Keep warm at work

[MistySkiesAfterRain]

Our office is cold as the window is open for covid ventilation. We can't get heaters for blah blah blah reasons.

Help me figure out what to wear.

I have black ankle boots and tights. Socks won't fit in the boots.

Leggings over tights will cause friction with my jersey dress and cause it to ride up.

A blanket under my desk is going to look silly but best option so far.

A jumper over my round / slash neck dress will help but needs to be roomy or I will feel stifled. V neck jumper won't work (dress is black). Roomy won't look smart.

Scarf will help.

Long fingerless gloves an option. Look ridiculous.

Loathe to spend a lot. I just need 1 toasty outfit that is vaguely smart.

Maybe jersey trousers over thermals and a roll neck jumper? Ditch smart shoes for trainers? Neutral colours. We are supposed to have a smart casual office policy. Surely no one can care that much now.

I also think they will cave and buy heaters so why should I spend £100 on clothes?

Links welcome : )

That sounds awful! I love clothes and I care about how I present myself, but tbh in those circumstances I might be saying fuck it and wear something really warm!

How about merino base laye top and leggings with a maxi dress over the top? Or maybe a knit dress and fleece lined leggings with a scarf?

I don't know how you're expected to concentrate at an office job where you are freezing cold! Different if you're doing something more physical.

Firstly, don't worry to much about looking smart. That's not the priority under the circumstances.

Have you tried thermals under your clothes? Also, I'd be inclined to invest in different boots. You'll never be warm if your feet are cold.

If your dresses ride up try a slip.

I wear wrist warmers, a thermal vest under my normal clothes and a big, thick black cardigan over my normal clothes. I don't look particularly stylish but everyone here is in the same boat so.
I also bring a wheat bag that I can keep heating up in the microwave and have that on my lap all day.

I can type as fast in mittens as with bare hands. It's not a smart look though! I find aside from hands it's ankles and my lower back that feel the cold.

Leg warmers?!

Can you get merino wool tights?
Uniqlo Heattech base layer top to wear under your dress?

I would also just wear a big cardigan when you're just working at your desk to stay warm! You can take it off for meetings if it's important to look really smart.

Buy other boots, maybe lined with faux fur, and a size bigger to allow for thick socks too?

Layers.
I work outside for a vast proportion of the year so I start from a different place to you. However, thin layers work better than one big chunky thing. Silk, cotton and wool can all be thin but will retain warmth.

One dense layer of thermal works best next to the skin and put it on while you are warm - ditto thermal socks. No point putting them on cold feet as your feet will struggle to warm up.

You definitely need boots you can get socks under - two layers of thin wool socks is better than one layer of woolly.

Wear a hat and a thin snood/ neck warmer rather than a scarf.

Cashmere wrist warmers are an elegant solution- turtle doves do lovely ones.

If you're in an office and not too public facing then I would focus on keeping warm rather than worrying about elegance. Otherwise wear thermals under your work suit and whip off the hat/ snood etc when you have to be 'professional" !

Thank you so much!

Agree - it's now about being warm.

Maybe if I dress like an eskimo they might start to take notice!

How on earth do you type in mittens?! : D Are they light ones? I genuinely like this idea. Toasty fingers.

I'm going to look at this list at it means buying the least. I'm also on a diet so don't want to buy too much yet.

Merino wool tights
Uniqlo heattech.
Wrist warmers.
Large cardigan.
Wheat bag.
Scarf/snood.
Wool ankle socks.

I tried on current boots. I could get one pair of socks under them.

Do you think fur lined chelsea boots would work?

Anyone seen a big, warm cardigan that washes well?

I wear fingerless gloves if I'm cold - can type in those . I have fleece lined tights, trying to think where I got them, it may have been Lidl.

Layers are your friend here.
Sainsbury's thermal leggings and socks on with normal tights over this, thermal top, cable knit jumper, cardigan or blazer over the top, skirt, ankle boots. Giant chunky scarf around your neck. Depending on how much appearance matters in the workplace, colour coordinate to make it look like you have selected your clothes on purpose rather than whatever is warm.

Cardigan or blazer over the top of the jumper

Definitely layers, even in a central London office.

Yesterday I wore thermal vest, hiking base layer, shetland polo neck, long sleeve sweater. Plus thick tights, black jeans and boots. And a wool coat to drape round my shoulders when it got later.

Plus regular hot drinks

I’ve just bought some sheepskin liners for my boots as our office is similarly freezing. Wristwarmers are good too as I can still type/use a mouse in them.

Bodywarmer

A woollen wrap, wristwarmers and a scarf.

I wear Uniqlo thermal leggings under wide leg jeans and their ballet neck tops under other tops and jumpers. I'm always warm.