How cold is too cold for dresses? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

How cold is too cold for dresses?

abc

Veteran

I am having a hard time grasping how cold it's going to be in Minnapolis/St Paul next week.

Weather forecast says daily highs in the 30s, lows in the 20s. I haven't been in THAT cold of weather for several years (sorry to those of you in the polar vortex, didn't mean to rub it in).

Problem is, most of my dressier (client facing appropriate) work clothes are dresses and skirts.

I have some taupe/gray suede booties I could incorporate but have never worn them with a dress. Not sure how they'll look and just occured to me, they're not weather-proofed so that could eliminate them as an option too.

At those temps do I need more than just pantyhose to stay warm? Or should I give up on the idea of any dresses at all?

I do have two ponte knit pants I could dress up enough to work. I'd just like to wear one of the dresses if it isn't an insane idea.

I don't want to be *THAT* person wearing a skirt and pantyhose while the locals are thinking, "stupid girl!"

I have a knee length wool coat I'll be wearing when outside. I'm not sure how much walking I'll be doing to/from parking lot/office nor how the temp will be inside the office. I can plan for layers with the skirts/dresses. It's more my legs I'm wondering about.

Thanks!

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from TraceyLiz65

April

Veteran

Well, let's see.

We've got Sveta championing dresses in sub-arctic temperatures, and we've got Angie reporting that she won't wear dresses in winter because it's too cold while standing in front of a pond that isn't even frozen.

So I would say this is entirely a matter of individual taste.

April

Veteran

And yes, you'll need thicker tights than pantyhose.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I think you need either tall boots or thicker tights or both to comfortably wear dresses outside.

abc

Veteran

April, your first response made me laugh out loud! I guess it is all subjective, huh? DUH!

In this case, I would probably lean more towards Angie's take on temps. I used to live in the midwest USA but have been away for many years. My body is WAY more sensitive to cold than it used to be.

Hmm. Thicker tights, huh? I think I have a few pairs. Gonna have to dig around in the old lingerie drawer tonight to see what I can find - hopefully with some level of elasticity intact after years of non-use.

I've been busy so didn't participate in the YLF challenge, but I guess this trip is giving me my own sort of challenge! HAHA!

Thx for weighing in.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yes. I am a total nambie-pambie when it comes to the cold. I do well in tropical heat. Truly, I need to live in a warmer city.

Personally, I have learnt that I don't like to Winterize dresses with thick tights, tall boots and layers. It's not my look - plus it's not warm enough. I like to wear a dress with shoes and that's it. Although I do often wear them with nude hose and bring a topper just in case.

As a result, I wear dresses when the weather is warm and hot. And they are still dresses with sleeves.

I see bloggers in arctic temperatures wear dresses all the time - and the Canadians on this forum too. I just can't do it. I am MISERABLE AND VERY GRUMPY when I am cold.

Emily

Veteran

It's -10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) here right now and I am wearing a dress, fleece lined tights, and booties. As long as the hose are substantial I think you're fine to wear a dress. I rule out dresses when things get near -20 Celsius/-4 Fahrenheit.

gryffin

Veteran

abc - I don't think it's ever too cold to wear a dress or skirt but you have to prepare for it. First, I have a piece of outwear wear (read ankle length down coat) affectionationly known as the PI (portable igloo). Pair that coat with boots, gloves and hat and I can go anywhere. You can always weatherproof your suede boots. I spray all my boots before wearing and although I would not puddle jump it makes clean up easier. Immediately damp spot treat any salt stains afer wear. I do wear legging with dress in winter. Otherwise tights. I know a lot of people like those fleece lined tights, I did not care for the feel of the ones that I bought, but it might have been that particular brand. I would never, ever go without tights/hose in winter but I run very cold. It just would not be an option. People might be impressed if you were bare legged!! I think in extreme climates people basically make what they want to wear work, they just find ways to keep warm doing it! Good luck!

Jenny H

Veteran

Yup. Individual taste. I wore skirts and dresses to work almost every day this brutally cold winter (despite my more moderate climate, the weather here got significantly colder than what the forecast predicts for your trip). What makes it work for me is wearing knee high boots and wool tights. My coat is mid-thigh length so there isn't a very big gap between the boots and coat. Also, I find the warmth of my hands, feet and arms to be way more important than my legs.

abc

Veteran

You guys helped me realize a few things.

