Brrr. Winter has well and truly arrived in the UK. Despite the frosty fingers, dark travel mornings to the office, and copious amounts of tea to get you through - there’s something magical about the crisp winter air and that cosy Christmas feeling.
Plenty of the country has already experienced snow, so could we be preparing for the first white Christmas in 14 years? Well, even if Jack Frost decides to keep the snow at bay, it’s no secret that we’ll be layering up for the foreseeable.
In our time as thermal experts, we’ve learnt a thing or two about layering. And yes, there’s an art to it! Bookmark this handy guide to 4 of the most common winter layering mistakes - and how to avoid them.
Dressing for Fashion
Fashion over function - we’ve all been there. But when it’s 3° out, a short sleeved top and a pair of shorts probably won’t cut it against the biting cold. That’s not to say layering can’t look good, but it’s layering with purpose that counts all the more.
Our top tip is this: choose your base layer thermals first and choose your outfit second.
If it’s an evening event you’re attending, you’ll likely need to choose longer sleeves, thermal bottoms or tights. If you’re planning on a day out, you might opt for a thermal sleeveless vest or our new seam free leggings.
Look at the occasion, not the outfit!
Wearing the Wrong Material
You’re wearing the correct layers, you’ve chosen function AND fashion, and now you’re ready to face the day. Here’s the catch, you’ve chosen materials that are actually going to work against you and actually keep you cold - and this is especially true when it comes to your feet.
As a general rule, cotton is not always the best option for your socks. Cotton absorbs and retains moisture, which means if you’re wearing cotton socks, your feet will become cold far more quickly than if you were wearing better, more weather-appropriate materials such as wool or a synthetic material.
On the other hand, good quality thermal materials such as wool socks or synthetic materials are a much better choice and will keep you much warmer for much longer.
Too Few or Too Many Layers
We’ve all been asked “would you rather be too cold or too hot?” at one time or another, and the answer is neither, we want to be just right!
Over and under layering can cause this common question to actually happen, whether you’ve over-layered to the point of overheating, or under-layering to the point of numb fingers and toes.
When choosing your layers, make sure to think about where you’ll be spending the majority of your time - will you be indoors with lots of other people, or will you be outside for a long period of time?
Top tip: make sure that your top thermal can be taken off in case of overheating and always have a spare thermal layer to throw on over the top in case you’ve not layered enough.
Forgetting Accessories
…No, we don’t mean that new pair of earrings or your latest watch.
We mean gloves, hats and all of the winter accessories that keep your ears, head, feet and hands warm. And of course not forgetting our innovative snoods or neck warmers are perfect for sitting under outfits without the bulk of a scarf.
Even if you don’t feel like wearing them straight from the house, keep them on your person to throw on if the temperature dips - you’ll thank us later!
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Winter can be wonderfully warm with the right layers. Follow these four core tips to keep warm, dry and happy this Christmas season. We hope that all Heat Holders customers have a fantastic Christmas and New Year, and don’t forget to tag us in your cosy festivities on social @HeatHoldersUK 🎄🎅❄️
