Do you have special winter clothes?

[vicky91]

I have not. I just try to layer things when it gets colder. For example a top, a tshirt, a sweatshirt and a hoodie. When temperatures get too low or I haven't enough to layer (my wardrobe is quite limited and sometimes there is only a clean top/tshirt left) I just try to be outside as little as possible. I just don't want to spend money for clothes to wear only a few months per year.

Same with shoes. Since years I have only one pair at a time I wear year-round until they fall apart beyond repair. Not till then I look for new shoes.

The only things I have for cold weather are a wooly and a scarf.

Are dedicated winter clothes important for you? Or do you get along with summer clothes like me?

(Just want to add: I don't live in AK, we have snow here in winter, but temps are very rarely below 15, most of the time in the 20s to 30s ...)

[marvholly]

Living in metro Chicago it can get quite cold here, esp w/the wind.

I happen to consider sweatshirts winter clothes. I do have a few things that are specifically seasonal - couple pants outfits & short sleever/no sleeve tops for summer. For winter it is the sweat outfits, velour outfits, and a couple heavy tops.

[Mjenn]

Could not get by without winter clothes. We live i the north and are a very active outdoor family. In our city we get around mostly by walking or bike, 95% of the time. I tend to walk around 3-5 miles per day. My kids go to daycare where they are outside they are also outside 2 hours per day.

We spend a lot of money on outdoor gear. Winter coats, winter pants, rain gear for rainy weather which includes pants and a jacket, thick sweaters for layering, good boots for cold and wet conditions.

It gets expensive, but I think it is good overall for our health to spend so much time outdoors and active!

[elessar78]

Yes. A pair of good boots, waterproof, insulated. An excellent "shell" (parka/coat) that is waterproof and windproof. I can wear insulation layers under it so I can make it super warm and toasty or just as a windbreaker/rain jacket.

If you just commute, probably don't need specialized clothing (although I'd hardly call mine specialized). But if you spend time outdoors (at a football game, for example), it's probably a good thing. BUT you don't need to spend an arm and a leg for it. campmor.com has great sales and their off-brand stuff is very inexpensive—trees, bears, and bugs don't care if you're high fashion.

For insulation, I buy military-grade thermals from the Army surplus store in town. Great stuff.

For me, the most underrated piece of winter clothing is socks. Get some good socks that will keep your feet dry by wicking away sweat. I buy a 3 pair pack at Sam's club for $12.

[dawnwes]

No. I have always lived in mild climates. A jacket over reg. clothing.

But even if I lived up North, what I can't stand is wearing a nice wool sweater, only to walk into an overly heated room.

[disneysteve]

I have not. I just try to layer things when it gets colder. For example a top, a tshirt, a sweatshirt

Well a sweatshirt is certainly winter clothing. I wouldn't wear one in the summer time.

I'm a person who is almost always warm so I'm not one for sweaters (I own none) or sweatshirts (I own one and rarely wear it outside of the house).

For work, I wear dress shirts. During the warmer months I wear short sleeves and during the colder months I wear long sleeves so I suppose that counts as "special winter clothes". Of course, I wear long sleeves all year with a suit or jacket so they aren't just for winter.

My pants are the same all year. I don't own any corduroys or any other "cold weather" pants and no sweatpants either.

My shoes are the same all year. The only exception is a pair of boots when I'm going out to shovel snow.

Of course, I do have a winter jacket - down, insulated, long, with a hood. That's really the only article I have that is strictly for winter time use.

[vicky91]

Living in metro Chicago it can get quite cold here, esp w/the wind.

I can imagine.

I happen to consider sweatshirts winter clothes.

Okay, then I have winter clothes. At least 3 items (2 sweatshirts, 1 hoodie) ...

I do have a few things that are specifically seasonal - couple pants outfits & short sleever/no sleeve tops for summer. For winter it is the sweat outfits, velour outfits, and a couple heavy tops.

Also no winter coat?

[vicky91]

Yes. A pair of good boots, waterproof, insulated.

Okay, I have only ballet flats. But with socks it's okay ...

An excellent "shell" (parka/coat) that is waterproof and windproof. I can wear insulation layers under it so I can make it super warm and toasty or just as a windbreaker/rain jacket.

I have no coat, only a hoodie (with zipper).

If you just commute, probably don't need specialized clothing (although I'd hardly call mine specialized). But if you spend time outdoors (at a football game, for example), it's probably a good thing.

