Wearing 'layers'

[aliasname]

Everyone goes on about oodies and blankets and layers, but how does it actually work?

1. It's all very well wearing lots of clothes, but it's always the extremities which get cold: hands, feet & nose. I've got some fingerless gloves which are great because I can still knit and read. But feet - there are only so many socks you can wear before your slippers won't fit? My feet always get damp and cold, but I think it's because I'm wearing cotton socks, and should be wearing wool? And nothing can be done about cold noses - I've seen knitting patterns for nose warmers lol, but they'd interfere with my glasses...

1. Layers of clothes seem uncomfortable especially round shoulders, but maybe I can get used to it. Ditto tights under trousers, do i have to buy a bigger size?

1. Blankets on the sofa? Slight concern that every time I have to let the dogs out/pour a glass of wine/ go the loo, I have to dig myself out from layers of blankets, dogs, knitting, tablet, wine ~ I'll never get to the loo in time!

1. "Back in the old days, we didn't have central heating & just wore layers!" I keep reading, ... but really? Admittedly, my knowledge comes from tv, but fashion from the first half of the 20th century (for women) involved skirts, calf or knee length & tights or stockings. One episode of a wartime series had a character who wore (short) socks, but I don't remember seeing any adult wear longer socks. When women wore trousers, it's implied that this is for protection from dirt/machinery not for warmth.

So, any tips on how to layer, especially feet?

I use walking socks. I also have fleece trousers.

If you’re feeling restricted, that says to me you need looser layers for the outside, or more stretchy for the inner ones.

If your feet are damp, change your socks for some dry ones, and maybe try thick ones on top. Maybe you do need bigger slippers.

I don’t find a single blanket on the sofa is too awful to move when I get up. Just flip it to the side.

On the extremities, I’d rather have a cold nose than a cold nose and a cold body. And warming one bit of you warms the rest. I mean we don’t complain about a cold nose while going for a walk in 12 c outdoors, but I’d notice it indoors at that.

I don’t know, but that’s all just my pondering. A lot of it is just fiddling about with what suits you best.

When people say ‘wear layers’ they don’t mean on absolutely every part of your body.

We have always lived in draughty old cottages but in the winter, I just wear thick socks with slippers, a jumper over a long sleeve shirt with a scarf. That’s plenty. We haven’t put our heating on yet and won’t for weeks still.

Use a good heavy winter duvet. I don’t personally use blankets much but probably because I rarely sit down. Moving around helps too.

Get a hot water bottle for your feet, get under a blanket on the sofa, you'll be nice and toasty!

Long sleeved tops (polo or turtle neck - makes a noticeable difference), thermal legggings and either a poncho or sleeveless type jumper as a top layer to keep my body warm but not too bulky. Cheepy boot slippers which are fleece lined and feel like they have foam in the middle- very insulating. Not solved the cold nose problem though

When you are cold, your body draws blood from the extremities to keep your vital organs warm.

If you can keep your organs toasty (!) the extremities stay warm too.

So layers on your core will keep feet and fingers warm.

Lots of thin layers getting thicker as I add them - so I start with a couple of vest tops, then couple of close fitting t shirts, then long sleeve tops, then I start with thin jumper, thicker jumper and finally my mega salt rock fleece.

If you've got wool / cashmere / merino even better

My tips would be that wine and/or dogs are very warming lol

Yes I do have to keep changing my socks, they always get damp?!

A poncho is a great idea for warmth without feeling restricted! Off to google knitting patterns...

Faux Fur lined crocs with socks are great for keeping feet warm or sheepskin soft boots.
Keep your neck warm, wear a scarf or a buff.
Wrist warmers make a big difference.
Wear a vest, thermal ones really do keep you warm.
A crocheted blanket is surprisingly warm and lightweight.
wear a jumper.
I’ve not employed all of the above yet but neither have I had the heating on.

wearing layers usually involves good under layers.

So your women of the 1940s would be wearing several layers under a blouse. Everyone would be wearing a vest/chemise of some sort. Tights would probably have been woollen. Jumpers would have been knitted wool, 100 x warmer than most modern jumpers/hoodies.
Unless you were in high fashion, but then you would go home to a decent fire.
A coal fire in the main room would have kept that room warm.

Or the range in the kitchen, which you all sat around.

My mum lived in a house with no heating. Coal fires in all the rooms, but the ones upstairs would never have been lit unless you were very ill.
They raced up to bed and got undressed under the covers. their bedroom were really cold, ice in the inside of the windows, but their beds had loads of blankets and a thick eiderdown, so once in bed with your hotty you were warm.

BUT the main room downstairs, whether kitchen/diner or living room, had a good fire. That room was warm, and they all sat close, and had chilblains on fingers and toes from coming in from the cold.

