Cold Weather Woes- Wardrobe Analysis

Deeper thoughts on the issue mentioned in my WIW post yesterday:

I've lived in the same place for more than 12 years but this fall feels different-- I suddenly feel very cold. Normally my winter work wardrobe primarily consists of short sleeve or sleeveless tops, toppers (sweater or blazer), scarves, skirts, tall boots, and wool tights. Some of the most-worn toppers have 3/4 length sleeves. I'm still over the top happy with the wool tights/tall boots/skirt formula but the formula for the top half is feeling far too cold! I don't know what changed-- last winter was super cold with the polar vortex and I managed not to freeze.

As I've been searching through my closet these past two cold days, what I've been hoping to find were warm long sleeve shirts to wear with long sleeve toppers. I have two long sleeve shirts that can be worn with toppers for work. Neither are quite as versatile as I need. One is a great merino wool piece and I love, love, love it. It's basically a long underwear top that can also be worn by itself. I've been experimenting with wearing it under my short sleeve or sleeveless tops, but only one of my tops works that way (that's what I wore in my WIW yesterday)-- all the other necklines conflict in unwearable ways.

I think I'm figuring out what I need as I type this. I think I need to swap out my short sleeve and sleeveless tops for long sleeves and I need at least one more long sleeve topper (vs. 3/4 length sleeve).

Any suggestions?

10 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

Hi Jenny H...Hate to sound like I am a dippy bird, bobbing my head in agreement with you but I, too, am having an awful time adjusting to this winter...For some reason and I have checked off a list of possibilities, this time just seems colder, nastier, grayer and just oh, so miserable...Now that I have been Connie Complainer for a minute, lets see what can be done wardrobe wise to fight this one off...I wear Cuddl-Duds daily and nightly...Over that I wear long sleeve tops..crew necks and long sleeve sweaters...
I would suggest that you look into Cuddl-Duds (you can find them at Marshall, TJMaxx, or Target...I have the crew neck and the vneck...
Then you do need a long sleeve topper...like a warm sweater or sweatshirty type top...Trying to think of others...I wear a couple of long sweaters over the tops...
Look into some flannel shirts...They should be a heavier cotton or they are just a layering piece...
I just ordered a new beanie that is oversized to give the full look in the back..
All in all, I am sure you and I will get through this but I so understand how blame cold it is now...
Sending you warm thoughts...Hope this helps..I will read your posts to see if you have come up with some I missed...

Suz

(website)

I wear pullovers (either layered over shirts or camis or on their own) as "tops" all the time. And right now I'm wearing a cotton cami, a merino turtleneck, and a lambswool cardi over that. It's cold!!! You are not imagining things!!

I work at home so my clothing is more casual. But I bought a number of items labelled as "sweaters" at last year's NAS. Thistle and I have a bit of a joke about that word "sweater." To us, where we live, these things are absolutely knitted "tops" -- not "sweaters" at all.

Jenny H

Thanks Crutcher!

I bet my wool long sleeve shirt would work a lot like the CuddleDuds if I can find non-conflicting necklines to wear on top.

I actually do have two flannel shirts. But both feel too casual for my office so I didn't include them in this analysis. But I'm certainly enjoying them for evenings and weekends!

Suz-- getting more pullovers might help a lot, especially if I find ones with full length sleeves. Right now I only have one that is appropriate for work but the sleeves are not long enough. I could easily layer some of my other layers under a pullover for warmth. Thanks!

Diana

I totally sympathize. Something similar seems to have happened to me lately. I used to be totally OK with bare arms as long as my core was warm (so I could wear, say, an elbow sleeve tee with a warm sweater vest, and be fine) but nowadays I find my arms getting cold a lot. I don't know if it's just because my work and home are draftier than they have been in years past, or if something has fundamentally changed about my response to cold. (I do think I still run warm overall though.) Anyway, I'm always wanting long, long sleeves now.

One thing I am going to try is to wear some armwarmers/fingerless mitts with my shorter sleeve tops. Since I knit, I have several pairs and they didn't get used much in the past to be honest. But maybe this year they will finally get a workout! I will have to remove them for certain activities in the lab but they will be OK for sitting at my desk/computer (which is where the draft is, and where my arms seem to get the coldest).

I have to admit I don't like the look of a long sleeved underlayer under shorter sleeved jacket or sweater, so I am hoping the armwarmers will work! It's either that or stick a blazer or cardigan over the short sleeved item (which is what I've been doing).

Diana, I really like the arm warmer/fingerless glove idea!

Thistle

I agree with your analysis. I would also encourage you to try sweaters. You can layer a shor sleeved top under them for extra warmth. I find cashmere to be super warm and somewhat affordable on sale. I also like *some* merino wool. It is all warm, but some is a bit itchy for me. I have super sensitive skin though. You can find some nice merino wool at JCrew and Banana Republic, both of which run sales to make it more affordable.

thimblelina

Omg I'm a wimp. I need a long sleeve or 3/4 sleeve top from about Nov 1 to April 1 in northern CA!

DonnaF

Ummm, can you cover the conflicting necklines with a scarf?

I was so cold yesterday that I ordered corduroy jeans. I wasn't planning to buy any more jeans, but they sounded so cozy. . .and I really hate wearing tights or long johns under pants. No doubt by the time they actually arrive, it will be warmer and I will wonder why I ever ordered them.

I hate it when my hands and wrists get cold and loathe the tendency of women's tops to have bracelet or 3/4 length sleeves instead of full. Like Diana, I knit, so I've knit a few pairs of mitts and wrist warmers to fix the problem. I love them and want more in all of my favourite colours now! If it's a blouse w shorter sleeves I'll add a long sleeved cardigan on top or layer a long sleeve knit underneath. The latter might be too casual for an office though.

If you're on a tight budget, you can get some good deals on wool sweaters via Ebay to supplement your long sleeve tops!

Anonymous

I'm with you! I hate the cold, and I hate dressing for it. And I think I'm wimpier than you, because I've never been able to handle 3/4 sleeves in winter. Spent ages picking out warm enough clothes that looked vaguely presentable for yesterday and today. I've got plenty of stuff that works for normal winter days, but somehow adding enough warmth/coverage for 30 degrees, instead of 40, drives me crazy.

My one suggestion is long-sleeved Uniqlo heattech t-shirts. They're nice and thin, and supposedly are made of some kind of sciencey heat-retaining fabric, and the scoop neck one is low enough to work under lots of necklines. My other trick is scarves because having my neck exposed bugs me when it's that cold, and because they can liven up the boring combinations of clothes I have to pull out when I'm trying to stay extra warm, but it sounds like you're already doing that.

Only 4 months until spring!

UNIQLO

Women Heattech Scoop Neck Long Sleeve T-shirt

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Elly

I refuse to buy 3/4 length sleeves except for summer/transitional wear if the fabric is right (light and breathable). In winter I have a 65 degree office and I need all the forearm and wrist warmth I can get. IDK what you do at work, but another idea is a pair of long cashmere or wool wrist-warmers or fingerless gloves that you could wear when you are at your keyboard and commuting.

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