Last winter there was a day when I was really cold. I was outside and static, and when I’m not moving I feel the cold a lot. Also, it was really cold. We were at Disneyland– not the sunny, Orlando kind of Disneyland, but the freezing, Paris in February kind. In among all the fun, Disneyland involves a lot of waiting around outside. Because I knew in advance that this would happen, I had come prepared. With layers.
I realized, with a totally irrational sense of pride, that it was the most layers I had ever had on. I had an undershirt, a t-shirt, a thin, long-sleeved sweater, a fleece, and a hoodie of Simba, greatest of all Disney characters. I also had a pretty heavy-duty coat over the top, a thin waterproof, a hat, and a scarf that’s big enough to count the two together as another layer. So I counted that as eight, eight layers. Surely I deserved a prize.
I didn’t discover the art of layering until I got a bit older. Mostly because you don’t feel the cold when you’re young. Also, where I grew up it’s often cold, so you own really thick layers, and don’t need many on at once.
The need for layering arose when I went backpacking, to hot and cold countries on the same trip. You have very limited luggage space, so you have to think carefully about what to take. You want the right clothing for every situation, but for many items, you only have space for one of each. For most of my trip, the thin sweater and hoodie combo worked fine. However, in sub-zero Bolivia I realized that I needed another sweater. Not as a replacement though, I needed an extra layer. Enter the fleece.
Fleeces are the ultimate dad-gear. What they lack in looks, they make up for in warmth, which gets more important the older you get. Hiking across the snow-capped Andes is a lot like visiting Paris in February; you can’t worry about having a different outfit each day, because the real concern is– How am I going to be able to wear all my clothes at once so I don’t freeze to death waiting for the mine train?
Now I live in Spain, where it’s not cold very often, so it’s fairly pointless to invest in warm winter clothing. It does still get cold sometimes though, so what do you do then? Layers of course. You don’t need a large wardrobe, just a well-equipped one, and you can handle the full spectrum of cold.
It’s Getting Chilly
When it first gets too cold for a t-shirt, you want thin long-sleeved sweaters. They’re good for casual or formal wear, and you’ll probably want a selection. Some crew necks, some v-necks, some very light, others a bit thicker.
This is also the time for the thin, zip-up hoodie. These give you the option of leaving them open or closed, and they look great. You can get quite formal-looking ones these days, and many companies consider them appropriate work wear.
Okay I’m Cold Now
Temperature dropped another couple of degrees? Time for the big chunky hoodie or sweater. Mostly for casual looks, you can get these in all sorts of materials and colors. This is also where the fleeces, Christmas sweaters and other knitwear come into play. If that’s not quite cutting it, sneak an undershirt underneath your t-shirt to keep the engine room warm.
Is That a Blizzard?
When the weather gets really cold, it’s time for the magical middle layer. Get your t-shirt on, then add one of the thin sweaters we mentioned earlier. You can also go for a thin fleece layer, to make you really toasty. Over the top, you’ll want a hoodie or other sweater. Here I recommend a zip-up hoodie with a more relaxed fit. They fit comfortably over the top of your other layers, and you can undo the zip if the temperature picks up a little.
Here Comes Elsa
We don’t see this kind of cold in Spain, but if you go to Paris in February then you might need the nuclear option. For anyone queuing to meet a princess while she turns everything to ice- you want the thin sweater, and then a genuine dad-fleece over the top (a body warmer would also work here). Finally, a baggy hoodie, ideally with a lion on it. The layers work together brilliantly, and the chunky middle layer helps you stay cozy through anything.
The attentive among you will have noticed that all four of these different levels of cold can be navigated with only three sweaters; wear the thickest to the airport and they don’t even take up much space in your luggage. Plenty of room for souvenirs then, I wonder what you could get?
Head to Wordans for the full range of sweaters, in every color and material you could ask for. You can also visit our Instagram: @wearewordans, for all the latest news and trends.