For me I prefer wearable layers, rather than blankets etc (they make me feel too sleepy and I hate then going into another room, I prefer my layers to come with me!!

I use thin layers, I need no assistance to look or feel like the Michelin man! Currently finding a long sleeve t shirt is enough mist if the time, but a shirt sleeve t shirt iver that and a cardigan if necessary.

feet - normal socks & a pair of ankle booties. Mine are from Wowcher £12.99 plus postage (they unfortunately have BJ on the side, but I forgive them for that. You can use them outside (designed as a snow boot) but they're light & soft enough for inside).

I live in leggings and have some thicker ones whuch I can pull over the top on icy mornings.

fleecy track pants would be cosy im sure, but they make me feel enormous, so I don't have any.

a woolly hat would help you.

I have a lovely soft scarf, I bought it years ago in a ski resort, just at a market, it wasn't expensive, but sadly I have no idea what it's made from (something man made I'm sure). It loop knots so it stays out & is gentle on my skin.

your nose might get cold, but does it really matter??

I couldn't wear fingerless gloves to knit, just knit something bigger that drapes over your hands.

ebrryones raving about electrical throws, check the electric usage before buying one, but most are very cheap to use & most people only need them turned on for short bursts.

I wear a vest top ( from M&S) with straps not long sleeved , then a looser jumper and then maybe a long cardi as well in the evening
Trousers , socks and slippers
We have some tiled floors ( old house ) so I always make sure my feet are on the rug , not tiles !
Hot water bottle at the small of your back when on the sofa in the evening ( my grandma always said you need to keep your kidneys warm )
Sheepskin type slippers
Indoor scarf ( silk , not thick wool though ) round your neck
Can you tell I have years of parties from living in an old , cold house ?
Dogs could be trained to sit next to you , act as footstool or lap warmers ?

I go for long sleeved thermal vest and thermal leggings under looser jumpers and trousers, thermal socks and slippers or shoes. That’s enough to keep me warm down to around 5 degrees, and the house rarely gets that cold. If my body is warm enough, my hands don’t get very cold, so I rarely need my fingerless gloves.

I wear one of these which seems to really help. It's also great for period pain weirdly!

https://www.nukunuku.co.uk

Rather than two pairs of full socks, I think it's more comfortable to wear trainer socks under fluffy/thicker socks - you still get the double layer over your feet and toes but without the "tight" feeling around your ankles/lower legs that comes with two full socks. Also tuck the ends of your pj bottoms into your socks - it's amazing how much that helps

Ohhh <light dawns> now I understand. That actually makes so much sense.

And yes to keeping core warm! That's why gilets are popular as they keep the core warm but you have your arms/hands free

I wear scarves indoors a lot during cold weather. Also a gilet helps to keep the core warm without bulking up the arms.

Hmm, I'd forgotten that back then everyone wore a vest or 'liberty bodice' (they don't show that in the period dramas) You always see the men wearing an undershirt.

Does it really make much difference if you have bare/stockings legs? So, it's all about keeping the core warm.

It does I find. Think if you were on a night out with bare legs and a party dress, if you added a thermal vest under it you would be warmer than without it back in the days when I would go out without a coat!

Lakeland sell a heated poncho but it's currently out of stock

There's a saying among long-distance walkers / hardy endurance types that 'cotton kills' as a base layer, because it's not very good at wicking moisture away from your skin and whatever you're wearing ends up damp and cold (hence your sock problem).

The absolute gold standard is high-quality wool, preferably merino or cashmere, but obviously they're bloody expensive, so a good wool/polyester blend is a more affordable option.

The likes of Mountain Warehouse are good for warm, affordable walking socks which you can then pair with bootee slippers.

I use my DS old toddler duvet on the sofa. Very comfy and not too big.

Real wool jumpers make a massive difference. Merino or Lambswool aren’t itchy and a scarf can be tucked around the neck if it your skin there is particularly delicate. Agree with PP about keeping your core warm. I wear thermal top and long johns, then cotton long sleeve top, thin fitted wool jumper, thick looser wool jumper, scarf, gilet. Jeans or jogging bottoms over long Johns and pull your socks over the long johns. Croc type clogs are great for insulation on your feet (not the ones with holes in) or sheepskin slippers.

Crocs in the kitchen as it’s tiled.
I love a snood for inside.
Hot drinks.
And generally I do better with lots of thin layers rather than a thick jumper.

Crikey! How cold is your house? I wore less than that when I went north of the Arctic Circle for a week at Christmas!

I just got given some battery powered rechargeable heated socks. They are amazing and the only thing that has worked for me. I find wearing several layers on feet means I can’t move my toes around so get cold and uncomfortable.