Stay Warm This Winter
Have you ever noticed how cold you can be in your favorite sweater or coat? It's probably because of the materials it's made of.
It's getting cold in Oklahoma; leaves are turning, and temperatures are dropping—it's time to switch to your winter wardrobe. Bring out the sweaters and fluff up those coats; snow will be on the ground when school starts again in Norman.
Look at the tags on your favorite clothes to stay warm this winter without layering up. Look at the fabrics and what they are made of. Do your clothes keep you warm without a puffer on? The answer is probably no.
What Keeps You Warm?
What winter wear is made of is essential to keeping body heat in and cold air out.
“I think fabrics are important to keep warm like wool and cashmere kinda natural fibers because they help regulate your body heat. You not too hot, not too cold where synthetics don’t necessarily do that,” says Stephenie Cox
Garments with wool and other natural fibers like cashmere and clothing help regulate body head and keep the wearer warm. Wool is a natural fiber often associated with sheep but can come from many animals.
“The best thing about wool is its ability to trap that warm-air layer next to your skin,” says Angela Fritz, a writer for The Washington Post.
Cashmere is known for its soft texture and luxurious reputation. This fabric is another type of wool that can keep wearers warm.
“Cashmere, for example, is super soft, and you can wear it in a lightweight version of it to keep you warm,” says Cox
Quality winter wear can help keep the wearer warm in a different way than cotton sweaters. They adapt to their surroundings and the modern lifestyle of today's winter. With the heater on in every building one walks into, it's also essential to ensure one isn’t too warm.
“You didn’t wanna wear big bulky cotton, big bulky whatever because you would be hot when you went into someone's house or shopping or at a restaurant,” says Cox.
What if wool and cashmere are too expensive for my budget?
Natural fibers can be more expensive. Look for blends of fabric with 50% or more wool; these items will keep you warm for an everyday chill. If that is not possible, light layers are the perfect trick.
“I layer compression long sleeves under everything, even if it’s a sweatshirt or looser long sleeve. Double pairs of socks if needed. I wear a lot of scarves when it’s freezing. They’re even warmer if they go under a coat,” says Dayton Flesner.
Light layers can help add an extra barrier against the cold chill. A nylon layer keeps body heat, especially with a softer, denser outer layer.
Combine natural and synthetic fabrics to create the warmest look possible. Layer a wool blend sweater with polyester or nylon top layers to keep the wind chill off.
“This is an essential cold-weather material when paired with some polyester layers. A wool sweater makes a perfect middle layer,” says Fritz.
Read the tags when holiday shopping this winter season. Stay warm and bright; happy holidays. To learn more about staying warm this season, read How to dress to stay warm when it’s super cold by Angela Fritz.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2018/11/21/how-dress-stay-warm-when-its-super-cold/
Written by
Lk Cox