Why? Well, our house is between 63 and 66 degrees, depending on whether you are upstairs or downstairs. Today, I’m wearing socks, slippers, two pairs of pants (yoga pants and jeans), two shirts (a long tank top and a long sleeved shirt) and a jacket, and I’m having trouble staying warm.
Yeah. I think my body must have temperature management issues or something. I know other people manage to keep their thermostats lower than we do without freezing to death, but I don’t know how they do it! And there are still at least two months of really cold temperatures where I live. At least. Boo.
Aside from adding a hat to my ensemble, it seems that perhaps long underwear is one of the last options available to me (seriously, how many clothes can a person wear??). Having never worn long underwear except for some ill-fitting thermal stuff in my skiing days, I’m not really sure what is a good option. Is silk long underwear a good idea? Or is cotton where it’s at? Advise me! I don’t want to waste my money on something that’s not going to do the job and do it well.
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If you do long underwear, try the silk stuff. It tends to be warmer (I am an avid snow skiier). I would suggest a hat. I have a few fleece hats that I wear around the house (we also keep it cool and am freezing most of the time). It doesn’t always do great things for you hair, but I do promise that it makes a difference to your interna temp. And closed-toe house shoes…do you have any of those? I usually wear a pair I got at walmart for about $4 and they do help also.
we keep our house about that temperature if not lower on some days. my parents both wear hats in the house to keep warm. long underwear is good but I find hard to find sometimes as it’s not that popular anymore. one thing I think you should look at though is to make sure all your windows and doors are insulated and well sealed. you might be losing heat and not know it.
I like Cuddl Duds. They are slick on the outside so your pants will slide over them and they aren’t real thick. But somehow they help to keep you warm.
I live in Finland and the silky type long johns are the best! Cuddl Duds can be bought anywhere and they do really well under skirts too. You have to be careful buying them because their sizing is alittle wonky and they can shrink. Airdry is best for them and cold wash.
Also keeping feet warm is very important for staying warm. I wear slippers that go over my ankles (like booties) and thick slipper socks too. We have nasty tile floors to boot so it’s really cold up here. Tonight is already -5F lol.
Kat
I love the silk long underwear – here in Wisconsin it’s a necessity! Land’s End has some decent, if basic, sets. It’s what I’ve been wearing this winter, under jeans, and I haven’t had a problem with being *too* warm, the way cotton long johns make me.
I also second (fourth?) the warm slippers and socks route – for extreme warmth, try SmartWool socks (or any wool socks) and some of the slippers from LL Bean. They don’t necessarily come cheap ($15 and up for a pair of socks?! so worth it up here…) but if you’re looking to invest, they’re worth looking into. Good luck!
our apartment is horribly insulated- we’re sitting at 70 degrees and my husband still has on 2 socks, sweatpants, and a tshirt/sweatshirt. i think it has just been a little colder this weekend and a littler windier! i think it makes a difference when the blinds are closed too- i like to keep them open to let the sunlight in (and sometimes warm the place up), but today was overcast and although it was a little lighter- i think the cold came in!
i’d much rather keep the thermostat around 63 like my parents, but i just don’t want to pack on all these extra clothes! its hard to get work done in so many layers!!
I recently bought some long underwear from REI for snowshoeing. It’s very soft and ridiculously comfortable! http://www.rei.com/product/795083
Asian Pear-we have all new windows and doors, so I think our insulation is not an issue. Our house isn’t particularly drafty…just cold. lol
Ashley, I actually have slippers from L.L. Bean. They’re shearling lined, so they are really warm as slippers go. My socks aren’t anything special, but my feet really aren’t cold.
I try to lower our thermastat a bit each week. I have only been able to get down to about 68 before there are complaints. I guess I will just keep it at about there and try to reduce it a bit when we adjust to this lower temp.
i’m in wisconsin, i think it’s 4 degrees outside right now. we keep our house temp pretty low (61 during the day, 64 if my husband is home, 55 at night). i have silk long underwear (which i like), micro fleece (i also like), but my favorites are the cuddle duds. both the cuddle duds and silk are thinner, so i don’t feel so bulky (and the cuddle duds are v-neck, which i prefer).
Bake something, and stand next to the oven. This way you’ll be warm and get to eat, too. Then, take a nap. Wake up in the spring. I’m sure that’s what we were all meant to do, really.
I love my silk long john’s from Land’s End. I received 2 pair as a gift in 2000, and although they are nubby, they are still functional, soft, and unnoticeable when worn underneath pants.
I also have ski tights with feet that I wear like hose when I wear dresses, but my daughter wears hers underneath her pants on a regular basis.
Snuggie
We keep our house around 65 in the day and 59 at night – we are in OH and it was only a high of 18 today. I’m not normally a cold person but even I have been cold today! I would second the advice on Cuddle Duds. They are my favorites!
