Layers to keep me warm

[AdelicaArundel]

Yes I know, I know- it's still August, and too early to think about it; forgive me S&B peeps.

I am approaching 50, underachieve thyroid so prone to feeling cold. Work about 50% from home, Lots of research reading, written or typing work. So a large part of my working day is spent sitting still at a desk. I have to stay warm or I find it hard to think- and it takes ages for me to heat up again once I'm cold.
It's fine this time of year. But I will be miserable from November through to April. That's while wearing (usually) M&S Heatgen layer, merino or cashmere jumper over, Berghaus or North Face fleece over that. Feet in Ugg type slippers or wool socks and boots. While the house is not particularly cold, I don't put on heating all day just for me. Room is usually 17degrees or so.

Occasionally, I need to pop out to visit clients, so my layers must be reasonably smart or have the option of being easily swopped for neatness.

So, what I would like to ask, is, if any of you have ultra warm layer recommendations. I've been looking at the Icebreaker merino layers for instance but don't know if it's worth the investment?
Or there may be other, better options that I don't know of?
I've seen people on here recommend putting a fleecy dressing gown over everything... are there better/warmer varieties of fleece?

Many thanks for any advice oh stylish ones!

As well as heating your space, and hot drinks, every few hours jump up and do 10 push ups Etc. Very effective for rapid warming up and blood flow. Salopettes sound uncomfortable for working from home! You don't need the waterproof wind proof element inside, have any comfortable trousers and a lap rug.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one with these issues. Thanks for all you advice.

Milli- can I ask where you got your fleece from, please?
I have looked at some in TKMaxx, but they're not elegant are they?

Kanye, that hoodie is gorgeous! and I'd love it for my general wardrobe. I've had a nose around that website- they have a reasonably priced headwarmer thing that I may get. I have lots of scarves, but I don't wear a hat at the desk

I am another very cold person - my top tip at home is a heated throw, which I both sit on, and have over my knees. I have Uniqlo heat-tech, the M&S version, and the John Lewis version, and find the JL version best.

My work works to the legal minimum heating-wise, so I often wear fingerless gloves in winter, plus big blanket scarves.

Being cold is rubbish - I live in Scotland so it seems like there is winter, and July, and this year July pissed it down.

Yes, Judy, being cold is Rubbish!
I loathe it- I become stiff and achey, but worst of all, I struggle to concentrate; so my 2 hour reports become 4 hour jobs instead.

Go for a brisk walk in your break - good for the body - and mind.

I find it helps to get up and move at regular intervals, a walk, a quick tidy up, a bit of a boogie. Sitting still all day is the worst.

I work from home, cold house, and wear 70s style sheepskin gillet, and cashmere fingerless gloves

Yes you're right- I walk the dogs either first thing once children are off to school, or at lunch break. However, I still freeze in between.

(hmmm, fingerless gloves- another thing I don't have)

The problem isn't your clothes. You need the heat on in winter, even if it's only in one room. Sitting freezing by yourself sounds miserable. Why would you do that to yourself? Either turn off all the other radiators so you're only heating the room you're using or buy a plug in heater.

burnished, you're so right. Several posters have said that to me- I hadn't thought about it .
I grew up in a very old house (pre-central heating old).
So having the central heating on still feels somewhat indulgent.
I happily have it on in the morning and once children are home from school in the afternoon.
But it feels a but wasteful to have it on for "just me" IYSWIM?

I said earlier, I need to have a think about this- really, if I am less productive in the cold, it makes no economic sense for me to leave it off.

Not withstanding the heating issue, I still need layers, as I would feel cold in the library for instance- or sitting in the office in my workplace, during the winter.

Be nicer to yourself. You're worth it 🌻

The oil filled radiator doesn't dry the air like a convector, gentle hear, really safe with a automatic thermostat. I was too tight to heat the whole house all day for one room and it worked a treat.

I find proper walking socks make a massive difference to my core heat. I have got ugg slippers but nothing works like proper wool socks for me.

I really do need to sort out the room heat- thank you to those who pointed it out.

Barchester- yes I think I'll get a small oil-filled one, this month, so that I'm ready when the cold hits.
Yes, I use proper socks- either knee high ski ones or wool hiking socks. It definitely helps with feet. When I think about it, it's more the cold in my hands, shoulders and hips that bother me; somehow, my legs don't get too cold.
But my hands! Oh dear- they can get quite stiff.
I have wrist warmer wool things, but they annoy me when I'm trying to type. So I wonder if light fingerless, cashmere type gloves would be better. Def worth a try I think.

