How do you keep warm, stylish and MSE?!

jenniewb

I also seem to be sacrifcing my warmth for style! I recently got a new coat but its not as warm as I'd hoped it would be. Add to this the style being quite slim fitting (the design of the coat rather then it not fitting- I got the next size up and it just looked stupid!) I am limited to one thin jumper and thermal but tight underware beneath.

Uniqlo seems to be where my thermal style underware comes from, they have free delivery atm and I think a £10 off when you spend £50 but not sure if that ended yet, its on the discounts board. They have stuff that passes as day wear rather then looking like granny style thermals. But having said that, some dylon dye in a bright colour can really bring things back to life.

Otherwise I wear scarves, two is best IMO. I have one which is very short and stays on all day, the second which I wear outside only and is one of those oversized massive wrap around several times scarves. I think they go with most things and go well with my coat. Scarves are also easy to make, chose a warm wool fabric from a fabric store, if its knitted or woven you will need to hem it which you can do without a sewing machine.

Gloves, leather or sheepskin work really well and the thicker the better. Get a size which is snug as they do get bigger with wear.

Hats? Topshop have many, the whole teddy bear on your head with sticky out ears seems to be popular but I think only really work if your under 20. Otherwise a knitted hat is trendy and warm, or earmuffs (market stalls) or both.
Feet- do make a difference! Wear warm thick socks (look great with grungy boots) if you don't have some form of snow/sheepskin/warm boots.

tara747

FelinePrincess wrote: »

Sadly Tara there are no posher areas where I live! I'm sure there are still great finds to be had, but I usually can't be bothered looking because I never find anything - still, I'll have a look next time I'm in town, after all you never know when something might crop up!

That was a great find Foreign Correspondent! Footwear is the one area I don't struggle too much with - I have lots of good pairs of boots as I wear them all year round

Even in summer??

Shame about your past CS experience but do pop in for a quick nosy when you can, there are hidden gems to be found!

Another tip to keep warmer - walk faster! I walk/cycle to work in all weathers (ok not lashing rain) and it warms me up quickly! I pass people shivering at bus stops and think 'why don't you just walk?' (it's not that far to the city centre from where I live). Even if you live too far to walk/cycle, walk to a further bus stop and that will get your blood circulating! I cycled this morning and it was minus 4, yet I arrived at work nice and warm. Sorry if you already do this, but it might help others?

p.s. I like the teddy bear sticky out ear hats, I really want one and I'm over 20. :rotfl:

floss2

I too would suggest layering - a vest & thin jumper is not really enough for the current minus temperatures!

I am rarely to be found without a Primark long sleeve-T in the colder months - they act as a vest and are nice & long to cover my lower back. Then it will be a polo-neck or v-neck jumper - the V-necks are usually cashmere - with a long pashmina folded & knotted around my neck. If it's really cold then I will add a long cardi. All this will be ontop of leggings & boots (if it's very cold I wear tights under the leggings - gives a really dense look to them too!).

I sit by a draughty window in the office, away from the heaters, and have been comfortably warm through this cold snap.

Re colder countries - have you seen the residents in Austria / Italy / Switzerland etc? They all wear good thermals, multi-layers, and top everything with a long down coat & sensible snow boots.

Fuzzy_Duck

tara747 wrote: »

Even in summer??

Shame about your past CS experience but do pop in for a quick nosy when you can, there are hidden gems to be found!

Another tip to keep warmer - walk faster! I walk/cycle to work in all weathers (ok not lashing rain) and it warms me up quickly! I pass people shivering at bus stops and think 'why don't you just walk?' (it's not that far to the city centre from where I live). Even if you live too far to walk/cycle, walk to a further bus stop and that will get your blood circulating! I cycled this morning and it was minus 4, yet I arrived at work nice and warm. Sorry if you already do this, but it might help others?

p.s. I like the teddy bear sticky out ear hats, I really want one and I'm over 20. :rotfl:

I wore boots one summer I didn't own anything else at the time! The funny looks and remarks from total strangers did convince me to splash out of new suitable shoes pretty quickly though!

