Staying fashionable in chilly city weather

Dec. 21 marks the first day of winter — the season for snowstorms, skating, hot chocolate and holiday celebrations. It's also the time to return to the closets: to bring down boxes from dusty shelves and pull out the winter clothing to weather the storm. Bulk and burden might come to mind, but it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some winter trends and fashion staples to look out for.

The coat

Pea coats, dress coats, trench coats — thank you, Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" — it has the ability to dress up (or down) any outfit and keep the body warm. And there's just something classic about a simple black coat. It is sophisticated and polished, and can transform an outfit from understated to dapper.

But a bright jacket can brighten the mood.

"I love color," CAS sophomore Jorge Pulido said. "The grays and blacks of winter can be substituted with darker tones of the colors reminiscent of spring."

Scarves and black leather combination

Black leather is sleek, stylish and smart. It is a versatile piece with an edge: sophisticated and a little bit dangerous. And although certain dead trends are occasionally resurrected, black will never die in the first place.

"I really want to own a black leather jacket — but it has to have a hood that's also made of leather — because it is warm, yet sophisticated, yet ballin'," Stern sophomore Ignacio Finol said.

Once the leather is paired with a soft scarf, whether it is silk and patterned or solid and circled, it softens the overall aesthetic, creating an innovative outfit for winter. In the words of Lady Gaga in "Paparazzi": "Leather and jeans: garage glamorous."

Tights

Sometimes dressing weather-appropriate isn't the first priority. Why should it be? Just because the warm weather goes away doesn't mean the skirts and dresses need to go, too. Black opaque tights smarten up a look, and colored tights add pops of color and modernity to more neutral palettes.

"Trendy tights and boots are necessarily flattering to balance out bulky sweaters and coats," Gallatin freshman Abby Echiverri said.

Another new dynamic: wear and tear. Runs and rips on tights no longer need to be avoided — they add character. Alexander Wang's fall 2009 runway show was littered with laddered tights and boots: a grunge meets urban meets fashion-forward aesthetic. Wear them with conviction and hit the streets because they're back to dominate Manhattan sidewalks this winter.

Plaid

Some trends manage to come full circle, and plaid returns to assert itself as a powerful pattern.

"I base a lot of the stuff I wear off of what I saw my dad wearing while I was growing up," CAS sophomore Ian Hartz said. "He was always pretty outdoorsy, so I try to plan on that, because it's what I know. I do try to have a little more fun with it though ... no one wants to be just like their father."

Plaid is a design that rears its head on runways and streets time and time again. Whether you associate plaid with Britney Spears' " … Baby One More Time" or just consider it an essential item of clothing for a Manhattan closet, there's something comforting and charming about the plaid button-down.

"I think my style is simple, color blocks mostly," CAS sophomore Nikolas Block said. "But I try to mix it up with a pattern or a bright color."

Boots

Although suede boots may not be made for the slush and snow of the streets, rubber and leather boots are. Whether they kiss your ankles or reach your knees, or paired with skinny jeans or a print dress, a pair of boots has the ability to transform an ensemble into something that runs the gamut from cosmopolitan to playful.

"I feel like the menswear trend has continued to be everywhere this season," Steinhardt sophomore Katherine Gollnick said. "Lots of boots are clunkier and unisex this winter, but they have nice frilly and feminine details to balance the look."

Knitwear

There is a 2010 calendar called "Knitting IS Sexy" that's dedicated to the "sexy side of knitting." The creators of the calendar are right: The right hybrid of fibers and fabrics allows knitwear to be warm and stylish without the extra mass. A slouchy and oversized knitwear top combined with a fitted bottom is a look that is both cozy and chic.

"I love oversized '80s knitwear — especially with big and bold patterns — because it's fashionable and comfortable," Steinhardt sophomore Kristen Kim said. "Girls don't have to feel body-conscious."

The head: A pair of furry earmuffs adds a fresh, youthful detail to an outfit. They also serve as protection from snowballs in a line of attack — fashion and functionality in one neat package.