My Dream Winter Outfit Formula? A Sweater, Jeans, and Boots—33 Options I Found at J.Crew, Nordstrom, and Gap
Comfortable, easy, and chic.
Fact: You can usually find me in some combination of a sweater, jeans, and boots. The winter outfit formula has never failed me. However, my go-to look has been feeling a bit stale lately, so I figured it was time to add some new essentials into the mix.
I headed to a few of my favorite retailers—Nordstrom, J.Crew, and Gap—with my credit card and a mental shopping list comprised of knitwear, denim, and boots. In the end, I had created several very emulatable winter outfits perfect for keeping on deck for the next time you get bored, thanks to a few key winter fashion trends. My love of minimalist finds also led me to add capsule-wardrobe staples like cashmere sweaters, black boots, and straight-leg denim to my cart—my bases are officially covered. Once you scroll through my curation below, you, too, will see that the look is polished, cozy, and far from boring.
Style at Large writer Tyler McCall calls this J.Crew's menswear sweater the "Goldilocks" of cashmere, citing its not-too-fitted and not-too-baggy fit.
Jeans are getting slimmer in 2026, and I'm here for it.
You can't go wrong with a classic pair of Chelsea boots.
I'll never get tired of wearing a black turtleneck sweater.
If Hailey Bieber loves these Gap jeans, then so do I.
Deep cherry red is a fun shade to try out when you're bored of black boots.
Don't sleep on Caslon for its quality, yet affordable cashmere sweaters.
Every editor I know is obsessed with Levi's jeans, and it's not too difficult to see why.
You'll wear these black boots time and time again, I guarantee it.
This cobalt blue shade is everything for winter.
Black jeans are my go-to choice when I want to be comfortable and still look put together.
I can't get over the cool sculptural heel on these boots.
This cardigan looks as cozy as can be.
These jeans have a vintage vibe that I'm obsessed with.
Amp up the cozy factor with these furry boots (a key winter 2026 boot trend, might I add).
Prepare to see this electric green shade everywhere in the coming months.
MC's Editor-in-Chief, Nikki Ogunnaike, is a big fan of the barrel-leg jean shape, so I'm itching to try a pair myself.
Animal-printed shoes are an easy way to level up a simple outfit.
Chocolate brown is the neutral shade I'm wearing all winter long.
Dark-wash jeans are the key to keeping your look polished.
Baggy jeans and an oversized sweater call for equally-cozy Ugg boots.
Fashion girls are wearing polo sweaters on repeat this season.
You can mix-and-match these jeans with basically everything in your closet.
Yes, waterproof suede exists and these boots are proof.
The next time you're tempted to reach for a T-shirt, opt for this elevated knitted version instead.
J.Crew's denim trousers are a fan-favorite for their leg-lengthening fit.
Wear these suede boots if you want richer-looking outfit.
Gap's CashSoft collection is just as soft as some of my favorite cashmere sweaters.
As far as Levi's jeans go, 501s are the silhouette you can wear on repeat.
These boots look so much more expensive than their $75 price tag.
A slim mockneck sweater is a must-have for minimalists.
Simply put, Madewell jeans are perfection.
Don't be afraid to tuck your jeans into these boots—fashion girls are currently loving the look.
