It’s cold here. I’m starting to quasi-forget how to dress for winter, because I live in a place only quasi has it. Sure it snows, and it’s windy and can get quite cold, but we also have over 300 days of sunshine a year and the snow and wind and cold don’t tend to stick around too long after they show up.
Well, the cold that we have right now doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon, so it’s time to try my hand again at winter dressing. Millie wrote a fabulous post on the subject a few days ago, so that’s ground (icy, treacherous ground) that doesn’t need to be recovered. However, the weather problems I have today are slightly different that I suspect the other Interrobangs are.
You see, since I live someplace that is more often warm (and by warm I mean mid-weight winter jacket and you’re good to go), buildings aren’t always set up to keep you nice and toasty once you’re indoors. Since I knew my plans for the day included sitting in a poorly heated office in a 100+ year old building where the bathroom feels like a freezer and then walking across town to sit in a poorly heated library to do research, I needed an outfit that would keep me warm both indoors and out. Let the layering begin!
Guess how many layers are under these jeans
Now, it may not look like much (in part because the lighting in my apartment is rubbish), but this outfit is specifically designed to keep me warm indoors without melting me into a puddle, and keep me padded outdoors in case I slip on a frozen puddle.
- Bottom Underpinnings. I’ve got 2, count ‘em, 2, pairs of underwear on. My butt gets cold quickly and my jacket doesn’t fully cover it, so the more undies the better! Throw some long-johns over that (although not a full-out Wyoming union suit), and my tush is toasty warm.
- Upper Underpinnings: While I’ve had some people recommend a sports bra on cold days for keeping the warmth in, I went regular but added three tank tops over it: a thin silk one topped by two thicker cotton ones. They don’t add a disagreeable amount of bulk and they help keep your core warm.
- Bottom Layer: I know jeans don’t actually do anything to keep you warm, but when put over long johns they work just fine. Because I knew I’d be taking care of Assassin bugs and a Ball python in the afternoon, it was a day to be machine washable.
- Upper Layer: A long-sleeved cotton sweater over the three tank tops. I don’t like wearing bulky sweaters or long sleeves, so this sweater is a good compromise as it’s light weight but warm, and I can push the sleeves up. I also threw on the vest for another light layer.
- The scarf’s an obvious addition, but I got the idea to tie it from Kimberly- it looks like a lovely green pretzel.
- Head Layer: Another no brainer, but the green beret matches the scarf so I’m warm and coordinated.
- Whimsy Layer: The whole ensemble, while warm, was feeling a little bland so I added a mouse brooch made from real mink and horse earrings with articulated legs. Obviously.
Equal mix of evil and cuddly - just right!
The legs move and the horses face opposite directions - these are quality earrings.
- Underwear – none of your beeswax
- Long johns – via Mum
- Tank tops – Target
- Grey sweater – American Eagle
- Vest – a.n.a. via JCPenney
- Green scarf – Old Navy
- Green beret – Urban Outfitters (it’s an sickness – I have 5 berets from there)
- Jeans – Dish
- Mouse brooch – Salvation Army
- Articulated horse earrings – Arc
Take that, freezing cold library.
