I see some of y’all talking abt embracing puffy clothes, choosing to be warm instead of cute. That’s good, but let’s push it farther:

Why is smaller cuter?

Can we retrain ourselves to see function—big layers that let us ENJOY winter—as cute?

I feel hella cute in all my layers!

Okay, since it’s almost winter and I get questions about this a lot, I’m gonna share some of my favorite tips about staying warm.

Keep in mind that everyone’s body handles temperatures differently, and if you have different methods, please share them! There’s no right or wrong way to dress for winter, as long as you’re comfortable, and this is just some of the stuff that works for me.

The main thing, for women in particular, is to wear clothes that are BIG ENOUGH. I often wear a down jacket under another down jacket. Like I said, embrace puff! Women’s clothes are often cut to be fitted, to look smaller, so don’t be afraid to size up.

For boots, that means you should be able to fit a pair or two of heavy wool socks, plus an extra wool insole, because a lot of the chill comes from the ground, and still have space to wiggle your toes.

I’m also a big fan of those little disposable charcoal heat packs that can go in your boots or mittens. Professional mushers use them all the time, but I know people can feel embarrassed about “needing” them. There is nothing to be embarrassed about; keep yourself cozy!

My fav winter boots, apart from mukluks for winter camping, are winter-weight neoprene ones like the ones made by Bogs, Muck, and LaCrosse. I’ve tried different brands and they’re all pretty good and fairly comparable.

(Buying new clothing, especially outdoor gear, is expensive, and it may not be in your budget. I’m gonna recommend some of my fav brands, but dont feel like you have to buy new stuff to be warm — you can also work with layering what you have.)

When I need new stuff I often set up an eBay alert for specific used items in my size, which really helps keep things affordable.

Anyway: legs! It’s easy to throw on a coat and boots and forget that half your body is still in thin layers, super exposed to cold air.

My FAVORITE WINTER WEAR EVER is a down or insulated skirt, as long as it’s long-ish (think knee length, not those apres-ski miniskirts). @SkhoopUS makes amazing ones, but you can find others, too, or sew your own.

A down skirt may seem silly but it is packable, easy to slip on/off over your pants, and WARM AF. I wear mine every single day in the winter—for farm chores, errands around town, and even some mushing. I cannot sing its praises enough. It is my number one winter tip.

If you are like me and carry more of your weight in your lower body, you might think your legs are less likely to get cold. Wrong! Fat stores temps for longer, so your legs/butt might feel fine at first, but then the fat in your legs will get super cold and chill ya to the bone.

If anyone knows of a company that makes warm skirts in a range of sizes, please let us know! This is so frustrating. https://twitter.com/embassadora/status/1194749977802752011?s=21

(An occasional daydream: if I ever got to design an outerwear line it would have bright colors, come in inclusive sizes, and the theme would be BRING COZY OUTDOORS.)

Back to cold. I know I keep talking about staying warm, but another key part of staying warm is... not ever getting *too* warm. As soon as you start sweating, you’re gonna get chilled down the line, so be sure to unzip or remove layers when you’re generating your own heat.

Wearing non-cotton fabrics against your skin, like wool, silk, alpaca, or fleece, can definitely help in this regard (they’re less likely to suck away your body heat when they’re damp)

Eating snacks, especially something with a little sugar, will make you feel warmer. Big meals will make you feel colder, at least in the short term.

If you’re chilly, go to the bathroom, even if you don’t think you have to. An empty bladder helps your body use heat more efficiently.

You can warm up cold hands in a dog’s armpits.

These are extremely warm bibs. I’ve tried a bunch and they are always my go-tos. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07C1QNCFT/ref=cts_ap_3_vtp?ie=UTF8&pi=SL110&dpPl=1&dpID=31QxHGegdBL

This is an excellent parka. It’s basically a dupe for a brand I will not name that sells (also excellent) parkas for three times as much. https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-alaskan-hardgear-ice-fog-down-parka-32225.html

These are very ugly and very cozy and you can often get them for about $30. I’ve been wearing them for our training this week and I layer them under bibs in deep cold. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=military+primaloft+pants&_trksid=p2380057.m4084.l1313.TR4.TRC0.A0.H0.Xmilitary+prin.TRS0

Stick a charcoal heating pack on the back of your phone to keep the battery working longer on cold winter days!

Aaaand I think that’s all I can think of? Hope at least some of it is helpful, and feel free to shoot me any other questions if you’d like!