As temperatures drop and layers multiply, personal style doesn’t have to disappear – it can adapt. 

What students wear in the winter becomes less of a choice and more of an instinct, shaped by the cold that’s been settling through campus as a result of a recent snowstorm that sent temperatures plunging. Coats are zipped to the chin, scarves are wrapped tightly and gloves are pulled on as students move across campus, boots crunching against icy sidewalks.

Winter on campus brings a shift in how clothing functions. Outfits are no longer built piece by piece but assembled quickly. Layering not only keeps students warm, but also becomes a quiet way to express personality, as patterns, textures and accessories peek through heavier outerwear. 

As colder weather becomes more consistent, winter clothing across campus grows more uniform. Heavy coats, neutral colors and practical footwear dominate daily outfits, prioritizing warmth and function over individuality. The need to dress for freezing temperatures often limits visible expression, as personal style is layered beneath jackets, scarves and sweaters.

Still, within these layers, students have found their own ways of expressing their personal style throughout the wintry season. Rather than wearing bulky layer upon layer, many adapt their wardrobes, allowing winter clothing to become an extension of their identity rather than a limitation.

According to conversations with students across campus, it’s clear that personal style doesn’t disappear in colder months, it simply takes on new layers. For some, this means neutral tones and soft textures, for others, winter becomes an opportunity to experiment with layering, accessories and detail.

Sushna Suvdei, a freshman public health major at Kent State, balances staying warm with maintaining her personal style. She described her style as “soft and casual,” gravitating toward neutral tones like brown and beige, often styled with sweaters. 

Suvdei expressed her opinion on puffer jackets, joking that while they can “ruin an outfit because it makes it look so bad,” “With the weather, you have to wear it.”

While Suvdei’s approach reflects a softness and simplicity, winter style on campus looks different for every student. Yazmin Krzyzanowski, a freshman fashion design student at Kent State, described her winter style as “very cozy,” favoring layers of “long sleeves, cozy sweaters and cardigans.” 

“I love layering, but also using thermal basics and accessories,” Krzyzanowski said. “I love doing my nails, using dark colors like cherry red or maroon.”

Krzyzanowski shared that winter makes getting dressed both easier and more challenging. While the cold reduces the pressure to overthink outfits, it also makes it difficult to find pieces that feel personal while still keeping her warm. 

“There is a high-neck gray sweater I love and it’s perfect for winter,” she said. “When it’s not too cold, my brown leather jacket, I absolutely love it and wear it all the time.”

Winter style on campus also reflects broader fashion trends. According to Harper’s Bazaar, winter accessories such as scarves, gloves and snow boots are essential this season, allowing individuals to incorporate personality into their outfits even when heavier layers dominate. 

Seasonal trends emphasize layering, neutral color palettes and functional accessories, reflecting a broader shift toward comfort-driven fashion during colder months. These elements allow individuals to adapt their wardrobes without sacrificing personal preference, even as heavier layers dominate everyday outfits.

These trends echo what students are already doing on campus. They show that winter style is both a creative choice and a practical necessity, blending self-expression with the demands of colder temperatures. Winter style is not just about survival, it’s about making choices that reflect personality, even in the cold.

In the coldest months, personal style becomes a little less obvious, but no less meaningful. Wrapped in layers meant to protect against the cold, students continue to express themselves, proving that even in winter, style doesn’t disappear, it learns how to survive the cold. In each coat, scarf and pair of gloves, students quietly assert who they are, even when most of themself is hidden beneath layers.

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Hi! I’m Hannah Planey, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.