My hero!
When
it comes to pants, I’m with Homer Simpson (“don’t you just hate pants?”). They
just don’t make me happy. Whenever I wear them, I take them off and throw them
in a heap approximately 30 seconds after I get into my apartment.
In
LA, pants were easy to avoid. But these days, I live in the Land of Always
Winter, and my intense antipathy for pants and equally intense love of
skirts/dresses means I need to be a little more creative to keep my legs from
freezing off. While thick wool skirts like the one I wore in this post are an excellent start, I’ve found that they’re no match for a Chicago winter
on their own. After some trial and error, I’ve come up with a few tricks and
tips.
This is the face of someone who knows what'll happen once she walks out the door.
1) Thick Over-the-Knee Socks/Extra Long Leg Warmers Worn Over Leggings
Over-the-knee socks and a wool pinafore make 12 degrees with 20 mph wind liveable!
When
it’s really cold and windy, tights alone won’t cut it, even if, like me, you
have a long puffy coat. The freezing windy air will rip right through your
skirt and by the time you get inside, your legs will be bright red and cold to
the touch for a worryingly long time.
The
key to avoiding this miserable situation is to layer on your legs as well as up
top! If, like me, your hemlines are generally knee-length or longer, it will
look like you’re just wearing rather thick sweater-knit tights. You, however,
will know the secret, and instead of dealing with the discomfort of tights
inside socks, you will have one
manageable layer on your feet, inside your well-insulated boots (see #2
below!), but TWO layers on the exposed portion of your legs. Crisis averted!
Leg
warmers are another great idea: their name says it all. Look for the
thigh-length leg warmers made for ballet dancers. I also like faux-fur-lined
boot liners, as they jazz up my boots a bit.
2) Tall Boots
This one is sort of a no-brainer, but my feet are always cold, so I figure it’s worth mentioning anyway. Look for boots with Thinsulate lining for the coldest days, look for waterproof boots for snowy and slushy days, and if you want sleek knee-high boots, go with genuine leather, as it breathes better and keeps your feet from overheating, sweating through your socks, and then freezing.
I’ve
been quite pleased with my two new pairs of boots this year: this pair of Columbias for the snow and
the deep freeze, and these Bogs (pictured above) for rainy days and regular wear. I have very small calves, and the Bogs are one of the few pairs of
knee boots that I’m not swimming in.
3) Skirts Over Fitted/Bodycon Dresses
Accidentally pictured: the bottom of my shorts. It's really hard to see your shorts sticking out while lifting your petticoat and skirt to show the dress below. Actually, it's really hard to see anything below my hands when taking such photos.
This
is a nifty trick I picked up from the lovely ladies of Pinterest. It’s a great
way of making those bodycon/wiggle dresses do double duty, of course, but for
me, it’s also a fabulous way to add another layer without adding too much bulk.
I find that those Chicago winds cut right through all but my heaviest skirts
when worn alone. While I think a petticoat is an excellent solution to this
problem (see #4 below!), I have a number of skirts that don’t sit right over a
petticoat, and there are some situations where a petticoat isn’t the most
practical option. I was That Jerk in my biggest, longest petticoat on the bus
one day at rush hour. Fortunately, I was sitting next to Jeff ;). A fitted
dress, however, helps to insulate your thighs without encroaching on others’
personal space!
4) Petticoats!
In
winter, a petticoat (or two!) is a godsend. The layers of fluff trap your body
heat and block the wind. They’re also super fun! ‘Nuff said.
See? Stylish and practical!
5) Bike Shorts/Pettipants Over Tights
For
a run-of-the-mill cold day, bike shorts over your tights or foundation garments
are a good option, of course. But for a terrifyingly cold day – the type of
cold that freezes your mascara if you step outside for more than a minute –
pettipants are the ultimate secret weapon!
Peak Ruffles: when your pettipants match your petticoat.
It’s
amazing how much these Malco Modes pettipants do to keep you cozy and warm in subzero temperatures. It makes sense
when you think about it, though – the lace ruffles help to trap more body heat
than a simple pair of bike shorts will do.
Bonus:
you can spin in your twirliest skirt with no risk of flashing any unsuspecting
passersby!
All
of the above methods can, of course, be combined to maximize your chance of
surviving winter without resorting to pants.
How
do those of you who live in an arctic climate deal with the winter? Inquiring minds want to know...
Thanks, Em! Now I can literally never stop wearing skirts! =D
ReplyDeleteNot as fashionable indoor alternative: keep a blanket on your lower half at all times
Please attend to #2 -- flip flops are just not viable if a) there is snow on the ground or b) it is less than 45 degrees out. You have cute boots now!
DeleteThanks for the indoor warmth tip. Might I also suggest a robe? Perhaps one that's very plush, in your favorite color?
I do a lot of these tricks but I'm not sure I've considered knee socks over tights!!! That's a really good idea! Great post, lady! XOXO
ReplyDeleteThank you! In middle school, I had to wear a uniform, and tights were allowed but leggings weren't, so on freezing cold days, I would either layer leggings *under* my tights, or wear knee socks over my tights and pull my skirt way down low on my hips. Come to think of it, we wore boxer shorts under our uniform skirts back then!
DeleteI've never heard of pettipants and I LOVE them! It gets pretty windy in the non-summer months here in Vegas. These would be awesome, seeing that I've been a victim of the wind's dirty mind.
ReplyDeleteYes, they're so useful on a windy day!! They are super cute and ruffly, and come in pretty much all the colors that Malco Modes petticoats come in!
DeleteLove this post, I hate wearing pants too, I'm always in skirts and dresses.
ReplyDeletehttp://ohduckydarling.com
Pants are just so uncomfortable! And I just love wearing fun prints, but novelty-print pants just look a bit silly. Clearly, dresses/skirts are the only good choices for me!
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