When I get a little bit of a chill, I put on my bathrobe.
I can’t tell you if silk or thinsulate is better and I’ve never heard of Cuddle Duds. But I do know that a waffle weave traps a lot more heat than a flat weave. And hats rock. And that a sweater is warmer than a second shirt.
The year I was dead broke and living in a drafty rental apt (and sleeping on the floor!), I regularly wore an undershirt, a turtleneck, a sweatshirt and an oversized wool sweater – it helped.
Second the vote for smartwool socks. They’re machine washable, too.
Our house is hovering in the low 60′s, as low as 46 in our bedroom…I’m trying to hold out on the heat as long as I can. I bought thermal pants from Kmart… about $6. I love them! They are just the old fashioned cotton ones, but they seem to do the trick wonderfully and I am ALWAYS cold normally. I highly recommend trying one pair to see how you like them.
Isn’t it true that most of the heat of your body goes out through your head? A knit beanie hat (courtesy of my husband) always warms me up!
If you are going to invest in any clothing or long underwear one brand comes to mind. Under Armour!
It can be a little pricey but no more than some of the above suggestions. The quality is outstanding and I have yet to hear someone complain about an item. When I worked for the police department the officers would swear by it. The fabrics are not bulky and fit well under normal clothing. Many women like that it “firms up” some body parts just like Spanx do.
Check them out and most of your local sporting goods stores will have an ample supply of items to try on.
I also third (or fourth by now?) the silk long underwear idea. I’ve gotten all of mine really cheap from REI or Sierra Trading Post. I live close by each and they have some major sales (also works to order online—they usually email you coupons for signing up to their email, and then have ridiculous deals).
I also wear wool socks—best investment I’ve ever made. I have about 5 pair and find myself too hot sometimes.
Annnnnnnd sometimes you can find me wearing leg warmers (think 1970s spandex dancers), but I put them on under my jeans so you cant see them.
Hope you get warmer! It’s cold in chicago too
Ginger Tea! It is very warming and increases the metabolism to keep your internal heat up. I have this same problem and ginger tea or any warm beverage really helps to warm from the inside out.
I wear feetie pajamas. You can find them at Sears or Target. I wear them everywhere I can, and I’m addicted.
when I read your post, I thought:
of course, it’s winter, where’s the wool?
Jeans have the tendency to freeze, they are always quite colder than other items you wear. You seem to wear a lot of layers, but layers of cotton… in winter?
I wear pure wool or flannel, at least, and woolen twin-sets with turtlenecks are great (I get them at the thrift stores, for the Compact, but also because newer items all have some kind of plastic blend in it and wool + polyester favors b.o.)
you’ve already got lots of suggestions, but here’s mine: Patagonia. Check out their web specials pages, which have good deals. http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/shop/web-specials?slc=en_US&sct=US&k=ga. Patagonia stuff is expensive, but if there’s ever anything wrong with it (including shrinking and pilling), you can just mail it back to their customer service dept. and they will give you a replacement or refund of full value of the product. I’ve done this several times with great results. They call long underwear “base layer.” See http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/shop/womens-baselayer-web-specials?k=1E-6M-ga. I wear it every day. It’s not as “silky” as other products but it fits great and doesn’t itch. Very very high quality stuff. Currently looks like they have only long underwear bottoms on sale, not tops, but they add stuff to the sale pages periodically.
you need to get a pair of Shivers long underwear! they have socks attached to them to keep you warm but not sweat. I got mine at http://www.shiverswear.com
Having spent a total of 11 years in the Frozen North (5 in ND, 6 in MN), I have a big vote AGAINST COTTON. It is a “cooling” fabric that will keep you all nice and chilly – great in summer, not so great in winter.
Silk is nice and toasty, and SmartWool socks are what I always wore for skiing, hiking, etc., in below-zero weather.
I can’t say enough good things about “Cuddle Duds”. They are thin, so they are comfortable under your clothes. They are amazingly warm. And they are very pretty, too. They have long sleeve, t-shirt and tank-top/Camisole style tops. In white, ivory and black. And the bottoms are not all baggy and bulky. They are really great for sleeping in, too. I have found some on clearance at various stores and I know they carry the brand at Ross at a steep discount over retail. I have searched for them on ebay as well. I even found a couple pieces at Value Village, our local thrift store chain. Here in the Pacific Northwest, it is not always the temperature that keeps us chilled, it is the moisture. Good Luck! Stay Warm!
Hi – I don’t know about long underwear but I love love love my fleece vests (found at thrift stores!). My house is always in the 60s this time of year (lower at night). I wear the vests over other layers and I’m convinced that keeping the body core warm works.
