I want to be warm but stylish - please help - I just look like a potato everyday at the moment.

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I'm permanently freezing at the moment (every winter) and it makes me so miserable.

I saw the doctor last year about being so so cold the whole time, and I'm slightly anemic but other than that - nothing wrong.

I need to look smartish for work (not big 4 - but financial/legal).

I cycle to work.

Currently I'm doing

Underwear
Cami
Heattech body
Very high waisted thin technical tights with thicker black wool tights on top
Heattech roll neck thin cachemire mix thingy
The thickest winter dresses I have
Structured cardi or jumper or jacket or both
Socks
Leather bottines

(This is the most casual I can get away with at work and the wool tights are already pushing it but I don't really do trousers)

On my commute I add

• a warm link base layer (https://www.roxy.fr/warmlink---haut-de-sous-vetement-pour-femme-ERJLW03031.html) but I can't keep in on in the office.
• under gloves and mittens for cycling
• a woolen neck collar thing
• a massive scarf
• a big wool coat
• a thin beenie under my cycling helmet

We've just hit freezing temperatures where I am and honestly as ridiculous as it sounds I'm really really struggling with the thought of having 3 months of this.

Getting in and out of the door takes ages, I have to have a backpack to stock all my outside "add ons" in. And I'm still cold as soon as I stop moving. Office is adequate ish heated.

And ideas? Honestly thinking of changing careers just so I can wear a Selkbag to work (only half joking).

Thank you for any suggestions.

Heated jacket?

@ghostiewhisp that's the roxy thing I wear on my commute but it's not very office compatible ...

Someone in my office has a heated foot warmer thing. People would no doubt comment but would that work for you? You're not carrying it into meetings with you but it would help keep you warm at your actual desk?

Are you cold when you arrive in the office? Because I think as a rule, assuming the office is heated appropriately, if you can get warm in the first place, staying warm is a bit easier. Is it possible to shower at the office after you've cycled? Or is there a room or meeting room that's a bit warmer that you can start your day in? There are some hilarious little rooms for private calls at our office and frankly, they're very very warm!

I would also consider adding a silk scarf to your in-office wear. So something that adds to your outfit but that you can wear around your neck and chest, especially while at your desk.

I'd also consider swapping to skirts if you don't want to wear trousers. A skirt can be paired with a cashmere jumper, and you could wear thermal underwear underneath.

Can you take your winter outfits into the office and change when you get there, rather than trying to make your outfit work on the bike and at the office?

I'd be tempted to go for wool skirts and wool jumpers/cardigans rather than a dress. That might help you get more structure and more layers and help get rid of the potato feeling. I wear layers of merino at this time of year and it is bloody fantastic at keeping me warm without being bulky and thick looking.

Then you could dress more appropriately for your bike ride with thermal trousers and an insulated and waterproof jacket.

If your office is only just adequately heated then ask for an extra heater, so that you don't feel like an iceblock all day.

Also, start taking iron! Having been anaemic for years, I can attest to how bloody cold that will make you feel.

Honestly I run cold, but I would be absolutely sweating if I cycled (or even walked) in that many layers. I can't quite understand how you can cycle in your work clothes and still look presentable when you arrive.

My usual outfit for very cold days is thermal waterproof trousers, a fleece, and a padded jacket. Plus gloves, scarf and a hat. I'd suggest trying that and changing at work. It might be worth another trip to the doctor, last year was a while ago.

People used to sit with hot water bottles stuffed up their jumpers in my old office!

So what was prescribed for your slight anaemia?

The degree of cold you’re feeling and the number of layers you’re wearing is outside my experience of normal - even when I had severe anaemia.

Presumably you’re eating a nutritional diet?

I’d honestly be going back to your GP.

The sheer number of garments you’re wearing is astounding. It sounds very uncomfortable and unmanageable.

I’d second the advice to go back to the doctor, even with severe anaemia (I’ve had it, loss of period, glossitis, the lot) what you’re describing isn’t normal.

Just want to thank @owlpassport for the link. Just what I’m looking for!

I'm always freezing too but a recent game changer is to put rechargeable handwarmers under my armpits. They are small enough to tuck into the side of my bra and not be noticed under clothing. I can't find a link to the ones I have, but similar to these https://share.google/OkeHXsny0ZVrh2mgl. You might need to wrap them in a light piece of fabric (any baby socks down a radiator??) but they have been fantastic for me.

I have never met anybody who feels the cold more than me. Until now. Goodness that is a lot of clothes. I keep a hot water bottle wrapped in a thick scarf on my lap.

I get cold but I tend to find that if I can start the day warm and stay warm, then I don't get cold in the first place.

Through sheer trial and error I wouldn't be able to wear what you are wearing and stay warm though. Too many man made fibres and not enough wool. Wool blend rarely cuts it either (although the cashmere blend heatech thermals aren't bad from Uniqlo).

