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?

In the winter indoors I wear a vest, long sleeved t-shirt, sweater or thick fleece, down gilet, warm socks, beanie. But still sometimes need the heating on throughout the day.

I wear bamboo socks all year round as unified I don’t get the damp feet thing with them. From early October to May I wear knee length ones as I get horrendous cramps in my calves without them. They make a massive difference to warmth and are of course invisible under trousers. I have loads of these:

www.amazon.co.uk/SockShop-Ladies-Bamboo-Smooth-Alpine/dp/B07V4526WZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=1G45LXM2VWXX8&keywords=bamboo%2Bknee%2Blength%2Bsocks%2Bsock%2Bshop&qid=1665986271&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjAzIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=bamboo%2Bknee%2Blength%2Bsocks%2Bsock%2Bshop%2Caps%2C70&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1

In warmer weather I wear Thought ankle
length bamboo socks for preference

this is actually a myth.
You don't loose head any more from your head than from anywhere else.
your skin loses the heat at the same rate whether hands or head etc.

But the surface area or your head is bigger than you think.
Then again, most of it is covered in hair which is a good insulating layer

Same goes for kidneys.
You don't 'keep your kidneys warm'
But draughts round your kidneys are allowing your core to cool, so keeping things tucked in to keep your core warm works

We wear fleece neck warmers rather than a scarf. No excess fabric getting in the way. Its just a tube of fleece that slip over your head to keep your neck warm, you pull it up over your face too to keep your nose warm. I brought mine on amazon (2 pack) but its easy enough to make one out old fleece jumper or jacket. You just need a rectangle of fabric fold. Sew the hems. Fold over the fabric into a tube and sew. Same idea with wrist warmers.

Thanks for all the replies, very interesting. I didn't realise how important it was to keep the core warm, I was so focused on my damp socks.

I started reading a thread about people reminiscing over what they wore in the 50s & it was fascinating.

Vest, liberty bodice, petticoat, shirt, dress, woollen cardigan. The bodice attached to thick wool stockings. And underwear! I totally did not appreciate that they weren't wearing a tiny lace bra & a thong. They wore Big Knickers. Sometimes 2 pairs lol. Saw something called 'directoire' knickers which are almost like baggy shorts.

I still can't imagine wearing 3 or 4 layers above the knee & only tights below, but I will experiment. Except for the big knickers.

Now you mention it, we always wore a 2nd pair of pants over tights, to stop them falling down! I’d completely forgotten that - I was a teenager in the 70’s. (American Tan, anyone? )😂

Nordic socks. Not cheap, but very effective.

@Pixiedust1234 Whenever my 'midriff' showed, my Nana would talk about chilblains. "You'll get chilblains!" I realised I can't ever get it covered because my hips stick out way more than my waist, so everything rides up like a rollerblind. Tops, coats etc either have to be oversized to stay down or flippin' stuck down. Bodysuits give me wedgies because m'butt's too big, and possibly also long in the bod, not sure. Anyway. You're totally right. Maybe those stretchy belly cover things for breastfeeding women need remarketing! Or really really high waisted pants are in order. You Decide (That was my gameshow host voice and I can't remember what that's from, Blind Date maybe.)

Yes, two pairs of knickers (preferably Bridget Jones’s).
Silk scarves.
Silk camis or summer t shirts as base layers.
Lockdown masks keep noses warm.
Ear muffs.

In the 1950s when bedrooms were unheated people folded their clothes and kept them under the bed clothes so they were warm while getting dressed in those freezing cold rooms. Once the fire “got going” downstairs, a bowl of hot water courtesy of the Ascot heater in the kitchen was used for a “strip down wash”. A succession of layers of clothing were quickly removed and hastily replaced once flannel and soap had been used. There were plenty of reminders to keep away from open fires when wearing loose-fitting nightwear. CH has reduced the number of accidents since that time.

Wear proper wool slipper / boots. They wick any moisture away so feet stay dry and cosy

Get a thermal vest in a long length so it covers your kidneys and tuck it into your granny pants.

