Winter in Vancouver could be cold but is usually mild compared to many other places. There are days I don’t need my thick wool coat because it’s not too cold that I can get away without wearing one. Of course I would still need something to keep me warm (after all it’s still winter); that’s when my ponchos/wraps come in handy! I never really paid attention to ponchos/wraps until I came across one online and decided to purchase it two years ago. And that camel poncho changed my life; I have been slowly building up my collection ever since.

I know ponchos/wraps are made of a whole lot of fabric, which is a big rectangular or square shaped piece of cloth. And some people are skeptical about these garments because they often look very casual or seem to be hard to pull off. Choosing a poncho/wrap is actually not difficult at all; you just need to know what style you are looking for and what will flatter your body shape. There is a slightly different between poncho and wrap. Poncho is with an opening in the centre for the head; meanwhile wrap is with an open front. Either for poncho or wrap, you need to know what style you are going for: more simple, more boho, more chic, or more retro. Once you start your search, you may be surprised how many different styles there are. Some have simple but elegant line which are perfect for more formal, professional look; some are chunky knits with fringe which will give a more bohemian look. Especially with ponchos, they also come in many different necklines: turtleneck, crew-neck, V-neck etc. so you need to think about which styles would work best for your body shape. Also think about the length because it is very important to not have your ponchos/wraps too long if you are more petite; otherwise you will look like you are being “swallowed” by the poncho/wrap.

Just like every other wardrobe piece, you need to look at the whole outfit and make sure all pieces go well together. Because of all the material and loose fit, you want to wear something more slim-fitting underneath to avoid looking too “poofy”. Ponchos/wraps go well with skinny jeans, pencil skirts, leggings, or any slim-fitting pants. To help elongate your leg line, pair them with heels ankle boots, or OTK boots. Since there are so many choices on colours or patterns, I sometimes find it hard to make a decision. However I always seem to go for a solid, neutral colour despite there are many nice prints like plaids or Aztec because I want them to easily go with other items. I hope you have one already in your closet; if not I am sure you will find your perfect one soon!

Wrap (Aritzia); Dress (Aritzia; similar at Aritzia); Boots (Zara; similar at Steve Madden); Bag (Aritzia)