I also love the animal ear hats- I'll be 23 next month and plan to get a few years wear out of my panda hat. I'm rather short and baby-faced though. My friends were shocked when I managed to get served in a pub wearing it without being asked for ID :rotfl:

Well done of the Topshop bargain OP- I bought a wool coat from them in the sale yonks ago and I was so sad when it finally began looking tatty. Managed to get a near identical one in a charity shop for a tenner shortly afterwards

I always wear leggings or tights under my trousers and favour tight jeans as they don't let the cold in! I have lots of cardis to wear under my coat and I recently bought some cheap jumpers from Chiara Fashion (£16 each). They are surprisingly warm and fleecy-feeling without making you too hot if you know what I mean. They're thick enough to keep you warm but not thick enough to overheat you when you're indoors. I'd definitely recommend them

shandyclover

I found this on someones blog a few months ago...good advice -

http://oldfashionedlady.blogspot.com/2007/10/old-fashioned-ways-to-stay-warm.html

I feel the cold alot as I grew up in Asia and my work keeps me moving in and out doors in minus weather yet, having to look presentable at all times. Some things that work for me -

I wear a vest, and even a t-shirt too, under my blouse - if you get ones with contrasting/blending colours it can actually look quite trendy.

Tights under trousers, as someone else mentioned, and 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of thin socks being better than 1 thick pair. I keep one pair of boots a size bigger than normal just for winter wear, they have also been waterproof treated.

My mum always told me to wear wool. I never believed her. This year a friend gave me a icelandic sweater, double layered silk and wool, the difference was incredible! The first time I wore it, it was minus 10 outside, and I was home alone with just the wood fire burning in the living room, I forgot to put the central heating on! Save up your money and invest in quality warm wool/silk clothes in classic colours and cuts you can jazz up with scarves and jewelry to look current.

If you can't afford an expensive wool coat, as I can't - wear a warm cardi layer under the coat, even if it doesnt match the rest of the outfit and once you are indoors peel it off deftly with your coat so no one sees.

Baring that you might get lucky. I recently found a brand new but very old fashion heavy wool coat in a CS. I'm not a master tailor but since it cost so little, is brand new and such a lovely rich burgandy colour I'm going to have a go at adapting it a little.

Unfairly it seems if you are young you can get away with alot more mixing up. My teen daughter tends to favor those thin jumpers and will wear a vest underneath and a completely contrasting short sleeved t-shirt on top of the jumper, and then a waist coat on top of that with both gloves and fingerless gloves, 2 scarves, jeans and 2 pairs of long stripey socks with converses, and finally a vintage purple 'old lady coat' on to which she has sewn orange ribbon roses on the lapels - all clashing colours - somehow it works!

Pennylane

Yep, definitely thermals underneath.

On top of that I'd say go for wool because it is SO much warmer than manmade stuff. I have an Icelandic wool cowl I've just knitted and not a nip of air gets through that - my head, neck & shoulders are toasty.

Look for tights with wool in them too. I bought a pair of gorgeous choc brown ones today with Merino wool in them and they are lovely alone or as an extra layer under trousers.

Knitted stuff is very on trend at the moment, so wrap yourself up, keep your feet warm and dry and enjoy the winter!!

Pennylane

I forgot to say - also look in charity shops for Angora and Lambswool knitwear. They are really light and incredibly warm.

I have a black M & S one and I reckoned up the other day it is 18 years old. I only get it out in the depths of winter and it is so warm.

Alpaca is also excellent - light and very warm.

tiff

When you go out are you wearing a hat and gloves, in these minus temperatures I've found a hat is a must. I have a ski jacket that is so warm and a scarf and woolen gloves, leather ones arent warm enough for me.

The other day I saw a lady out in a ski jacket and trousers, they were matching white with pink detail on it. She looked great, fine if youre slim though!

pattycake

I spent last week in Prague and it was extremely cold. Daytime temperatures were only -9 degrees C. There was a lot of lying snow and ice too. The locals just went about their daily lives. It was rare to see any of them out without a hat and sensible boots.

I wore layers and never went outside without my hat. My hair was horrendous all week! Even so, within half a hour it was necessary to go into a local hostelry for something to warm me up.