SmartWool expedition socks – about $20/pair. I wear these socks every day, except July and August. Don’t go for the REI brand. I have SmartWool socks I purchased in 2004, and even though I wear them constantly, they show no wear. REI socks wore out after 1 year. Also, for long undies – try winter silks (www.wintersilks.com but also at overstock.com) They have various weights. Expedition weight is a dream. Silk works under normal clothing better than cottons or thermals. Like SmartWool, not cheap, but frugal doesn’t necessarily mean cheap, yes? It means spending well. I wouldn’t buy winter silks for kids unless I had a hand-me-down line, but for grownups who are not going to be changing their size, it is worth it. I have 2 sets of silks (tops and bottoms) purchased in 2004, price per wear is now way in the negatives, and the silks look and feel like new.
Also, Lands End has fleece line jeans. ha ha they make my butt look huge, but the jeans are warm for sure.
here’s to warm and cozy,
-P
I live in MN. Our thermostat says 66, which means it’s cooler upstairs (bedrooms) and downstairs (tv room). I typically wear longjohns when it gets to be about 0 or lower. Mine are thermal weave cotton from Target. I agree that silk is warmer. When I was a kid, my mom ordered swiss-made wool long underwear from Sears. That was the best. I can’t imagine what that would cost now. I’d like to make the case for wool sweaters. If they seem itchy, wear them over a long-sleeved cotton t-shirt. I wear wool socks and sweaters all winter. It’s getting harder and harder to find wool in stores. I always keep an eye out for wool sweaters I like in thrift stores.
I live in Montana, and long underwear is a necessity! Here are some other things I’ve found to be helpful:
Always wear a tank top or camisole under whatever you are wearing. Keeping your core, head, and feet warm is the most effective way to retain your body heat.
Drink lots of tea. Nothing warms you better inside out. Plus its great for your health.
Make a rice bag or bean bag. Take two pieces of rectangular flannel, sew them together, and fill them with rice or beans. Microwave for 2 minutes. Instant warmth! I take one to bed with me every night.
Our house is at 64. We would keep it colder to save money, but my landlord said no lower because she is worried about the pipes freezing in the sub zero temps. I work at a homeless shelter, and what’s helped me the most is to realize I’m not all that cold. I’ve tried (emphasis on tried!) to refrain from saying I’m “freezing,” cause I’m not. I’m just chilly. It helps me realize its not all that bad.
Cuddle Duds is the best thing out there! I use them for hunting, riding motorcycles, etc. JcPenny’s carries them and when they have a code for $10.00 off you can really get a good deals. A lady introduced them to me years ago and I am a believer!
I like silk long underwear as well. But, until you get them, I recommend wearing tights under your pants- those always help. Especially knit tights.
We keep our house on the cool side also. Cuddleduds are WONDERFUL and the knockoffs from Wal-mart seem to be the same ( I have seen them both in MD stores and here in KY. I have 6 pair and wear them daily. (I should also say that they are now all between 12-15 yrs old and still going strong!) It was a low here of 7 degrees here this morning! We also saved about 20 percent off our gas/electric bill by adding 2 programable thermostats to our home. This way I can get out of bed without freezing! (we keep it at 62 upstairs/55 downstairs at night)
Lots of great suggestions…but do you wear scarves? In addition to keeping my feet covered, throwing a big ‘pashmina’ (polyester) shawl around my shoulders or a thin, wool scarf slung around my neck knocks the chill off and I can keep moving around. It’s only when my fingers are too cold to manuever that I have to keep the hot tea cups handy
Tangee-yes, when I am wearing a shirt/jacket that doesn’t have a high collar, I do often wear a scarf.
Thank you all for the suggestion…I think I’m leaning towards getting some silk long underwear. I’ll do some poking around online to see what I can come up with for the best price.
I’ll echo the silk long underwear. I had 2 pairs from L.L.Bean that have lasted me 10 years. I just ordered a pair to replace them because they’ve developed a few runs. The silk is warm and not bulky. Also look into corduroy pants instead of jeans. I find they are warmer.
Our house is well insulated as well, in fact after the snow storm it took the sunlight hitting the roof to melt the snow off rather than the heat from inside the house getting out.
We’re pretty close neighbors (hi, neighbor!) and my thought is that it’s all the heavy wind we’ve been getting lately.
My favorite are Cuddlduds. http://www.cuddlduds.com/
My mom gave me some and I wear them all the time in the winter! So soft and warm!
I’ve got some serious body temperature regulation problems – if I get cold, I never warm up again! I LOVE my silk long johns, and wear them regularly. I’ve also got warm fuzzy slippers, and when things just get too cold in the house I throw on a fleece robe on top of whatever I was wearing until I warm up again. I call it my ‘house frock’ – it may look frumpy but it sure it warm!