When it's really cold, I try to stay inside as much as possible ...

For me, the most underrated piece of winter clothing is socks. Get some good socks that will keep your feet dry by wicking away sweat. I buy a 3 pair pack at Sam's club for $12.

Yes, I'll buy socks soon. Right now I have only a few thin pairs, most of them with holes. I just didn't need socks in the last months. But for winter I will get a few pairs of thick woolen socks ...

[vicky91]

But even if I lived up North, what I can't stand is wearing a nice wool sweater, only to walk into an overly heated room.

Me neither.

[vicky91]

Well a sweatshirt is certainly winter clothing. I wouldn't wear one in the summer time.

Well, then I have winter clothes. But I wear it often in summer. Right now I have two, but one is badly torn at the shoulder, so I wear it only in winter (under the hoodie). The other is quite thin and worn out now (like all my stuff) but one of my favourite pieces. I wear it very often in summer in the morning and evening, when a thin top only is too cold. Usually it's in my backpack then at 10am ...

I'm a person who is almost always warm so I'm not one for sweaters (I own none) or sweatshirts (I own one and rarely wear it outside of the house).

I don't get cold so easily (I'm always the last one putting on my hoodie) and even if I am cold I can stand it. Year long training ...

For work, I wear dress shirts. During the warmer months I wear short sleeves and during the colder months I wear long sleeves so I suppose that counts as "special winter clothes".

Of course, I wear long sleeves all year with a suit or jacket so they aren't just for winter.

I'm lucky, I don't have to wear dress clothes.

My pants are the same all year. I don't own any corduroys or any other "cold weather" pants and no sweatpants either.

Well, I have a pair of jeans. No other pants. I had two pairs of pajama pants early in the summer but they disintegrated both. I never wore special winter pants, though.

My shoes are the same all year. The only exception is a pair of boots when I'm going out to shovel snow.

Since I don't have to do that, I don't need boots. I can't stand heavy or too tight shoes. At home I'm always barefoot or in socks. Usually when I'm in the library or alike, too. I like to wear ballet flats, canvas slip on shoes, sandals, clogs ... Right now I have ballet flats (need to be replaced soon, I'm afraid).

Of course, I do have a winter jacket - down, insulated, long, with a hood. That's really the only article I have that is strictly for winter time use.

I have none. I had one two years ago. But eventually it ripped in many places and lost the lining, so I tossed it.

[Bob B.]

I live in Michigan, so yes I do, by necessity.

[cardtrick]

Lots of winter clothing here. I tend to buy winter clothes at the end of winter when everything goes on sale and summer clothes at the end of the summer. Last year, I bought a couple of nice high quality jackets and parkas, a pair of baffin boots (it can get really cold out here), so I should be good for at least another 5 years.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Winter boots, coat, gloves, scarf, hat. Nothing really shirt wise, I layer long sleeves with sweatershirt (same one) and jeans and stuff but I do try to wear winter boots while walking dog. Ski stuff I have from 2005. Nothing expensive or fancy but good enough.

[LuckyRobin]

I would say I have special summer clothes, not special winter clothes, because it is only hot 2 to 3 months of the year here. The rest of my clothes are my regular cold weather clothes, t-shirts, jeans, sweats, sweaters, turtlenecks, etc., that I wear fall through spring as well as scarves, gloves in various thicknesses, and hats. I can usually get by with my squall jacket from September to December and from March to June, but I definitely need the parka in January and February. But my parka is going on ten years old. Since I only wear it 2 sometimes 3 months out the year it is in excellent shape. I also have snow boots just for those 2 really bad months. But I also have flip flops for the 2 great months of summer.

[scfr]

"Special winter clothes"? Yes, I guess so ... because my summer wardrobe of shorts, capris, tanks, T-shirts, and short-sleeve shirts won't cut it in the winter, even here in Texas!

I have a reflective vest for safety when walking in the evenings when it gets dark earlier, plus hat, gloves, and lightweight jacket. I have a scarf that I brought with me when I moved from a cooler climate; I wear it only a couple days per year. I could get by without it here, but I keep it because it does get occasional use still. No boots; I sold those before I moved.

But to get to what I think is the essence of your question, yes, I agree that layering really helps, and can cut down on the number of pieces needed in a wardrobe. Turtlenecks and long underwear are layering staples for me.