Wear a hat indoors and even in bed if it's below freezing in your bedroom. Wear socks in bed and full length PJs. Brushed cotton sheets are warmer.

Wear slipper boots and knee socks.
Ditch anything 3/4 or bracelet sleeve you need full length sleeves or even those ones that you hook over your thumb. Wear higher neck tops and a small silk scarf around your neck.

I don't wear that many layers, the most I would wear would be thermal vest, cotton long sleeve top, thin wool jumper and a fleece.

If your feet get damp then change your socks frequently.

Anything 100% wool is great to wear.

Hiking socks to wick away moisture.
Thin layers that trap warm air between each one. M&S do good heattech vests of different sleeve lengths, then I like a fleece over that - a thin one with lots of stretch, not a bulky one. Then I have a lovely gilet that was inexpensive and not bulky, for extra core warmth.
M&s also do heattech leggings. They're really thin and not constructive at all, so I find them done for under trousers one a second pair of leggings.

So think base layer, mid layer, something extra for your core.

Turtle doves do lovely recycle Cashmere fingerless gloves. They go quite far up to keep your wrists warm and you can easily leave them on but so your hand out of them to do something. They also have lovely neck warmers too.

I'm not keen on oodies, they look thick, bulky and sweaty.

I don't have a problem in bed, unless it's the middle of winter. It just seems to be an evening socks issue.

I splashed out and got some thin cashmere socks, and thicker wool/silk ones. Tried the cashmere tonight, and got cold (wtf is wrong with my feet?!) They weren't cheap either 😞 . Maybe it's the slippers.

Will try the wool tomorrow, hoping they're not too itchy.

Ok, some of these posts are listing 4, 5 or 6 layers of tops. With all that extra washing and drying mightn't you just as well put the heating on?!

I can really recommend bamboo as a fabric. I'm currently wearing bamboo PJs which are so soft and comfortable. Sitting in bed in my 17 degree house, no heating on, hot water bottle on my feet and I am toasty warm!

Why on god’s green earth are your feet damp!?!?!

Please don't ask. Please please please....we have all avoided that question 😱

I'm glad you've asked @BitOutOfPractice
I've read through the posts twice to try and understand this.
I've never had damp feet unless I've walked in the rain in shoes that weren't waterproof. Not with any socks I have worn.
Please explain why your feet are damp

As a long time resident of a cold draughty farmhouse I swear by

vests/base layers. They don't have to be thick or long sleeved. mountain warehouse does a good cheap merino range.

john Lewis fleecey tights and socks

If your feet get that cold, Uggs or something similar

Finally, I have to have something round my neck when it's cold, a Buff is usually enough but a nice polo neck jumper does the job very nicely

I don't know why my feet get damp! (More like clammy than damp)

An earlier post suggested something about cotton socks holding on to the sweat (although my feet don't really sweat) which is why everyone was recommending wool socks.

My feet are not at all cold now! (several glasses of wine, NO socks, 2 dogs) so who knows.

Second Nordic socks, often on offer. Wonderful!

My mum used to work outside all winter tips that worked for her

tights and then thick socks over the tights, fairly loose jeans (but with a narrow leg) over the top of the socks winter /ski type boots preferably with furry or fleecy lining over the top of the jeans.

sleeveless vest type top
long sleeve t-shirt
thin jumper
thick jumper
gillet

for a modern update we love the microwavable wheaty bags https://wheatybags.co.uk/products/wheat-bags-original-heat-pack

Unless doing something really active and swearing through them, or prone to spilling good, the mid and top layers are not going to need washing anything like as often as the base layers.
I wear a base layer under a jumper so that it will go 3/4 days rather than one on its own. A base layer is much thinner and easy to wash and dry.

Ive just bought some wool walking socks from here: made in England and free postage www.thebradfordsockcompany.co.uk/

The best socks I have found are JL knee length wool socks. £10 a pair.