Wow – you are the queen of layering, Angie! I wouldn’t have thought of layering nude tights under textured. I also love your suggestions of long camis, tailored jackets and legwarmers. Now to get everything in my wardrobe!!!

These are great tips. I just recently tried putting nude tights under patterned tights and leggings, and it is definitely warmer.

I also like heavy cotton leggings underneath pants as an extra layer. In the fall and spring, I wear the leggings on their own with tunics and dresses, and in the winter, they go under pants.

Hiking socks (smart wool, in particular) are my favorite socks for under boots.

Good list Angie. When it is cold and wet and windy, you have to be prepared, especially with as much city walking as you do everyday. Being prepared and looking good while tuffing the weather is the key and really the scarves and hats, and other cold weather accessories are cute additions to an outfit.
One thing I learned from trial and error after moving to the Seattle area from the San Diego area is to not have your shoes or boots too tight. Your feet need room to collect warm air inside your peds, and no cutting off the blood flow to the feet. This sounds like a no brainer but I remember adding extra socks to my regular shoes and then my feet were blocks of ice.
Also keeping the neck warm is very important.
Thanks
San

Wow, thanks for the shout-out, Angie! And I agree 100% with your suggestions for winterizing autumnal looks.

Angie this is such perfect timing.Just this morning I was getting dressed and thought, hey, I think those winterizing tips should be coming up soon, I really need them! And voila, here they are
Our winters in the south here are not too terrible(most days are in the 50’s at lowest and nights are chillier) but I can’t stand the cold anywhere below about 65, so this for me is a challenge. I have not tried layering the hose as you suggested so I will definitely give that a whirl. I just bought some black leg warmers to layer, also as “filler” for some bots that fit just slightly wide at my calf
I love your reminder about wearing a necklace under the scarf for when you take it off indoors because I usually forget that and then feel under-finished when I do take the scarf off later.
Three saviors that have been well utilized for me: wearing a blazer under the coat–life saver, finally investing in some good knee high boots that I can walk for miles in, and wearing a scarf ALL THE TIME unless I am in a turtleneck sweater. My single-layer cotton tops are seeing more use as layering options this year, just as my sheath dress, instead of hibernating until warmer weather.My closet isn’t in full winter rotation but I am getting there slowly.
Thanks for the tips! It’s sometimes tough to look put together when all you want is t stay warm!!!

A comment about “hat hair” in temperatures when you absolutely have to wear a hat. If you can, winterize your hairstyle, too. I let mine go curly in the summer, but in the winter, I flatiron it–wearing a hat actually makes it flatter. If I’m going to have hat hair, at least it looks like I did it on purpose!

Angie – these are great tips. Thank you. I hadn’t thought of double tights and hose. I do a ton of walking in the winter and so this is definitely timely. One thing that I can’t stand getting cold is my ears. My cute hats don’t do a good enough job of covering them. When desperate I will wear more of the ski like hats but if anyone has suggestions for decent ear covers that don’t look too dorky, I”d love to hear.

Thank you for the tips and ideas Angie, I am now in my 3rd winter in London and still struggle to remember how much colder it is than where I live in NZ when I am getting dressed in the morning. I don’t know how those that live in cold and snowy places do it!

Good list of options! I think dressing warmer makes all the difference in appreciating winter. A scarf and hat especially help. I think I’m happier when my hair doesn’t get blown about too.

I can wear silk but rarely tights, so I usually wear pants in the winter.

Another idea … silk sweaters are a good substitute for wool or cashmere.

Think about so-called “technical” gear for the bottom layer. UnderArmor is sleek and really warm — probably too warm for office wear. Target’s Champion brand also makes excellent thin t-shirts in a wicking poly fabric that most people use for running or exercise but are EXCELLENT for base layering because they are thin, lightweight and clothing doesn’t stick to it. I have used my running leggings under skirts with boots. They look like thick tights.

Also there is a long-underwear called “Cudl-duds” (ridick name but) that are sort of brushed flannel on the inside but slick on the outside so clothes do not cling. I find them to be similar in feel to a spanx/assets like garment. And they are cozy. Actually, the spanx/assets things would add a layer of warmth as well.

It got down to 2 below here today, and could get to 11 below by the weekend, so I am way familiar with the idea of layers. We also have 16 inches of snow.

For the cold ears person: there are these things called ‘Ear pops” which are like little mittens that go over your ears. They are not connected like ear muffs; they are separate. They have sort of an elastic that keeps them on and they come in sizes. I got some years ago from some catalog like Liillan Vernon (yeah, I know!) I suspect if you put ear pops in a seach engine, they’ll pop up!

The wind chill is currently 6 below zero (F) and I am wearing tights, socks, leggings, boots, fabulous multi-layered skirt (Christmas present!), tight stretchy 3/4-sleeve jersey, somewhat-less-tight stretchy long-sleeve jersey over that, sleeveless sweater over THAT, and stretchy belt to hold it all together. For outdoors, all of the above plus medium-weight cotton cardigan, hip-length wool coat, cozy wool scarf (from relatives in Ireland), fleece hat, and thin stretchy dime-store gloves under fleece mittens. I walked a couple of miles outdoors and was quite comfy in this except when the wind threatened to whip my hat off.

