Words by Chloe Cheung; photographs by Rebecca Leigh

‘I have nothing to wear!’ is something I exclaim quite frequently, despite the fact that my wardrobe is bursting at the seams (pun most definitely intended). Having to vacate my room at the end of every term means that I have to be judicious with what I bring up to Oxford with me, so the versatility of items is a key factor I consider when planning a capsule wardrobe.

The dress.

I was going to return this dress at first – it was quite an impulse purchase, but I kept it once I saw its layering potential. I’m a big fan of layering – as you might have guessed from my last fashion post – and no wonder, seeing as the cold weather is showing no signs of respite.

Look 1: The Skirt

This look is so super easy – just throw on a jumper and voilà: an instant skirt. I do this so much; it’s such a simple way of diversifying the kinds of things that you wear.

Look 2: Top Marks

Similar to Look 1, all you have to do to achieve this look is to throw on a skirt over the dress, and your stripy dress becomes a stripy top. You can add extra layers on top, like a cardigan, to give added dimension (and warmth) to your outfit.

Look 3: Going Undercover

Although you may think I’m cheating here and not wearing the dress, it’s actually underneath the skirt and jumper! This may just be a wacky thing that I do, but I love extreme layering. I was actually wearing this outfit when the weather was close to freezing one night, but I was so much warmer than everyone else I was with. And, unless you tell them, nobody will ever know…

Look 4: Weekend Brunch

The casualness of the Breton striped dress balances out the formality of this long blazer. I’d also wear something like this for an event with a smart/casual dress code, as brown Chelsea boots encapsulate the simultaneously dressed up but laid-back vibe of this look.

Look 5: Hug a Hoodie

This is such a comfortable outfit, something I’d probably wear on a library day. I really love the contrast between the oversized men’s hoodie and the feminine silhouette of the dress.

These are just a few ways that I would style, and have styled, this dress; I’m sure you can think of many more! The clothes you own are much more versatile than you might initially think. One thing I enjoy about dressing for winter is how experimental one can be in pairing items together – there is a definite creativity about the whole process, as well as a necessity.

This post wouldn’t be complete without the Poor Print’s very own weather correspondent!  His sunny presence definitely brought the fabulous weather.  Stay warm and radiant, dear readers!