Thank you all for the well wishes! And thank you, Adela and Rachylou, for the words about weather. That is one of my questions, although from what I read it couldbe above or below freezing, rainy or snowy or sunny.
Another of my concerns has to do with formality. I am assuming from the little I have read that the Viennese tend conservative/dressy. I know I won't be mistaken for a native, but I really don't want to be shlepping around the museums in my plaid ski jacket from the men's section of Sportcheck (hey, it was the only place I found shoulders and sleeves to fit me). I toyed with getting one of those collapsible down puffers, but it won't be warm enough for skiing and I've never felt fab in a down coat. Could i get away with a cloth coat (I'm thinking of my red one, which has a lining but not a heavy interlining) for Vienna? I will have my silk longjohns anyway so I can layer under my clothing if needed, or just wear the plaid if it is THAT cold.
I expect to take multiple mix and match black pieces (ponte pants, a skirt, an LBD) that I can dress up and down with scarves. Walkable leather dressy boots and some ballet flats for indoor pursuits. What am I missing?
For skiing I always wear leggings under my snow pants, and multiple layers on top ending with a huge yak-hair knitted sweater from nepal, which can't e beat for insulating properties. I know no one else (but my daughters) skis in one of these, so i should be able to manage with less bulky layers, but am a bit nervous about it. We do have a brief ski trip in Quebec planned this weekend, that can be my trial run. If it keeps me warm in Quebec, it should handle the Tyrolean Alps.
