Today I pulled out the winter clothes

Its the first cold snap of the fall and as I pulled out the box of winter clothes from my kids’ closet I realized that I am not good at dressing for the winter. My hands are usually frostbitten, my neck is always exposed (I don’t do scarves), and my feet are never warm.

The saying in the Nordics is: There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

So what makes good winter clothing? I’ve looked around and from what I can tell, the Nordic people all dress in layers. And not the layers we Americans are used to: t-shirt, button down, jacket. These are some serious layers, and there are three.

Layer One: the base layer. This layer is the foundation for maintaining body temperature. It’s a thin layer worn under everything else and is offered in many different materials based on the expected weather conditions. I’ve never paid much attention to this layer before. And that could be the source of my temperature issues. I think I’ll be getting at least one base layer for the upcoming winter. Probably two.

Layer Two: the mid layer. This one seems to be less strict on what is included, but it includes the clothes you’ll be seen in. Shirts, vests, sweaters, jackets, jeans, pants. Pick what you want for the weather, but this is the outward-facing layer. If you’re going to be outdoors for an extended period of time, this layer is typically made of more athletic materials.

Layer Three: outerwear. This layer is for outside. According to the experts, this layer tends to change depending on just how cold it is. I’ve seen two versions of outerwear, mid season and winter. So apparently you need two sets of winter gear this far north. The mid season gear tends to look like what we wear to make it through the full winter here, with an emphasis on waterproof materials. If you’re out in the dead of winter, you’ll want something thick and lined with insulation of some sort. Winter gear also tends to double up as ski gear. So this layer depends on you.

Accessories: the final layer. Gloves, socks, scarves and neck warmers. They seem to have a different type of accessory for each activity. Hiking and skiing require different types of socks. Skiing and playing in the snow require different types of gloves. It seems a little redundant for someone who lives in a more temperate weather zone, but perhaps this is what I’ve been neglecting all these years. I believe I’ll pick up a few new types of accessories this year, starting with gloves and socks.

And most importantly, materials matter. Remember that base layer? Cotton is not going to cut it in the dead of winter. So get educated on what temperatures are best for wearing silk, wool, cotton, and other options. Also, waterproofing is important when snow is involved. And when isn’t snow involved in a Nordic winter? So don’t wear a sneaker when a boot is required.

One last warning. Last year the Finnish government had to issue a reminder for this one. Don’t expose your ankles! Leaving body parts exposed loses body heat. And a cold body lets in more germs.

What did I learn from this?

Respect the layers, use the right materials, and tailor your clothes to your activity.