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Clothes Layering
Winter-Wear Advisory: Dressing for the Season
Let's take a look at dressing appropriately for colder weather. We’ve all heard about the need
to wear layers in cold weather, but why?
The answer is two-fold.
First, layering is the best way for you to insulate yourself against the cold. But you need to do
it properly. That means starting with a layer of close-fitting absorbent fabric. Usually a cotton jersey-knit or other natural fiber is
a good choice. The fabric should be tightly woven and able to wick away moisture from the skin, so that you stay comfortable.
The next layer should be something bulky, and loose-woven that allows air to circulate through it.
This lets the cold air from outside get trapped in the fibers and slowly warmed before reaching your skin. Think of this as the
insulating layer.
The outer layer of garments should be tightly-woven and at least somewhat windproof and
waterproof (for inclement weather like rain and snow). With the wind-tight outer layer, the insular layer creates a warming pocket
around you to keep you snug in the harsher outside weather.
Let’s break this down:
Layer one: Close-fitted Garments
These are your undergarments and street clothing. These would be the garments you would be left
wearing in most non-home settings after coming in from the cold. If you are going to be in the outdoors for long periods of time, or if
the interior you are headed for tends to be colder than you are comfortable with, you may want to wear long underwear (thermals) to give
you better maintenance of your body temperature.
Layer two: The Insular Pocket
This would be the heavy, bulky sweater that you wear over your street clothes. Air will pass
through it in direct wind, but it allows you to maintain a measure of your body heat when the air is not moving. It creates a warm
pocket of body-temperature air when covered by the outer layer. You may not immediately remove this layer when you enter your
destination, but you certainly would if you need to adjust your comfort level.
Layer three: The Outer Layer
These are the garments that provide the primary defense against the elements. It can be an overcoat,
or rain coat, or simply a windbreaker. This also includes scarves, hats and gloves. This layer would be the part that would be removed
upon entering most places, particularly your destination.
The other reason layering is so important is in temperature management. Since most of us have to
travel from one climate controlled environment to another by going through the harsh winter outside, and since we generally have little
control over any but our home environments, it becomes necessary to layer our clothing to allow us to maintain a comfortable temperature
by adding or removing garments.
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