Tiktok's Macaroon Method Is The Only Winter Styling Guide You Need

Winter styling can be a real hassle, as we juggle wanting to be warm with the eternal desire to look put-together. So if someone offers a simple hack to nail a cold weather look, we're all ears. TikTok stylist Mandy Lee @oldloserinbrooklyn, has offered just such a formula, based on the cool-girl palettes of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. The celebrity twins' fashion house, The Row, is famous for sleek, elegant silhouettes that look equally chic in the summers as they do in the winters. 

Lee nicknamed her hack the Macaroon Method, and the tip involves, unsurprisingly, focusing on outerwear far more than the base layers. Similar to how the outside of the French pastry looks; the inside is a basic cream filling, but the outside is usually pretty and colorful. Lee explained that you keep your base layer as unfussy and comfortable as you want. This means you can wear anything from sweatpants to aesthetic pajamas or whatever you're most at ease in during the chilly months. Then, for your shell layer, focus on coordinating three key elements: a fabulous coat, a statement shoe, and a stunning bag. These three pieces keep the final effect looking structural and deliberate. The best part about this method is that there's a lot of room to play with the three essential ingredients, so you can still incorporate your favorite winter trends. There are no color rules either, so feel free to go bright, dark, or monochromatic, like the all-white winter trend. We're loving the space for inspiration here, and see so much potential with the Macaroon Method. 

Since winter is all about staying warm and insulated, the Macaroon Method focuses on keeping cozy while still putting together a curated look. TikTok personality Mandy Lee, @oldloserinbrooklyn, suggests styling a quality, black woolen coat with patent red leather ankle boots, and a red, Fendi handbag. While this first version of the Macaroon Method is all va-va-voom, Lee notes that it doesn't always have to be so opulent. Another version of the approach is to style a fabulous, colorful statement coat with a basic shoe and simple bag. She also suggests pairing a bold coat and shoe with a simple bag. It all depends on your mood and how much energy you want to deliver with your outfit. 

People on TikTok were all about this tip. "This is why I LOVE winter fashion, I feel like my style comes alive when it's cold," one person wrote. Others asked Lee where her statement, woolen coat came from, and she said she got it 12 years prior from Lodenfrey. She certainly makes a case for investing in quality basics! "A good wool coat LASTS!" Lee wrote in the comments. 

While TikTok star Mandy Lee said the easiest way to apply the Macaroon Method is with a fabulous shoe, there's plenty of room for personal interpretation. Since vintage sneakers are everything right now, a good pair of white or grey running shoes, like Adidas Sambas, with crew socks could be the perfect outfit anchor. Play with contrasts by adding a high end handbag with these casual shoes. Don't be afraid to incorporate bright colors in the Macaroon trend, since the look invites both the austere and the vivid. A thick scarf in a bright shade like crimson or tangerine adds warmth visually and literally. The same goes for fun hats and gloves. 

One person asked Lee what they did when they arrived at a restaurant in their pajamas, to which the creator responded by stressing that this wasn't the point. You can certainly wear statement pajamas out of the house, but the look is more about keeping your shell simple and comfortable, while your outer layer is the real talking point.