Maybe something like this if I can get in on a big discount
http://www.mountaindesigns.com.....ductID=338

thermal underware is great, because it is thin and you can dress over it something more stylish, there is nothing worse that big baggy wool jumpers eh eh

Thermal underwear is great we had a couple of cold winters a few years back and i lived in mine. I also find lots of thin layers really helps and always wearing a scarf of some sort even a thin one helps x
Humor me what's the temperature there?

Polarfleece is great but in the winter I lounge around the house in smart wool instead. See http://www.smartwool.com and look at the base layers.

I like it better than polarfleece because it's not as bulky, it's far more breathable (I can sleep in it), and it holds up a lot better in the wash over time. Plus it doesn't get all staticky. It's also warmer! I not only lounge in this, I layer it under running gear to exercise on the coldest days - which is why I initially bought it, but it is just so warm and cozy, I end up lounging and sleeping in it too. It is pricey but worth every penny. It is not scratchy at all either.

I have two sets: a zip top, a crew neck top, and two pairs of leggings. I also have several pairs of socks. I started with the socks (someone gave me a pair for a xmas gift) and fell in love with them. They feel so good on the skin and are so warm! So then I invested in the rest, to replace a polarfleece set that had gotten all pilly and covered in lint. Both my sets are black but you'll see on the web site you can get them in different colors if you want something fun.

If you want something super sleek to layer under jeans and tops and nice clothes, I'd look around for silk long johns - better than thermal because it's thinner. I don't own any silk long johns but I am told they are great.

Shiny, that is really interesting and helpful!! Thanks

Loulou, it gets down to about 5 C degrees some nights ( I think that is around 41F) I guess it is a little warmer when I am up, but the other morning it was around 9 when I was driving out in the morning. It does tend to warm up on sunny days to quite pleasant temps in the middle of the day (say 17) but our house remains colder.

First prize is to NOT wear a knit over a knit. But I’m putting clients in layers of knits daily because that’s their comfort preference. Sooooooooo, it’s best to layer knits with different textures for the best effect.

Also, you need to visually break up your long torso. Having the under layer peek out from the top layer will achieve this.

Anne i wasn't making fun :-) it's so funny how different parts of the world percieve the same temp it's been 31c here today and we all feel like we're dying however i bet that's quite normal/ nice for you x

I have the silk long johns (bought many years ago when I lived in CO and wore them under ski clothes) and I highly recommend them. They are so light & airy but so very warm! My neighbor and I do a 5 mile hilly walk/hike several times a week year round - she's from Finland so we walk in all temperatures, and almost all weather conditions. In the winter I just wear my silk long johns under track bottoms and a thin fleece zip neck shirt and my lightweight gore-tex jacket over and I often end up taking off my jacket! They really keep you so warm and yet are totally breathable.

At home in the winter I am usually wearing flannel pajama bottoms with cotton long sleeved shirts. I suppose if I felt very cold (rare for me - I seem to run warm) I would layer on the above mentioned fleece shirt (it's not really a jacket - more like a close fitting sweater) or maybe some kind of sweatshirt. For me, the most important thing is to keep my feet warm so I wear socks and house slippers - this year I bought a longer Ugg like bootie style from Old Navy that kept my toes toasty warm.

Loulou I didn't think you were making fun! I was a bit defensive about introducing the topic because sometimes when I raise this issue with people from England I get responses like that 11C they would be wearing short sleeves.

31C would be a nice summers day in the part of Aus where I live, where the heat is dry; but I wouldn't like it humid. I found humid Japanese summers, though not as hot as what I was used to, to be really difficult to take. It is the only time in my life that I really lost my appetite.

Australia is much better set up for heat, and I think that is another reason we can cope with it better. We have AC at almost every workplace and many homes, windows that open, kids wear hats at school etc.
When it gets into the high 30's and 40's I do find it difficult to do anything much apart from loll around the kids paddling pool.

I live in a US climate with bitter winters and try to keep the thermostat low for green and frugal reasons. Layers, layers, and more layers, are my advice. A tissue tee under a long-sleeved button-front blouse under a sweater (jumper!) or jacket. Lined wool trousers. With a dress or skirt, two pairs of microfiber tights--a solid underneath a pattern adds a fun accent while keeping you warm. A scarf around the neck--even one in lightweight silk--helps too.

Lots of thin layers work better than a few thick ones, and the advantage of layers (except for the two pairs of tights) is that you can easily peel them off if you or the weather warms up.

I think fabric content is as important as anything. Layering is great, and long johns or tights really help, but if you outer layers are cotton, you are still going to feel cold. Cotton is cold to the touch, so look for wool or sunthetic blends made for warmth.

I really appreciate your input, everyone, into the issue of dressing for the cold!
I am off on holidays soon, including a few days in the city, so I am going to check out some of these options.

Angie, I think you must have been responding to my other thread about a knit vest over a knit turtleneck. That red turtleneck is very - see here short http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....0_7016.jpg

but I just love it and keep wanting to wear it everywhere.

Anyway I understand your point about breaking up the torso; in fact I am coming to think that perhaps having a long torso is a bigger fashion challenge for me than anything else (eg body type). Thanks for the insight!