One, like Angie, I don't really like to winterize my skirts and dresses. Luckily I haven't really had to before. I didn't even consider weather when I bought them as I live in a mild climate but have to be ready to dress for anywhere my work sends me.

Two, gryffin's reply - without intention - overwhelmed me. I got rid of all but one winter hat and pair of gloves when I moved south. The thought of a long coat (which I don't have) and winter items and tights etc just downright overwhelms me. I'm returning tonight from a business trip and only have two full days at home. Instead of worrying about how to utilize the dresses I think I will focus on spending time with my kids instead. There will be other chances to wear these dresses. I was just trying to wear them since some are new unworn but I don't think I have the energy in me right now to take on this self-inflicted challenge. Chances are I would identify wardrobe holes anyway.

Thanks for saving me the time and energy. Pants it will be next week.

unfrumped

Veteran

abc, I think you are making a good decision. My experience has been that winterizing dresses or skirts to still look stylish takes some preparation and the right outfit completers. And that's for mild winters! I'm very happy with the results, but I had to be intentional about some purchases to get there.

Pants look like pants and no one knows what's underneath (in those temps, ponte pants would not be warm enough for me, even indoors!) and as you say, your outerwear doesn't have to hit quite as high a bar.

Echo

Veteran

I'm from the great white north, and it is common for women working in offices here to wear "only" pantyhose under a skirt or dress in the winter. As long as a person is driving and only walking parking lots, it is fine for most people. Tights work if you run cold, and there are fleece-lined tights for when you take public trans or are walking (though beware they change the fit of a dress shoe significantly because it is like wearing socks). All a matter of personal taste, but you wouldn't look out of place wearing any of them here (WI).

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I think it all depends HOW MUCH you are planning spend outside. For Angie her work style dictates to be outside for hours and she has to be comfortable - hence avoiding dresses and skirts in winter as she does not like to winterize them.
For me in frozen Canada if I am driving to the office and all I need to do is walk to and from car (a couple of minutes at most) I can easily wear sheer hose with the dress - I won't get cold in such short time. Footwear is a diferent issue and was my biggest problem this year: event for 2 min walk through the parking lot it should be waterproof and slip resistant. As a result I often change into indoor shoes or booties when I wear dresses in winter (like Angie I don't like to winterize them with tights and boots).
So in your place I would start with which footwear you have for this kind of weather and then go from there.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Wise, wise, Sveta. xo

Gigi

Veteran

Yes, I would say you would want more than pantyhose to stay warm. Tights would be my recommendation. But unfrumped is right that if you haven't really winterized your outfits, it might be difficult--and uncomfortable for you. Not only that, but at this time of year temperatures can change drastically from one day to another. One day might be overcast and seemingly cold, while another day is sunny and seemingly warm. And then there's the wind, which changes everything too. To be honest, I can't know what I'm going to wear here from one day to the next. I just see what the forecast is, check out the window, and go from there. So I would just pack what you know is safe to save yourself the agony.

As far as footwear, you might run into puddles here and there, as we've had a lot of snow. We've had nice warm temps today and yesterday, so it's all melting. Messy! I would do booties if you can, as opposed to heels. Can you buy a can of waterproofing spray?

rachylou

Veteran

With wool socks or fleece stockings, I can do 20-30s. Mind you, I don't like draft, so we're still talking an ankle length coat. Wool would be ok; a puffer better in my book.

*Puffers 'R Us.*

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I see you're going to skip the dresses now, but just remembered a combo I wore a couple months ago that worked; hose, long wool socks, tall boots, knee length dress, cardi, wool coat, and scarf. I haven't tried fleece lined tights yet but don't generally go for dark hose anyway. Pants are lot easier it seems to me!

Laurinda

Veteran

Enjoy staying warm in pants, maybe with a layer of tights underneath.
I don't wear dresses or skirts below 60F/15C, there is no shame in that ;-).

Try to have water- and slip-resistant footwear.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

You can't go wrong with the pants and is probably a wiser choice given the drast difference in your normal climate. Hope your trip goes well!