Layering, it’s a neglected art in these parts. Listen up Harvard, layering does not mean wearing your North Face puffer over whatever it is you decided to wear to section that day. It’s about wearing an outfit, not a strictly utilitarian cocoon of warmth to get you from here to Northwest Labs.

And ladies, balance it out. Leggings as pants, fine. But if you’ve just got on tights (God forbid you’re bare-legged in February) and your top half looks like you’re smuggling a couple Sherpas you may need to consider some heavier-duty bottoms. Same goes for guys in shorts this time of year; they don’t make you look casual and nonchalant, they make you look lost.

Below are some gorgeous examples of coordinated winter layers in neutral tones. An easy change from the ubiquitous black puffers and peacoats.

Photos via the Sartorialist

Red lips by Annika M. from lookbook.nu

Winter Fashion Tip #1: Now’s the time for a little extra drama.

Dramatic makeup that is. If you can’t seem to get out of your heavy black coat and boots all the time, add some weather proof makeup for a look that works both indoors and out. Be bold, go for rich, saturated colors that compliment your skin tone. Winter is the best time for a little more makeup since it won’t melt off of your face and the dull conditions mean you can pull off a bit more color than usual. If you want a little understated drama, a bright, nourishing  lipstick can be found at CVS on the cheap— and it will also protect your precious lips from the harsh weather.

For guys who aren’t too into this gendered tip, this is also a great time for grabbing a new pair of sunglasses. Try something different (read: dramatic), like a pair of glasses with an astronautical mirrored gold lens. While it makes some real hip sense to wear these now to protect from snow glare, the same pair will read rather douche-y come springtime.

See more from Annika. Send your winter inspiration images to thehvoicemail@gmail.com.

It’s here, it’s here, it’s really here! The snow we’ve been awaiting for so long has arrived, and it’s white and sparkly and pretty. There are still a few of us on campus and whether you’re studying into the morn for that last-day-possible exam or just hanging around for a few days after you’re done for the semester, take a second and step outside.

Wrap a scarf around your neck, yank on a hat, and zip up your coat. It’s a thin coating of white, but it’s there and it’s beautiful. It doesn’t matter if you’re going home to Boston, or someplace more tropical, or even someplace with real snowstorms. If you’re here right now, look out your window — it’s like a Currier and Ives greeting card out there.

Take a study break. Make a snow angel. Have a snowball fight. Make a snowman. Whoop and holler and run around like you did when you were five and the first snowfall of the season meant Mom would make cookies and hot cocoa. In the rush to leave campus and get home for the holidays, don’t forget about how beautiful Harvard is when it’s all dressed up in white.

Boston winters are long and cold. Appreciate the precipitation when it falls.

If ye who are unluckily still at school have been complaining about the drag that is Cantabrigian winter, The Voice is here to gently remind you that you’re, well, early.

For those of you not up to snuff on your Science Of The Earth knowledge, despite whatever maledictions we’ve been verbalizing toward the weather lately, winter technically starts tomorrow, December 21st, the day of the winter solstice. The solstice marks the day that the sun’s direct angle of insolation hits its farthest south in the Earth’s trajectory around the sun, the 23.5° South latitude, also known as the Tropic of Capricorn. See the following handy visual aids:

As the Earth revolves, its axial tilt of 23.5° points the planet in varying directions vis-à-vis the sun, resulting in different latitudes receiving the greatest intensities of insolation at different times of the year.

On December 21st, the Earth's southern hemisphere is angled toward the sun, such that the Tropic of Capricorn is the recipient of the most direct radiance.

After tomorrow, the direct angle of insolation will venture consistently northward as the Earth revolves, altering the latitudes which will profit from the most intense insolation, hitting the equator on the first day of spring and reaching its farthest north, the 23.5° North latitude line, on June 21st, the beginning of summer. That means we Harvardians at 42° North will bask in the direct rays of the sun’s glow…well, never.

On the literal bright side, however, the winter solstice does mark the shortest day of the year. After tomorrow, the amount of sunlight each day will increase gradually until June, slowly closing the crippling cycle of winter-induced nocturnality for we college students who wake up at 1 p.m. when the sun sets at 4:14.

by Alisha Ramos ’12
December 2009 Issue

In case you haven’t stepped outside in a while (and since this is Reading Period, this probably applies to many of you), let me clue you in on something: it’s freezing! With the combination of chilly temperatures, unbearable windchill, and finals, it might be tempting to step outside wearing sweatpants, Northface, and Uggs. But just because you’re stressed and cold does not mean it’s okay to look like a walking lump of fleece. Snap out of it and look decent! Below are some great winter coats and accessories that look great and will keep you warm and toasty. Besides, who knows? Maybe looking this fashionable in the winter will get you caught on Noicethreads.

BEST WINTER COATS

The Parka
The parka is my personal winter favorite because it’s warm, often has a fur-lined hood (perfect for snowy weather), and usually comes in neutral colors that can go with any wardrobe. The nicest parkas can be pretty pricey, ranging from around $100 and up, but it’s a great investment as a classic winter coat that won’t go out of style for a while.

For the guys: All-Son National Parka, Urban Outfitters, $98.

For the girls: Fur Padded Parka, Topshop, $160.

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