Down coats, gilets and a waterproof for commuting.
Merino or cashmere thermals.
Wool socks, with a pair of cotton socks underneath.
Trousers not dresses at this time of year.
Wool or cashmere jumpers or tops. Tank tops with decent blouses and a cardigan or blazer if needes.
Cotton vests.
Wool blazer if needed.
Dress it up with accessories.

Can you take your winter outfits into the office and change when you get there, rather than trying to make your outfit work on the bike and at the office?

This! I work in Financial Services and used to cycle to work and there was no way I could cycle wearing clothes that were even vaguely suitable for work. I cycled in gym/cycle kit (thermal cycle kit in winter) and bought a big waterproof rucksack (Ortlieb) for carrying my work clothes. Where possible tried to leave shoes and sometimes jackets in the office, especially at the start of the week so I only felt like a cycling Sherpa on Mondays and Fridays.

That is a LOT of layers....and I feel the cold too. I second the vote for USB rechargable hand warmers. I have two pairs and on full heat which is actually really hot (55c or so) they last 5 hours. I tend to have them on level 2 heat which would last 8 hours and they're USB rechargable so can be charged from my laptop.

Very easy to keep in my pockets without being obvious to anyone else but I'm going to try tucking them into my bra like a PP!

What about fitted wool dresses and skirts with a smart matching wool jacket. You can wear your base layers under those but look smart on top. It's stick those little hands warmers in the jacket pockets so that they're keeping your body warm, but you can also pop your hands in from time to time. Paired with knee high boots with good warm socks and you're good to go.

I run cold. Smart wool trousers make a huge difference compared to tights. Natural fabrics. Moving regularly.

Catch a bus instead. They're always boiling.

If your GP says you are slightly anaemic then your iron levels are almost certainly contributing to feeling cold all the time. The threshold for being described as clinically anaemic is very low, and you can suffer the negative side effects of iron deficiency with levels quite a bit higher than that. If I were you I'd ask for your your test results (both HB levels and ferritin levels) and do some research on the optimal levels to see how far off you are before speaking to your GP about supplementation or possibly even an iron transfusion.

I totally sympathise as I really feel the cold too, fortunately I work from home, I wear layers, have a portable heater next to me and a hot water bottle!

I saw this on instagram a few days ago, its light enough to be worn under a coat/cardigan as an extra layer but also the front sections clip back allowing it to be worn under a jacket/blazer, it might be an option for the office? https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469862-000/00?colorDisplayCode=56&sizeDisplayCode=003

I also bought some M&S thermal socks last week which are amazing and not too thick to wear under usual boots/shoes

A cami really does nothing for warmth. You need a proper under layer, preferably woolen not synthetic.

I'd be wearing long boots in the office - you can put warm, woolen socks on with those. Stockings - I'm not a fan of thick tights, but you can get a skin colour tight with warm lining, so that might be an option.

Then suits - lovely woolen suits. With scarves as someone noted above. A lovely silk scarf looks great with a blouse. Or a merino turtle neck. Looks very stylish with a tailored skirt or pants.

Basically select thin wool layers. The long boots are great for staying toasty. I probably wouldn't wear them cycling though, so not sure what you would do on your commute.

I am the same and also cycle to work. I have a short commute and mostly wear my work wear like you, with full waterproofs on top and a buff, scarf etc. I find I'm cold unless I have wool socks on over my tights, but folded over so they are hidden in my boots. I definitely think trousers would be warmer if you could face them, with tights underneath. Do your boots have a thick sole? I find thin soles make my feet permanently cold. What about wrist warmers? I wear them a lot. I really empathise.

Put sheepskin soles in your boots.

Wool socks. If your knit, stranded colourwork socks are double layer and super warm.

Pants. Layer tights or leggings under.

The ultra warm Heat Tech is much warmer than the cashmere blend. I think the cashmere blend is the least warming of the heat tech line.

A top that wicks moisture from your skin under all the layers. Cotton holds the moisture and keeps you chilly. Then layer heat tech over that, then a sweater. Alpaca is super warm, I find it warmer than cashmere.

Down vest

Down Coat. Have those rechargeable hand warmers in your pocket.

Scarf.

Wool hat or a balaclava that keeps the cold off your neck and the lower bits of your face warm.

Wool thrummed mittens. The thrums are bits of unspun wool knitted in.

You are now ready for Canada.

Came on to second sheepskin insoles for shoes. Then merino base layers from arket, they are very thin so you could do

bra
merino longsleeve
long sleeve shirt- nice collar and cuffs showing
Thin Lambs wool or merino sweater on top
wool blazer on top

you could slip in between Uniqlo HEATTECH slim down body warmer

then tights and smart wool trousers. Chunky leather loafers.

good earrings and lippy.

over the top- cycling cuffs for trousers, waterproof trousers, then buM covering puffa from Rab or NF. gloves and hat.

if be dead from heat but I think that would do it.

thin thin layers and natural breathable fibers.

I am cold a lot too but just popped on to say I love Uniqlo but don’t find their heat tech thermals much good. A hot water bottle in my lap is my saviour plus wristwarmers if the desk is cold. I was looking at heat pads for desks but wasn’t sure if they were worth the money.