The ULTIMATE cold weather layering guide—MIDLAYERS (2/3)

50+ size diverse/inclusive recs

This week there are over 50 recs so you can imagine, a lot of links. It’ll likely cut off in your email, please read in-app or in a browser. No affiliate links. Brand recs are for paid members.

One of the things that makes fast fashion so appealing is the convenience. It’s often too convenient with zero friction that provides necessary thinking time. You type in whatever you want into a search bar and you’re provided with tons of options (fewer in plus sizes of course).

The thing with ethical or sustainable fashion is that all the options are spread out across hundreds of brands. Even if you type in a particular style into a search engine bar with the words ethical or sustainable, chances are you’ll be shown fast fashion. It takes time to build brand knowledge, and it takes even more time to find a specific item.

If you’ve been with me since the beginning of EFF, one of the things I’ve always wanted to create is a style guide. Essentially connecting where you can find certain items with brands. The problem is that with seasonal collection changes, the offerings of smaller brands change too and it started to feel like an impossible task.

However, creating this mega-thread for winter options has felt incredibly similar to what I wanted to achieve with the style guide. And I hope that if you are after any of the below, you will find something that matches.

More brands added to the directory as well!

(One quick thing I want to address. I spent a couple of months putting together this winter layering guide before Universal Standard partnered with Anthropologie which is complicated but definitely leaning towards ‘this is not good’. However I want as many options for people as possible and considering that there are few brands that rival their size range and model representation, I’ve included them).

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MID LAYERS

Where to begin?! I feel like midlayers encompasses so, so many different items, the options truly are endless. Anything you wear in other seasons—from shorts to a mini-skirt—could double over as a layering piece in the winter as long as you’ve got your base layers down.

Then there’s also heavier midlayers that actually help insulate—like sweaters. Depending on how cold it gets where you are, these midlayers could be warm enough without a coat during the winter.

BUTTON DOWNS

A button-down is a great way to show off a turtleneck. Anddd they’re really great for shoulder seasons too. Next week I’ll be covering lighter outerjackets (think chore coats etc) which have similar boxier silhouettes.