Why do British people always under-dress in winter??

[Newmeagain]

This has always puzzled me. I have lived in the UK for many years and so often in winter see people wearing inappropriate clothing and looking very cold - e.g. a thin raincoat, bare legs or uncovered shoes.

Was also just reading a thread where the OP was asking for recommendations for a short winter jacket to wear in Paris in January and lots of people were suggesting the kind of cotton jackets I wear on cooler summer days!

Why is this??

We're 'ard.

well if they are cold then I totally agree with you.

But I run very hot, so I’ve not yet worn a coat this winter for example. Last night my family were all under blankets on the sofas and I was in a t shirt!

I presumably feel the cold a lot less than you do. I'm very fit and active and hate feeling bundled up with lots of layers. I wouldn't think twice about having bare legs with an appropriate outfit in winter.

I suppose we don’t feel the cold in the way people used to hotter climates do.

We were in northern Spain in October & whilst it was definitely shorts & t-shirt weather to us, there were plenty of Spanish people around in jeans & coats.

Because they don’t feel the cold! When I first lived here my friends would have their back doors open all the time while I’d be freezing but now I’ve just noticed my back door is open (I have pets that wander in and out). Guess I’ve become acclimatised. I don’t own a winter coat - I just throw on a thick woolly cardi and a scarf when I walk the dog. Mind you I’m in London not the wilds of Scotland.

It's rarely that cold in London.
I'm always warm.

People often aren’t outside for long so you go from heated building to car to heated building. It’s worth being cold for five minutes so you don’t sweat all day. If I’m going for a dog walk for a few hours then I am layered up properly.

This.

Because it isn't always that cold and if people are in and out of cars and maybe shops they will over heat.

The shorts thing - for some people they feel more comfortable in shorts (my DH is one of these and wears them year round) and he doesnt get cold as long as he has a warm jacket, hat etc.
For thin coats - maybe they have lots of layers on underneath? Its very cold here today but ive been out in a light raincoat as I have several Heat Tech layers on. Dunno about open shoes I havent seen that personally

Im from up north and in my teens and 20s would regularly go for nights out in winter in a tiny dress and no coat as I couldnt be bothered holding it or paying £1 to store it

The Paris thread was mad tho, none of those coats were suitable for Paris in January

‘specially up north.

Think you mean Some British people sometimes under-dress. I am British, by way of Scotland and I am generally dressed appropriately.

But I may appear under dressed to you 🤷🏻‍♀️

I know what you mean.

We went pumpkin picking at a farm on a cold, very wet day. The forecast said heavy rain all day so it wasn’t unexpected.

Loads of people in wool coats, white Converse type shoes. Completely inappropriate.

We see this a lot on our local (very muddy) country walk.

We’re an outdoorsy family so have all the warm, wet weather gear. Appreciate not everyone has technical outdoor clothing, but so surprised many people don’t even seem to have basic welly boots /rain Mac.

(And it’s clearly not a money thing as these types normally have £££££ handbag, designer trainers (getting ruined by the mud) and will undoubtedly be clutching a takeaway coffee and dragging a Cock-a-poo on a lead)

I live in Scotland and it is colder than "the south" but if you are going out for the day you dress for that rather than just shoving a big coat on.

Are you from a warm country @Newmeagain ?

My DIL is from a warm country and she does walk around our drafty victorian house wearing an electric blanket ❄whilst my son is in shorts and a t-shirt.

I do notice on my dog walk-I am in the SE-that on the same day I see ppl in shorts and ppl in long puffer coats, wrapped in a big scarf and hat and gloves.

No one in our family really feels the cold.

You clearly haven't met my mother - yesterday she was in thermal leggings, trousers, vest, thermal t-shirt, t shirt and thick jumper...she did admit she may have over done it slightly!

I wear a vest most of the year!

Some people are more concerned with looking 'fashionable' or 'sexy' than being warm and being practical.

Some people go outside so rarely that they have no idea what properly effective insulating or waterproof clothing and footwear is.

Some people can't afford such clothing

I don't feel the cold as much as many people do, but I hike, fell walk and camp and have clothing that is properly waterproof (not 'showproof' or 'water resistant'), is built for cold weather so warm but not heavy or bulky, clothing suitable for layering, is windproof, etc. And waterproof non slip footwear. It's expensive but lasts.

When they put two T-shirts on to go out in Newcastle, you know it’s cold.

I actually live in London so most people I see out and about are not just going from a car into a building - they are walking around etc.

I do realise some people feel the cold less, but then again plenty of the people I see do actually look cold. Maybe there isn’t the same culture of sensible clothing?

I did actually grow up in a hot country but have also lived in Europe where people dress very differently in winter.

I find it the other way around - I see many people from European countries (France and further south) massively overdressed. It feels like they dress for the perceived season, rather than the actual temperature. So if it’s December, it must be big coats, hats and scarves, even though it’s been in double digits more often than not this year.

It doesn’t get that cold here, and more often than not people are nipping between cars, homes, shops and offices, not spending hours outdoors.

This is me too but then the plus side I hardly ever have the heating on!

It’s just not that cold in the UK and if I’m moving while outside I only need a thin coat. Restaurants and shops are also ridiculously overheated and I would rather be slightly cold outside than roasting inside.

I think people who're used to a brisk walk with the dogs each day, or to working outside, probably don't wear so many clothes because they're used to it and they know they'll only be cold for five minutes then they'll be fine, whereas if they wore a great big coat they'd be sweating after that.

But there are also a lot of people who don't know how to dress for the cold, yes. They're the same people who go into a massive panic when there's a light dusting of snow on the ground, IME.

Textural issues…..can’t bear the feeling of tights/stockings/socks - my legs itch and I feel like I can’t move

House - car - covered shopping mall / office / gym - restaurant - car - home. They don't do anything that involves getting wet and cold.

I wear proper outdoor clothes all year round. Some of my colleagues don't even take coats to work as they drive in and never deal with outside 😱. I judge.