released a line of puffers in recycled fibres that are even waterproof - the 'Mother Puffer' is both cute and lightweight for easy transport. 

No longer are puffer styles something to sneer at - in fact, they're the hot ticket item.
No longer are puffer styles something to sneer at - in fact, they're the hot ticket item. Photo credit: Supplied/Superette.