EVELYSS / Guides / Travel & Everyday

What to Wear to a Christmas Market (Warm Feet, Free Hands, Still Smart)

“A Christmas market is not a walk. It's a long, slow queue for mulled wine on cold stone, and your feet feel it first. Spend your effort on soles, socks and a coat that covers your hips, then let one good scarf do the dressing up.”Her take

Why Christmas market outfits go wrong

Most people dress for the temperature on their phone and forget how they'll spend the afternoon. At a market you shuffle, stop, queue and stand. You don't move enough to warm up, and cobbles, paving and the ground under wooden chalets pull heat out through thin soles.

The second mistake is the bag. You'll be holding a hot drink in one hand and food or a purchase in the other, in a crowd. A shoulder bag that slips, or a tote that gapes open, makes the whole visit awkward. Plan for hands that are full and a body that's mostly still.

Build the outfit in three layers

Start with a thin base that sits close to the skin: a merino or thermal long-sleeved top, or a fine roll neck. It should be thin enough that nothing above it pulls or bunches. Over it, one warm mid layer: a wool or wool-blend jumper or a cardigan you can open if you go inside a pub or a heated tent.

Then the coat. A wool coat that reaches at least mid-thigh keeps your hips and the tops of your legs warm, which matters more when you're standing than when you're walking. A longer puffer does the same job on a properly cold or wet evening. Skip the cropped jacket here; the gap at the back of your waist is where the cold gets in.

On your legs, jeans or wool trousers over thermal leggings work well. If you'd rather wear a skirt or dress, choose a midi with thick opaque tights, around 80 to 100 denier, and boots that meet the hem or come close to it.

• Daytime, dry: merino base, wool jumper, mid-thigh wool coat, jeans, flat leather boots.
• Evening, cold: thermal base, chunky knit, long puffer or long wool coat, wool trousers over thermal leggings, lug-sole boots.
• Wet day: fine roll neck, cardigan, water-resistant coat with a hood, dark jeans, waterproof boots.

What shoes to wear on cold cobbles

Choose flat or low-heeled ankle boots with a thick rubber sole, at least a couple of centimetres deep, and a proper grip. Thickness matters because it puts distance between your feet and the cold ground. Waterproof or treated leather is worth it, since market squares collect spilt drinks, slush and puddles.

Leave room for a wool sock. Try your boots on with the socks you'll actually wear; if your toes are squeezed, your feet will get colder, not warmer, because a boot that's too tight restricts blood flow. If there's still space once your sock is on, a thin wool or felt insole adds one more layer between you and the ground. Avoid stilettos, which catch between cobbles and planks, and canvas trainers, which soak through in minutes. Smart wellies are fine for a country or garden market, but they get cold on stone if you're standing for hours.

Which bag to bring (and where to keep your phone)

A small cross-body bag with a zip is the best option. Wear it at the front of your body, over your coat, so you can see it and reach it with one hand. Keep your card or phone for paying in an outer zipped pocket so you're not digging through the whole bag at every stall.

Police regularly warn that crowded Christmas markets attract pickpockets, so avoid back pockets and open totes, and keep every zip closed. If you plan to shop, fold a lightweight cotton tote into your bag for purchases rather than carrying a big bag all day. Check the market's own website before you go for opening hours and any rules on bags.

Scarf, hat and gloves that actually work

A large wool scarf is the most useful thing you'll wear. Wrap it twice around your neck, or tuck it into the coat so it closes the neckline gap. It's also where the outfit can look festive: deep red, forest green, camel or a check all photograph well under fairy lights.

Bring a knitted beanie or a beret you can pull over your ears. For gloves, thin touchscreen gloves let you pay and hold a mug; carry fingerless mitts or a warmer pair in your pocket for when you're not eating. Leather gloves look smart but get sticky and stained around mulled wine and food, so they're better for an evening that's mostly walking.

Day visit or evening visit: what changes

In the day, you can lean lighter: a jumper and a good coat may be enough on a mild, dry afternoon. But in December the sun sets before 4pm in London, and earlier the further north you go, and an open square gets noticeably colder once it does, especially with wind. If you're arriving at three and staying until dark, wear the evening outfit from the start and open your coat while it's light, rather than wishing for an extra layer later.

For an evening, the lights do the work, so choose one warmer, richer colour near your face, a scarf or a knit, and keep the rest dark and simple. A red lip or a pair of gold hoops or small drop earrings will show up better in photos than a busy patterned jumper.

Travelling to a market: what to pack

If you're making a day trip by train to a city market, or travelling to one for a weekend, pack around the one coat and one pair of boots you'll wear every day. Add two base layers, two jumpers, one pair of jeans, one pair of trousers or a midi skirt with thick tights, extra wool socks, and a slightly smarter top for dinner.

Put the scarf, hat and gloves in the outside pocket of your bag so they're easy to find when you step off the train. Bring a spare pair of socks in your day bag too. If your feet get wet, changing your socks will make the second half of the day far better.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Dress for standing, not walking: a thin base, a wool jumper, a coat over your hips, thick-soled waterproof boots with wool socks, a front-worn cross-body bag, and one rich-coloured scarf that looks good under the lights.

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