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Baby, It’s Cold Outside! Winter Party Outfits to Beat the Chill

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Penn chapter.

Showing some skin is a go-to for parties during the first few months of school, but now that winter is in full force, how do you stay cute for a weekend bash without freezing? I’ll admit that this was a tricky task for me at first. In the weeks between Halloween weekend and the end of first semester, I kept making excuses to stay in (hot chocolate and Hulu, anyone?), not wanting to deal with ever-dropping temperatures. However, this semester, I swore I wouldn’t let a few chills get in my way — and thus, the winter party outfit guide was born! Here’s what you need to look cute and stay warm.

1. A warm coat. It’s tempting to leave your jacket at home since most parties heat up pretty quickly, but during the walk over, you’ll be glad you brought it with you. When you arrive, just be sure to find a coatroom or a secure place to store your coat so you’ll be able to find it later.

2. Tights are your friends! Everyone wants to look good and show off what they’ve got, but bare legs at this time of year are just out of the question. That’s why this look is a favorite of mine — rock a mini dress, flouncy skirt or a pair of trouser shorts with some dark tights. The cropped hemline of the shorts, skirt or dress is cute and flirty, yet a pair of opaque tights makes the whole outfit super stylish and weather-proof. Rock this look with your favorite pair of sky-high heels.

3. Jeans and high heeled boots. Tuck a pair of your favorite skinnies into some fierce black leather boots for a look that is perfect for a winter party. Want to go even more fashion-forward? Try a pair of over-the-knee boots or wedged ankle booties instead. Whichever style you choose, your toes will be sure to thank you!

4. Leggings and Wedges. Stores like Piper boutique are featuring lots of cute and fun printed leggings for the winter season. This warm choice looks great with a pair of chunky wedge heels.

5. Experiment with colors. During the wintertime, we tend to choose clothes with darker shades. Why not stand out at a party with a pop of eye-catching color? This can be anything from a bright red handbag, a statement belt, or even neon manicure.

Grace Ortelere is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a psychology major. She writes about crime and is an assistant news editor for her school's student newspaper, the Daily Pennsylvanian. Grace went abroad to Paris for a semester, where she babysat for a French family and traveled to many other cities--her favorite was Barcelona! She's social chair of her sorority, Sigma Kappa, and likes to ski, hike and paraglide.