Dressing for the cold

Key to staying warm: Dress in layers

First layer or base layer: You should purchase some thermal innerwear to use as your first layer. Base layers trap body heat and help you stay warm. It’s not advisable to use jeans as the first layer in cold weather; instead, buy a pair of warm leggings for the base layer. Choose materials such as silk, lycra, nylon, and polyester as they repel moisture and help preserve the warmth. Cotton isn’t recommended as it tends to absorb sweat, which will make you feel cold.

Second or middle layer: The next layer of clothing can be your regular clothes or woollen wear or a combination of both, depending on the outside temperature. In extremely cold weather, you should treat this as your insulating layer. Flannel, fleece, or wool are good insulators as they trap heat. Add as many second layers as you’d like, t-shirts, shirts, blouses, sweaters, hoodies, vests, or puff jackets – so that you stay warm and comfortable.

Tip: Wearing multiple thin layers allows you to better adjust to the environment you’re in. For example, when you’re indoors, if you feel hot, you can easily remove a layer or two and put them on before stepping out.

Third layer or outer layer: This is dependent on the outside temperature and helps protect you from snow, wind, and rain. During fall, you may just need a light coat or a denim or a leather jacket, while during winter, you may have to wear a heavy down jacket or winter coat.

Accessories for hands, neck, head, and feet
When you step out in the cold, bundling-up and covering your whole body is essential to avoid getting hypothermia and frostbite.

Here are some common must-have fall/winter clothing accessories:
For hands: Gloves or mittens;
For neck: Scarf or neck warmers;
For feet: Socks that are made from wool or wool blend with silk or polypropylene;
For head and ears: Hat, toque, beanie, and/or ear muffs;

Tips:

Choose gloves, toques, and beanies with lining, so it protects you from cold. Knitted accessories look stylish but aren’t very effective in the cold. You can also buy touchscreen gloves, which allows you to use your phone without taking them off.
You can buy hand warmers or toe warmers; they are slightly expensive but very effective in keeping you warm.
If you have kids, label all their coats and accessories as they tend to get mixed up in a pile when kids go indoors.
Don’t wear anything metal such as rings, bangles, watches etc. on exposed skin as it’s likely to cause frostbite due to the metal being a cold conductor.

Coats and jackets
Coats and jackets are items you will wear almost every day during fall and winter. So be sure to pick comfortable ones and look for certain features like cuffs that can be tightened and a hood that fits over your hat. Having a hood is essential to protect yourself from wind chills. Fur lining can be helpful too. These days many winter jackets come labelled with temperature ratings, but it’s better not to rely solely on those ratings as they can be subjective. Don’t hesitate to ask the sales associate for guidance. Good quality jackets (such as ones with down filling) tend to be expensive, but it’s worthwhile to treat it as an investment as you will be using the jackets for many years.

Footwear
Walking on snow and ice can be tricky and dangerous. Sidewalks and roads can even get icy during winter. That’s why having a pair of good winter boots that are warm, slip-resistant, and waterproof are essential. Remember, damp socks can give you frostbite, so always carry an extra pair with you. During the fall season, however, regular ankle-length boots paired with socks may suffice to keep you warm.

Unless you have heated floors in your home, the flooring can get very cold during winter. Since Canadians leave their shoes at the door, having a pair of indoor slippers or using thick socks will help you stay warm.

Tips:

Look for winter boots with removable liners. It will enable you to remove them when they get wet and allow for easy drying.
Beware of black ice or clear ice – the cause of many road accidents and personal injuries in Canada. Black ice is a thin layer of glaze ice on roads and sidewalks. Metal/rubber grippers (known as crampons) that can easily be attached to the soles and sides of your shoes or boots work well to avoid slipping on such icy roads. They’re light and small enough to store in a Ziploc bag after use.