I swear by the icebreaker underlayers. they also have a sale on. non-itchy and very good at regulating your temperature.

Really bumble? Have you tired them? If so, do you think that they're better than the M&S/Uniqlo ones. I have been looking at them but not pressed buy yet (researching on MN instead)

I second a hat, fingerless gloves and a hotwater bottle but please think about heating the house or the room(s) where you're working. I'm quite troubled by 'just for me'. You are using your home as a workplace so heat it as you would expect an office to be heated.

Alternatively if you can't afford the heating and, if the work is mostly reading / writing, rather than telephone, could you take yourself and a laptop somewhere heated? Back in the day I'd have said, 'a library' but lots of coffee shops have stepped into the void and are welcoming of home workers - provided they don't try and make one coffee last a whole morning.

Thanks Flo- yes, I need to have a good think about why I am reticent to heat "just for me". I am naturally tight very frugal. Happy to spend on the children but every purchase for myself is debated for a long time.
Anyhoo.

Nature of work is that it's confidential so difficult to decamp to library/coffee shop. I need to be able to spread papers around me while I write, but can't do that where paper would possibly be viewed by anyone else.

Actually, thank you all.
You've very kind.
I had initially thought that someone would come on and post about a "magic" set of layers that would keep me warm while I sit.

I see now that I need to have a think about the room heat, as well as providing direct heat to myself (hot water bottle/heated throw). I also need to break up my writing days with more movement.
It's not just the layers- regardless of how many I wear, I will lose heat if I'm sitting. It's kind of obvious when I've had a good think about it, isn't it?

yes I have - I have a ever increasing number of merino layers from icebreaker. I never really noticed that the heat tech stuff worked well for me. I also find they wash and wear a lot better. my uniqlo heat tech started looking a bit manky quite quickly.

Thanks Bumble.

My fleece was from JL. I also have a very long pure cashmere cardigan from Jaeger but they stopped doing them, and I'm not sure they're even still trading. There's this but it's not cheap!

If you are naturally frugal - don't laugh, but you can make really effective heater with tea lights. Candles give off a surprising amount of heat. I notice the difference if I burn a scente done while I work, and have in the past lit a few tealights to warm my (very small) office, as I love candlelight. But there are online tutorials on how to make proper heaters from tealights. I'd only bother if you love candlelight anyway. Otherwise, just get a plug in radiator!

If you have underfloor heating it is much cheaper to run it constantly at a lower temperature. If you think about it it has to warm the floor before it can warm the room and will use more fuel to do so. My advise is to heat your house rather than sit cold and miserable with a hot water bottle.

milli- thank you for coming back to let me know. Your cardi sounds fab.... that NPeal version is gorgeous but I imagine myself wafting through town in it rather than shivering over my keyboard.

Candles? If I'm not expecting clients, I always have a nice smelly candle on the go...haven't considered their heating properties.

Thanks Yew, I can see that I've probably been uneconomically frugal.

I love my fleece onesie - so warm. Get one with a hood to keep your head warm. You could wear it over smart clothes and then whip it off to visit clients.

I have a couple of gilets, but tend to alternate between a cheapy fleece Regatta one which is usually covered in fluff and dog hair, and a nice knitted wool mix Fat Face one. TBH any gilet would do the trick.

Also definitely agree with PP who mentioned wearing a fleece dressing gown over the top of your clothes - makes a huge difference! My Grandma always used to to tell me about how she always wore a "housecoat" at home - lived in a huge drafty rambling old house - and was exactly what it says on the tin. She was delighted when we bought her a fleecey gown to wear instead as so much lighter and even warmer.

Also, sheepskin boots/slippers, especially ones that keep your ankles warm, make a huge difference to keeping warm - all about stopping drafts again. I find if I can warm my clothes up in the airing cover/over a heater before I get dressed it helps keep me warmer all day. We have no central heating and are v reliant on our log burner for heat.

Am expecting DC2 this autumn and no idea how I'm going to keep such a tiny baby warm. DC1 was born in summer so a bit bigger by the time the cold weather came round. Think I will probably end up wearing it in a stretchy sling a lot, partly for ease of being able to do things, but also to help keep the poor little mite from freezing. Night time will be the hardest bit, trying to safely breastfeed and co-sleep without either of us freezing to death!