4 Chic Accessories That Cure My Cold-Weather Blues

From non-boring sunglasses to playful scarves.

collage of nikki ogunnaike wearing winter accessories
(Image credit: Nikki Ogunnaike)

Friends! I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the weather right now is pretty brutal. It’s so cold, that I’ve told friends that once it hits 30 degrees, I’ll be outside in a crop top—and ya know, I might actually do it!

So, how are you handling getting dressed in this weather? I’m doing my best to avoid buying more coats or sweaters. (Trust me, I have enough.) Instead, I’m swapping my usual accessories for a more interesting option that can add a jolt to my winter outfits. You all know I’m a low-lift, high-impact kind of gal, and these tweaks are exactly that.

SCARVES THAT AREN’T BLACK

I’m not quite sure why, but seeing this photo of Zoë Kravitz in New York City wearing a purple scarf casually wrapped around her neck really cracked something in my brain. I not only immediately bought a similar style from The Real Real for myself, but I also tucked away the majority of my black and gray scarves to pull my more color-forward options to the front.

HATS THAT AREN’T A BEANIE

Similarly, when I read this story by Julia Gall, one of our fabulous Style at Large contributors, I, too, became ready to break up with my winter beanies in favor of something a bit more statement-y.

SUNGLASSES THAT AREN’T BORING

I’m a year-round sunglasses wearer (probably because my mom is the same way), so you’ll always find a pair of sunglasses (or two) on me. My favorite move, though, is to take my decidedly summertime pairs (like my Loewe ones, for example) and wear them when it’s cold outside. It’s like taking a player off the bench and putting him in the game unexpectedly—you never know what kind of magic could arise.

MITTENS THAT AREN’T GLOVES

I don’t care what anyone says: Mittens are hands-down the best way to keep your hands warm during the winter. While some may feel like they’re juvenile, I think they provide that bit of whimsy all of TikTok so desperately wants. I’ve had my Ugg pair for about six years now, returning to them season after season.

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Nikki Ogunnaike
Editor-in-Chief

Nikki Ogunnaike is the Editor in Chief of Marie Claire US. She has previously held roles at Harper's Bazaar, GQ, ELLE, Glamour, InStyle, and Vanity Fair. She authors the popular Marie Claire newsletter Self Checkout. You may also recognize Nikki from her time as the host of Snapchat’s Online, IRL and IGTV's The Run Through.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, in her free time Nikki enjoys running half marathons, learning about wine, and watching reality TV without an ounce of shame. You can follow her at @nikkiogun.