How I Went From A Layers Hater to Lover
My own enemies to lovers arc.
I hated layers for the longest time because I always felt bulky, like a jelly donut ready to explode and I always got too overheated to enjoy until the last couple of years.
As someone who is on the curvier side, I always hated things that add bulk to my body. I always thought it looked cuter on thinner bodies, not mine. For the longest time, I refused to wear a puffer because I didn’t want to take up more space, and I was embarrassed by my size. Now I care a lot less about that because I would rather not freeze my ass off.
In the past couple of years, I have spent more time in New York in the winter ( I live there now). As I walked around outside from one neighborhood to the next, I started to get cold, colder than I’d ever been, so I knew something needed to change. As the winters have grown more brutal in temperature, I knew I needed something to warm me up, and that’s when I was encouraged to try layers by my family and friends.
One of my friends introduced me to our lord and savior, Heattech, and my life was completely changed. I was not sure how I felt about higher necklaces, so I believe I started wearing a typical undershirt style. I was not sure about mock necks or turtlenecks because I always felt like I was being choked when I was younger.
Heattech changed my perspective on layering because it kept me warm, but I never felt suffocated or trapped. So, I decided to explore the world of layering, and it’s become one of my signature styles. I typically prefer mock neck variations of undershirts for my looks. Now, I can’t imagine my clothing without layering when it’s cold out.
As someone who hated layering for a long time. Here are some of the pieces that changed the game for me personally. I will say not all of these will keep you as warm as heattech, but the layers help. Sadly, I do not have affiliate, paid or referral links with any of these items.
Uniqlo HEATTECH Ultra Warm T-Shirt
Heattach items keep me the warmest out of everything on this list, but sometimes I do get overheated while wearing them, which is wild to think about. Personally, I stick to neutrals when it comes to layering pieces, so this is my ideal brand. This example is one of the variations of HEATTECH I wear the most, but there are so many different styles I love to wear. I have a ribbed tee version ( which I cannot find on their website, but I love it so much.) I also wear some of their thinner version of this piece.
L.L. Bean Interlock Mock-Turtleneck
My whole family is L.L. Bean lovers ( I even got this as a holiday gift). I cannot remember the first time I purchased one of these and wore it, but I love them. They are medium in thickness, but they keep me comfy and cozy. One of the reasons why I love these, and you will too, is because they have so many different colors! I typically rock these under my sweatshirts/ crewnecks.
Women's Relaxed Cotton Long Sleeve Mock Turtleneck
One day, on a whim, I decided to pick up the Land’s End version of this base layer, and I loved it. They are quite similar in weight to the L.L. Bean, but they come in so many different patterns and colors. If you’re someone who has a more colorful style, try a fun striped one for under your favorite sweater. I feel like if I ever am looking for a niche color to match something, these are the ones I gravitate towards.
Skims Turtleneck Top
I will say that out of every single piece here, I wear my Skims the most. To be honest, I was so skeptical of this brand ( I am very skeptical when it comes to celebrity brands), and I fell in love with this top. Shortly after I purchased the first one, I bought one in every single color. These work best for fall because they do not offer too much warmth, but they do give you a much-needed extra layer. So I often wear these under cardigans; I do also style them under sweaters and sweatshirts as well. ( I picked up three of these during Black Friday; that’s how much I love them.)
What is your go-to layering item? Let me know below: