While waiting for spring ...

I had to actually LEAVE THE HOUSE today (I know, shock, horror) and it's disgustingly cold outside. Did I cave in and wear pants? NO!

"But Erin," I hear you saying, "How can I continue my skirt- and dress-wearing ways when it's ONE DEGREE (F) outside?"

I don't know how you can do it, but this is how I do it; in addition to my dress or skirt I wear:

-- two pairs of tights (this, alone, is warmer than most pairs of pants)
-- wool socks inside my boots
-- a silk undershirt (if I can remember where I put mine away in the spring, always a problem)
-- a wool turtleneck sweater
-- a hat, no matter how dorky I look in hats
-- lip balm applied to about the thickness of cake frosting (not really about keeping warm, but essential nonetheless)

and ... the secret weapon: if it's REALLY, REALLY cold, I keep handy a stock of those three-dollar chemical warmers you can buy in the drugstore. I'm not sure how they work -- it could be little imps released from hell in there, but as long as they pump out the heat, I don't care. Putting one on top of your undershirt, between your shoulder blades (or even wearing one of the ones that looks like a belt, which are nearly invisible under a sweater) means you can laugh at the cold. (It may be a sniffly, pathetic, whimpering laugh, but still: laughing.) The best part of those chemical warmers is that they last ALL DAY and you can keep one handy in your bag, just in case. (The only thing I haven't tested is whether or not they set off the metal detector at the airport; last time I traveled wearing one I made a quick stop at the ladies' room to take it off. I try not to annoy the TSA with my unusual accessories any more than necessary.)

Also, La BellaDonna had some good comments about dressing for cold weather in the comments to this post, ... feel free to add more hints and tips in the comments here, as well!

Comments

[Evis]

Wool tights. And all the other things you metioned. And it sure helps if teh skirt or dress is from wool too.

[the_lazymilliner]

I just want to know who built that snow lady. Mary Beth

[pronetolaughter]

Vouching for the two pairs of tights. I did 2 prs tights and a long wool skirt consistently in New Hampshire one winter, including two weeks when the temperature never topped 10, and I was starting my car at -20 degrees.

[Toby Wollin]

I'm with Evis in terms of wool tights. Mytights.com has lots and lots of colors and sizes up to extremely tall. Another thing I do is that instead of a bra, I wear an athletic racerback sleeveless top with a shelf bra(and I wear a 36C, folks). I've been able to find them in every color from black to lime green and they do a great job of helping me to keep warm without adding a whole lot. Another thing is to wear a slip. It's a small, extra thing but adds a lot. The knit ones are much warmer than the usual flimsy nylon tricot ones. And I have a hat and gloves in every single coat/jacket I have so that I do not have any excuse not to wear a hat. Between a proper hat and good boots with wool socks, I've got both ends(ahem) covered.

[Janel]

Maggie's Organic Cotton Tights ROCK! I love them. I buy them on sale by the case through the natural food co-op. They are about $12 that way vs. the $22+ they are everywhere else.

[amy g.]

Can anyone recommend a source for a good knit and/or silk slip? (as opposed to the usual nylon tricot) Thanks! It doesn't get too bitter cold here in NC often, but when it does, we feel it.

[Jill B]

I'm inspired. I am a somewhat cold-natured person living in a warmer place than you and I have a hard time convincing myself to wear skirts. My only problem is working up heat when I'm outside and coming in to my warm office and having to keep adjusting to go in-and-out several times a day.

[lorrwill]

Wow great post and great comments. I knew there must be a trick to this!

[Deirdre]

I love those heatpad belts. Last year, when my bulging disc was becoming a herniated disc, those heatpad belts saved my sanity. They really eased the pain and they do last all day long.

[Nadine]

Wool tights. Wool scarves. Silk thermal leggings under a full-length skirt. Slips (god I LOVE them! Nana was right.) HUUUUGE wool coat. Although, I have never been anywhere as cold as Chicago in February. (But my bloke was there a year ago. Even dipped his naked toe in the lake. Crazy!)

[Toby Wollin]

amy g. - my heavy knit slip is by Vanity Fair, Style 10-158 (or 10-15B). It's 80/20 Nylon and Spandex. I got mine black, but I'll bet they come in white as well.

[Thoughts on Life and Millinery.]

As to being warm yet avoiding bulk...a feathered hat is amazingly warm. The downy ones that look like tams look very dressy for evening events.If you are cold...always think about wearing a pretty hat!

[merel]

wool tights, wool dress, wool shrug to cover my neck- BellaDonna, I find that shrugs do look good on a more busty figure (in contrast to cardigans).My favouritest ever is http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTlacey.html, I have it in a teal kind of blue.And I can also recommend dreads: it is as if you're always wearing a hat, all that hair on your head :)As at my work it is freaking cold, though, I consider making a silk slip. Anyone any advice on buying fabric? What kind of silk to get? And where? (I'm in Europe)

[marcia in austin]

Amy g.: silk slips, silk long underwear (in a variety of weights) and silk just-about-anything-else can be found at wintersilks.com

[Melis]

I don't own any pants, I even ski in a skirt. I usually wear cotton leggings and boots under my skirts, the leggings are tight enough that they basically look like tights.I also don't get as cold as other people seem to, if I'm walking or skiing I get very hot and have to take off my hat and scarf.I get so overheated in the summer it's horrible for me. I should move to Siberia.

[Jen ~ MOMSPatterns]

I wanna know who built the snow lady, too! That is AWESOME!

[Elizabeth Joy]

This is my first year of dresses in winter. I'm very impressed at how warm I am staying in cotton tights. Much warmer then just a pair of pants. Really. And I'm easily cold. If I'm outside long I add more layers of tights of leggings. I love sternlein tights because they come in extra small. I'd love to find a good source of them in America. I had problems with the last online store I bought them from. They are very durable, and wash and wear very well.

[Anonymous]

You all make me appreciate February in California where we complain if it drops below 50! However, we can make it through the winter without turning on the heater in the house. Gotta say today's weather is gorgeous and if it rains again before April we will be lucky.

[aurelia]

I recently bought out the local Marshall's stock of clearance long underwear. They are cotton/wool from duofold and yummy warm. I wear a long skirt and boots and my warm undies. Also, two wool sweaters most of the time, a wool turtleneck and a wool cardi or pullover. Outside, I wear a landsend down parka and I'm toasty warm in the negative zero weather we're having around here.

[Anonymous]

I live in Maryland now and it is rarely cold enough to matter, here.I used to live in Wisconsin -- there I discovered the _real_ use for nylon stockings -- even under my tights, panty hose added quite a lot of warmth. :PLinda

[Cat]

Even though I don't know what really cold is, I found hat, scarf, gloves and an ankle length overcoat over knee high boots, thick tights and wool skirt worked a treat.My favourite coat I have ever coveted was seen on a lady at Guilford train station in the UK. A stunning deep red wool coat, neatly fitted to the waist with a full skirt falling to mid calf. Moved beautifully as she walked and looked warm and like some piece of treasure from the 50's, perfect for over any dress or skirt. I have been looking for something similar ever since.

[kostia]

How do you get the little warmer thing to stay between your shoulder blades?

[Rae]

It's 40 below here with the windchill this morning and I'm off to work in a skirt. This is my second pantless winter. I've discovered that good tights, an ankle-length corduroy skirt, an ankle-length coat, and good knee-high boots are a million times warmer than any sort of slacks.I would like it if someone could come up with windproof bloomers, though. :-)

[Joni]

2 pairs of tights = but what if you have to pee??!

[Becky O.]

I second the thicker bra!Plus I buy polar fleece rems and cut them up in strips for scarfs. I also keep a few in the car for lap warming : )Tights and a skirt are warming than pants any day.Oh, and a good hand warmer is a cheap cup of joe.