Chicago Fabbers - what are you wearing for more sub-zero temps?

trekkiegirl

Tomorrow brings more record lows for our city by the lake. Will you dress differently to accommodate for the brutal weather, or dress the same and simply add more outer layers?
Does your commute affect how you dress? I'm curious

10 years ago

Dressing

12 replies

Latest reply was from trekkiegirl

marianna

Veteran

I'm in the burbs, so it's basically car-to-building for me. If I was commuting via public transit then it would be a very different story!

10 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

I'm not in Chicago, but I'm not far (Minnesota) and today we were in the single digits. When it gets so cold, I can only bear to wear my warmest snow boots, my skinny cords, and one of two very warm chunky sweaters. It's my "very cold day" uniform. I don't even get inspired enough to think of and change into indoor shoes... I just want to be warm!

10 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I live north of you, but not really dressing much different. Sweater with a tee underneath, pants, and winter boots that I change out at the office into shoes or booties. But I live and work in the suburbs and commute by car. And yeah, I've had enough of record low temps.

10 years ago

Day Vies

Veteran

I no longer commute but the coat and gloves change when temps get really cold. The coat I wear in this weather is a life saver and I'm never cold. It's a Land's End squall. The gloves are ski gloves. (I don't like any part of my body to freeze. I also add the thermals (top and bottom in addition to wool socks) if the office runs cold.

10 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

I'm a llittle east and north of you but hey, we have our share of frigid, single digit temps...A better question would be what am I not wearing...My heavy woolen jumper, tights, jeans, my big leather jacket which is wonderfully lined, my little beanie, an acrylic fur scarf which is really warm, gloves and...a I hatecoldweather scowl...smile...

10 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Not in Chicago, but enduring record-breaking cold in the mid-Atlantic. Gotta say that I feel like my style is hibernating for most of this brutal winter. It actually had me reevaluating my non-puffer stance.

My dressing strategy in one word: Layers. Sweaters with long sleeve tees or tissue turtlenecks underneath. Jeans with long silk underwear underneath. Moto boots (half a size too big) with layered socks underneath. There's a theme here...

I spent over two hours snowblowing and shoveling our very long, very hilly driveway yesterday and I was wiped out afterwards. A little sore today. (Hubs is back in TX, lucky guy!) I gotta say that my impending trip to TX and Cuba is looking especially good right now!

10 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

I'm across the big lake from you in Michigan, where we're also enduring "record low" temps. I usually wear thermal underwear under my pants in this kind of weather but have been feeling defiant and not doing that this year. I also wore a skirt (over leggings) to church on Sunday, just to prove that I could in spite of below 0°F temperatures and -30°windchill.

If I used public transportation, that thermal underwear would be out in a heartbeat.

10 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

Today, I have a car commute, with a work-at-home DH warming up my car and carrying out my bags! I always keep a blanket in the car, along with my snowboots in case of emergency.

For the office, I have another difficulty. The heat works overtime when it's this cold, and my tiny teaching studio has no windows. I will melt, and have to dress in light layers on top. I can't wear thermals, but I do wear wool socks under my warmer booties.

Tomorrow, I will have errands to run, which will mean thermals under jeans, puffer, gloves and scarf. I will teach from home and strip wallpaper, and try not to be covered in wallpaper glue when I sing with my students!

Bring spring, please!

10 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

Very cold here in southern New England! I commute by car. What I wear: lined wool pants, a cashmere turtleneck or a shirt under a cashmere crew or v neck, a wool blazer. Sometimes a scarf, for looks as well as warmth. Then one of my wool coats, cashmere scarf, gloves. Snow boots, I change into flats or loafers at work. The location of the building I work in faces Narragansett Bay and it is always windy...nice in the summer, where it can be 10 degrees cooler than Providence or Boston, but not so great right now!

10 years ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

South of Chicago, seems this week I am wearing last winter's standards: wool socks, chelsea booties, thick ponte pants, cashmere tshirt sweater under a chunky cardigan, fake cashmere (acrylic) fringed plaid scarf. Added for short walk to car: hooded parka, cashmere scarf, warm knit-and-leather gloves, knit pom-pom beanie. In the car for 25 minute drive through country (just in case): extra wind pants, blankets, wool cap, snow boots. We're lucky to have clear streets and roads, not much snow on the ground right now.

Since the winter hasn't been as brutal as last year, it took me awhile to come up with a formula this winter. I kept wondering what to wear since I was getting too hot. Finally came up with a good mix of cotton collared button up shirt with a boxy and lighter weight pullover sweater, not so many scarves needed for warmth as last year.

10 years ago

Kirstjen

Veteran

I live downtown & walk everywhere. Here's my list:
CuddlDuds
Smartwool socks
shearling-lined (not imitation!!) boots
thin cashmere sweater
jeans (or for work, washable wool pants)
large cashmere scarf
down COAT - not a jacket. I want to cover my butt & legs...
cashmere-lined gloves
180s
I'll pull the scarf up around my head if needed. I hate hats.

I'm never cold with this list, but I admit that I've had a hard time finding shearling lined boots that are good for walking - Uggs typically don't have the foot support needed for a trek, but they are warm.

10 years ago

trekkiegirl

Veteran

So many cold people looking forward to spring!

I commute from a near burb (Cicero) and by the time I get to to work (Michigan Ave) the temp has usually dropped anywhere from 5-15 degrees. My commute involves lots of walking outside (from home to bus stop, from bus to train, and from train to work) about 1 mile all told, so I really have to bundle. What I wear might vary slightly based on the weather, when it's really cold I might avoid wearing a skirt or put an extra pair of tights under my pants, but most of the difference comes into play with layering my outer layers. I have a wool sweater designated just for winter, a long sweater coat I use some other times, thick legwarmers I use to cover my knees, tall wool socks, sub-zero rated winter boots (if it is above 20 I might wear my knee high combat boots with the wool socks instead, but only if there is no slush). Over the sweater I wear an very wool coat , similar to the picture but with a hood and no lapels. I've had it 5 winters now and I absolutely love it! It feels ladylike, and is super warm. I always use a scarf wrapped over my head and around my neck instead of a hat. On SUPER cold days like today, I also wear a neck gator and crocheted headband.

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10 years ago

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