I need to be WARM

[NorkilyChallenged]

I've been overhauling my wardrobe with lots of help from reading S&B threads and have some lovely new tunics that I'm really happy with.

However, all tunics are short sleeved, so I wear with long sleeved t underneath but I'm still cooooooooold. I'm just too nesh to suffer for the sake of style

I've been living in cheap Tesco jumpers (think, instant bobble factor) for years so I don't know where to start now in my quest to be warm.

I need lovely jumpers, ideally machine washable as I have 2 very small and messy children, with LONG sleeves please. And do I go for colour or basics (brown/black/grey), plain or patterned since most of my bottoms are probably plain?

HELP - how do stylish women stay warm?

I wouldnt go for jumpers id go for cardigans- theres loads available chunky knits with cable patterns,boyfriend style with pockets and belted ones with these you can wear your long sleeve tees and a funky necklace/beads and still look chic whilst being warm - also never underestimate a lacey vest .

Another vote for cardigans here.

Go for cashmere or a cashmere silk blend so you get warmth and quality without bulk. Try zara and TKMaxx for starters, most less than £60. Look for a chunkier one in pure wool too so that you've got a textured option.

One plain (charcoal or black) and one colour!

I have lots of lovely cardigans but have been wearing the cheapy £14 Tesco waterfall ones as the long bits keep my thighs warm when sitting down. They have been washed (and hung up to dry) 3 times and not a bobble in sight.

these ones I bought brown/navy/green

I also have the M&S Oblong cardigan in black which i think is sold out in black but available in grey but was quite a good buy at £35 as it has washed well.

I swear by M &S thermal vests. They do them in quite funky colours now and they are brilliant on cold days.

I second M&S thermals, the camis are only £6 and are long enough to tuck into your knickers

I was going to suggest cashmere when I first saw this, but does it really work with little DCs?

Next jumpers are good, the v necks are usually 2 for £20 and wash well. I've been wearing them for a couple of years with no problems.

anything with alpaca in the blend will be very warm (the fibres are hollow and trap more insulting air), i've been living in this since september, it's a good length for skinnies and the empire shape is good over tunics.

Tesco cashmere is half price right now

Jumper dresses are my winter staple.

I got treat to these here and here last week, acrylic but lovely and soft, wash well, warm, etc. Might not be to everyone's taste though.

Yes, whatever else you might say about acrylic, it is warm. When I lived in the french mountains everyone's jumpers for the really cold days were acrylic.

I don't think young dcs should stop you from wearing cashmere. I have 3 dcs aged 3 and under and they may have had an impact on my heel-wearing antics but no way will I stop wearing nice fabrics for the sake of practicality

(finger painting sessions aside)

there's always the dry cleaner ...

Thank you for all the replies and suggestions! Will have to look at links in more detail (poorly child kept me away from the computer, gah!).

I had discounted the idea of cardigans as I don't find them warm enough normally, unless they are really chunky. But a normal shaped cardigan leaves my chest and front section cold (where the v of the cardigan is, iykwim). So do you have cardies that button up to the neck?

Maybe I need to investigate cashmere or other fabrics because I really don't feel that my cardigans keep me warm enough (I have a couple of boyfriend style long ones and a waterfall one from H&M which is no use really as it doesn't fasten).

I have the same problem and nothing but cashmere keeps me really cosy. When it's really nippy I go for the aforementioned funky M&S thermals, a cashmere jumper, some trousers with some wool in them and a scarf that stays on all day indoors and out. I also have a big chunky cardi, for home wear only, that goes on over all the above.

If I am still cold after all that I do a hot water bottle and if that fails then I finally give in and put the heating on.

Yes, I live in the Frozen North.

Ive just been to tesco and bought a beautiful red waterfall style cashmere blend cardigan for .......... £12.50!!!!! cashmere is indeed half price at tesco.....

I am definitely interested in cashmere, I have to say. May have to have a look in Tesco.

I don't think a thermal vest will do (unless it's long-sleeved). I do like Heartofgold's Top Shop cardigan as it fastens all the way up to the neck and looks cosy.

AboardtheAxiom - those jumper dresses look lovely (and great prices ) but I've always worried that a jumper dress will be a bit too fitted and show my sticky-out tummy a bit too much. How do they look on? Obviously you may not be as lumpy and bumpy as I am.

For under a tenner, it's almost worth just getting one and trying.

Have you looked at Uniqlo Heat Tech?
Thermal T shirts- I now have 5 - one vest style others all long sleeved. They got a mention by Lisa Armstrong last week as essentials. Great forlayering- verythin but warm- you can even wear two- one short/sleevless with a long sleeved on top.

Their cashmere is also good value.
www.uniqlo.co.uk

i am a recent convert to cashemere as i wore my (very bog standard) cash oen to work ( admittedly with wool lined trews) on tue and all the pupils were saying " miss arent you COLD?" as i sashayed in and out of doors wiht no coat.
then it hit me

cashemere - that was it. BUT if i was a sahm i would do vests tbh and warm socks

i have uniqlo heat tech and it is v good, have long arms too and it fits, although go up a size.

also american apparel winter leggings

and i have got a fleece dress for £5 from uniqlo which is quite attractive although it all sounds dire. but i wouldn't wear either of those two out of the house.

for work i have merino and layers. moths in my house so cashmere not a sensible purchase.

PP (hello again, you are solving all my S&B dilemmas this morning!) - yes I have the heattech long sleeved tops. That's what I wear under my short-sleeved tunics. They are toasty but I need MORE

FGJ - hm, I see your point. Am working part-time but am specifically talking about being warm at home or when out and about with the kids on my non-work days.

Am hoping to get to the shops today for a quick look, small children permitting.

Its amazing how warm thermals will keep you especially if you tuck them in. If your core is warm, your extremities will be warm.

i feel the cold terribly.

i wear loads of tunicy style things...i have a few chunky very short chunkyish cardis which work well with the tunic shape...come sort of mid tummy iykwim.

i also always wear a scarf..sometimes chunky, sometimes soft, skinny drapey ones, but are a fab extra to keep on inside if you are chilly after taking your coat off.

i also wear sheepskin lined boots ALL the time, so no draughty bits get past my ankles...

and one more vote for a nice thermal vest!