What to Wear in 20-degree Weather
Saturday is the winter solstice, and what better way to kick off the season than by chatting about how to dress for 20-degree weather! 20 degrees Fahrenheit corresponds to approximately -7 degrees Celsius. If you’re not familiar with this temperature, let me just tell you…it’s COLD! You’ll probably feel it in your bones.
It’s challenging to be stylish while staying warm at the same time. For the most part, I build all of my cold-weather outfits around my coat and boots, because that’s what I’ll be wearing while I’m outside in 20-degree weather. It’s so important to invest in truly warm outerwear and footwear!
Below, I rounded up what to wear in 20-degree weather featuring 12 outfit ideas from my archives to inspire you. In Idaho, high temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit happen in the winter, with the frequency depending on where you are in the state (here in Boise, they normally happen during a temperature inversion or cold pool, which are unfortunately common). The mountain locations also experience 20 degrees regularly. Pin your favorite looks and tweak them to work for you/your lifestyle!
Check out my guides about what to wear in other temperatures!
What to Wear in 20-degree Weather
20 degrees Fahrenheit is COLD! When you’re not used to it, it’s brutal. (And those first few 20-degree days after weeks of 30- and 40-degree temperatures are also a shock to the system.) As a longtime Idahoan, I’m used to temperatures hitting the 20s in winter. I don’t like it, but I can dress for it, and I’m here to help you dress for cold weather confidently while keeping you safe in the elements and (hopefully!) cozy warm.
There are a bunch of outfit ideas below to inspire you, but in general, all of my cold weather outfits follow this same formula. Stick with these items when building your outfits and you’ll be good to go all winter long!
Base layers
Sweaters made from natural fibers (NO polyester or acrylic)
Long pants or jeans
Wool socks (long enough to cover any exposed skin)
Weather-appropriate footwear (boots with traction)
Puffer coat
Accessories: beanie, scarf, gloves
Is It Safe To Be Outside In 20-Degree Weather?
It is generally safe to be outside in 20-degree weather, but be sure to dress for the conditions and take breaks inside periodically. As we discussed at the beginning of the post, 20°F is below freezing, and it feels kind of “sharp” against bare skin. 20-degree weather feels considerably colder if it’s windy outside; it actually hurts my face when it’s that cold and also windy!
Things to consider when choosing your outfits for 20-degree weather:
Is it windy? Don’t skip the base layers (I love Uniqlo’s Heattech line) and gloves/hat/scarf, and opt for a long coat that goes past your hips. Keep as much of your skin covered as possible!
Is there snow on the ground? Wear outerwear and footwear that can handle precipitation.
Is it icy or slick? Wear shoes with good traction or add traction to your boots (go up a size or two in these to account for snow boots).
Is it sunny? Don’t forget sunscreen (especially if it’s snowy!) and a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Need a few outfit ideas to get your creative juices flowing? Below are 12 outfit ideas I’ve worn in the past few years to inspire your own 20-degree weather outfits! Feel free to make stylistic substitutions if anything feels dated (however, in my unbiased millennial opinion, skinny jeans are still the superior jean to wear with winter boots!).
What to Wear in 20-Degree Weather
Cozy Accessories + Snow Boots
Layer up with the cozy accessories in 20-degree weather! Here, I’m wearing a cashmere sweater and a pair of Madewell’s old “heatrich” jeans that are lined with cashmere and brushed for warmth and softness. I’m also wearing a cashmere scarf, beanie, gloves, coat, and—of course—snow boots.
Bright Puffer Coat + Plaid Scarf
Bright puffer coats make me happy in dreary winter weather! You’ll see this coat make an appearance in many of these outfits. I highly recommend one if you don’t already own a bright coat! In this outfit, I kept my base outfit neutral and added the coat and a colorful plaid scarf for some excitement.
Blanket Scarf + Cable Knit Sweater
Remember when blanket scarves were THE winter accessory about 10 years ago?! They may not be all that popular anymore, but a thick scarf like that will be one of the coziest things you can wear in 20-degree weather. Plus, they really can double as a light blanket—perfect for winter travel.
Cable Knit Sweater + Colorful Boot Socks
I’m not wearing coats in some of these outfits, but that doesn’t mean you should skip a coat yourself! (In all of these outfit posts, I took my coat off and threw it out of frame because it didn’t “go” with the rest of my outfit.) Wear colorful boot socks to brighten up a neutral cold weather outfit.
Wool Baseball Cap + Puffer Parka
Holy snow! (The snow bank was a little higher than the actual snowfall in the area because the road was plowed.) This is another typical winter weather outfit I wear (flannel shirt, jeans, snow boots, puffer parka) but with a wool baseball cap for something different yet still warm.
Pom-pom Beanie + Snow Boots
Most of my cold weather outfits are not that exciting, but they are what you’d typically find me wearing on any given winter day. You can’t go wrong with a cozy sweater (layer a thin tee or base layer underneath for extra warmth), a puffer coat, pom-pom beanie, and snow boots (mine are Sorel).
Bright Puffer Coat + Lace-up Boots
This is one of my favorite cold weather outfits, and it’s a good example of how the coat can make the outfit! Start with a cozy fleece (I love Uniqlo’s fleece), add a pair of jeans or stretchy pants, and finish with lace-up lugsole boots before topping it all off with your bright puffer coat.
Classic Winter Sweater + Faux Fur Hooded Coat
Start with a base outfit featuring a classic cable knit sweater and jeans and finish it with a coat (the same one I wore in lots of other outfits) and snow boots! I’m also wearing leather gloves; find a pair of fleece- or cashmere-lined leather gloves (bonus points for gloves that work with electronics).
Winter Accessories + Fleece-lined Tights
You probably gathered that I don’t reach for skirts or dresses in below-freezing temperatures, but you might! Add a coat, and this outfit is an option for 20-degree weather. Fleece-lined tights and wool socks make ALL the difference (but don’t forget your other winter accessories, too).
Wubby Pullover + Winter Boots
I wouldn’t wear a wubby without a coat in 20-degree temperatures, so pretend like I’m wearing one here. I would, however, layer underneath the wubby and wear wool socks with my winter boots. These boots are weatherproof and get a lot of wear because they aren’t obvious snow boots!
Black Parka + Tall Leather Boots
I made this cold weather outfit a bit more interesting by adding a tan striped merino wool sweater and tall leather boots in lieu of snow boots or lugsole boots. If there’s no precipitation to contend with, tall boots like these work great! Be sure to wear long wool socks underneath for warmth.
Bright Puffer Coat + Sorel Boots
Here’s one more cold weather outfit featuring my bright puffer coat for good measure! I love this coat so much and I’m so sad it’s stained (…for now). This outfit also features a ribbed cashmere sweater, Madewell’s old “heatrich” jeans, Sorel snow boots, and a cozy pom-pom beanie.