I don’t have as much winter-only clothing as you would think, considering that I live in a climate with a pretty long winter. I just wear more of my year-round clothing at the same time, LOL. For outerwear, I personally don’t care much about having my thighs covered, but they are pretty well insulated if you know what I mean. But gloves are NEVER warm enough for my hands when it’s really cold. My gloves-under-mittens system is the only way to prevent misery.

This is a great list, and thanks for the link to Sal’s helpful post, too. Somehow I had missed that one, and it’s chock-full of helpful tips for staying warm.

The single most important reason I’ve been staying warmer this winter is the addition of multiple weather-proof tall boots. (I only had one pair of non-gear boots, which was not the most stable or warm in cold/icy weather, this time last year.) I cannot believe how much warmer I am when my legs are covered in tights and tall boots with socks underneath. (I haven’t tried wearing double layers of tights yet but would like to!)

As always, I am a scarf/pashmina girl, so I’ll happily add a scarf to my outfit in order to stay warm! I’ve been gradually breaking out my wool winter hats on my bus commute, too.

Here’s another shout for “cuddl-duds” long underwear(tops and pants). They are GREAT! They breathe well enough so you are not roasting when you wear them indoors but definitely add a great layer of warmth without the bulk. I have had some for years and years and they hold up great aside from a little pilling in in the pants.

Very comprehensive list, Angie! I’ve used a few of these tricks, and my favorite ones are scarves and longer coats. Having your neck covered makes a HUGE difference. Also shoes with thicker soles are much warmer, that’s the best thing about doc martens.

Angie, do you have any tips for flattering hats for those with short hair? A cloche, maybe?

Linda–I know what you mean! The only reason I gave up gloves under mittens was that it’s too hard to drive in them!

BTW, Cuddl Duds are only good to about 5 degrees F–below that, you need something serious, like true winter exercise gear.

There’s cold, then there’s really cold, then there’s dressing for life safety. Our coldest season in the US Midwest–our 2-3 weeks of highs at 0 F or below 0 F–are coming up, so cold-weather dressing is top-of-mind right now.

Today’s temperatures were positively PAINFUL in the northeast. Literally! My face and hands hurt, despite buttoning the collar on my puffer all the way up and wearing gloves. I saw many women wearing flat over the knee boots and I’m actually warming up (pun not intended) to the look. I don’t know if I could pull them off at my height, or even find a pair that fits my relatively short legs, but I can totally see why they are an excellent option in this weather.

I do love winter accessories though. Besides being warm and cozy, they are adorable. I’m on a hat kick lately. Ever since cutting my hair into a bob, I have been thoroughly enjoying my cloches.

I have desperately been wanting a faux fur muff for years and when I finally found a cute one it sold out But that would definitely be warm and have a sweet vintage appeal.

Tights under jeans or under other tights would be so uncomfortable on me though. All the digging and red marks would drive me crazy. When it gets that cold, I forego skirts and dresses and just stick to pants or jeans.

Gina, leggings or long cycling pants work well under jeans. Great tip!

San, that’s an interesting point. Leaving a little room around the feet is one of the reasons Uggs keep your feet warm.

Garmenta, nice flat ironing tip.

Sihaya, you’re after a beanie type of a hat that covers your ears. Choose a gauge that’s closely knitted together and backed with fleece lining.

Laura, I have short hair like you. I stick to cute tightly fitting beenies that cover my ears for warmth. I love the little grey one you wore in NY! Small cloches and newsboy hats work too but they don’t cover your ears so they’re useless in the extreme cold. Berets can also work and sometimes they actually cover your ears.

What a great list, right on time for the freezing Norteast weather. I am already using at least half of those strategies and they are a lifesaver! I have recently bought a pair of Smartwool skiing knee-high socks to test them out and they are so toasty! I will be getting more for sure, maybe even try some of their thin tops for layering .

Great post, Angie! Has anyone ever heard of Damart thermal underlayers? I used to be able to buy them in the US but their US product line is much more limited now. Their Thermolactyl fabric is one of the warmest underlayers I’ve ever worn, without the bulk (thin as silk underwear but much warmer).

These are such valuable and timely tips! I’m printing them out. I’ve also found long lined leather gloves to be much warmer overall than the shorter ones. Another idea on really cold days is to layer a wool cardi over a wool pullover sweater. I’m wearing more jackets as indoor layers. Vests/waistcoats in wool, leather, or a fitted, cropped down puffer in a dressy fabric ( I found one in cream satin) can help keep the core toasty.

@Linda – gloves under mittens is my new discovery this year of the only way I can keep blood in the ends of my fingers

How does one go about planning for it to be cold outside and warm inside? It’s chilly on the way to work, but very warm once I get here, so all the layering stuff would have to come off, which doesn’t work so well if it’s pairs of tights and vests etc. Any ideas?

Also, I have to recommend Icebreaker gear. It’s woollen stuff from NZ and mainly aimed at outdoors-types, but I live in a freezing house, and it’s splendid stuff, and comes in many thicknesses etc so can be layered appropriately. Even found something in pink this year as a pressie for my fashion-conscious and very cold (in the UK) Aussie sister in law who loved it!