I also do most of the things Jackie suggested – wearing a tank top, drinking lots of tea, and hot packs in bed to warm it up for me. I also wear a hat to bed though it rarely stays on all night.
I am from the land of ice and snow ! yup Canada eh
and I bought a pair of lama wool socks ! they are the best socks I have ever come across and I wished i had bought more at a flea market I went to during the summer.In fact I have to hide them from my husband ( works for the highway as a snowplow operator )and kids ( one plays hockey and wears them, offers me money LOL ) I bought them for me and they all laughed at me for buying socks in July ! As I like to point out to them as I prance around with cozy toes “who was crazy now to buy socks in July” Cheers!
I have a really hard time maintaining a decent temperature. It’s pretty warm here in So. Cal, but in the winter it can get down to the 30′s and 40′s at night. Then in the 70′s during the day. Then about 4 pm, it gets cold again, so that’s when I suddenly need my sweatshirt. I go to bed in sweats and have to strip down in the middle of the night (which may have more to do with almost being 40, and having a spouse that gives off a lot of heat).
I just spent a week in Santa Fe. That was a bit easier. You just have to wear socks, pants, and two layers on top, all the time while indoors.
It is really cold here in Wisconsin and I would not make it through the winter without silk underwear. It is more expensive, but warmer than an other I have tried and through the years I have tried a lot of different types. Silk is the best! It is thin, clothes slide easily over it and it last a long time. A good place to buy it is http://www.wintersilks.com. They have a large selection in different weights and colors. Good luck keeping warm.
Living in Alaska I wear long Johns ever day. My suggestion is wool, it is really the best. Instead of spending money for 3 or 4 different sets the best option is to combine your funds and buy one wool Ibex woolies and you can wear it ever day. The wool keeps you warm, is light weight and not bulky and doesn’t scratch. I also find keeping my neck keeps me the warmest. If you are going to go with silk get a turtle neck, it will keep you a lot warmer than just a crew neck!!
I like layering a bamboo top under a wool sweater for maximum warmth and comfort. Bamboo is ultra light and soft against the skin, and also very breathable; it’s better than cotton in that respect and also far superior when it comes to regulating your body temp. I love bamboo fabric!
I live in Chicago and don’t drive, so I do a lot of walking outdoors, even on the most miserable of bitter winter days. I always layer, and the bamboo-wool combo works for me.
On the worst days, I’ll also wear super-thick wool tights I bought off eBay underneath my pants, as opposed to yoga pants or ordinary tights. I haven’t found this type of wool hosiery in any brick-and-mortar stores. If I remember right, the material is also used for army-issue socks.
You’ve inspired me, too–on this and many ohter issues!
I want to get our home temp down to where you guys have it, so turned it down another degree–to 66–until we get used to it, then will turn it down some more.
Haven’t taken time yet to read all the comments here (trying to keep a toddler alive!)….., so I hope this isn’t redundant. Something you may already know, but I didn’t: A JoAnn’s fabric person told me that fleece is a fabric (the only one?) that air cannot permeate. For that reason, it’s warmer than anything else, even flannel. And that’s been my experience.
Plus, something I learned in Scouting, while doing winter camping, has helped me ever since: If the head and feet are warm, the rest of the body will be, too, AND 40% of our body heat comes out the top of the head. So since you don’t wanna wear a hat (and I don’t blame you) a fleece or knit headband–which helps me, and doesn’t mess up my ‘do too much!–might work well for you, too.
Hope that’s helpful! Love your FABULOUS photos and tips, incl. re: scrapbooking. Thank you so much!
Our furnace quit working one day last week, so it was 58 degrees when I woke up at 5:00 a.m. While we waited for the repair guy (I hated having to put that rainy day fund to work! right before we are moving!!), I was wearing silk long underwear (top and bottom, Lands’ End have always been great for me), fleece pants, fleece zip top, fleece jacket over the top. My son had Lands’ End kid long underwear, and also fleece pants, fleece zip top, and cotton thermal top. Lastly, we were both wearing socks and slippers. I started baking stuff and we turned on our gas fireplace and electric space heater for brief time periods. We were both quite comfortable and really got used to it. (The house is usually set at 64 – 65 during the day, unless my husband is home. He doesn’t like to wear a lot of layers–grr—but since he is a good guy
, I let that slide and put the heat at 68 for him.) The funny part was, after the furnace was working again and had heated the house back up to 64, my son felt quite hot and complained so much that I turned it off. Love that money- and energy-saving eight year old!
I wear my under armour running tights and long sleeve turtleneck for soccer, running, and shoveling snow. I’ve also been known to wear the tights under my jeans to work, to soccer games (when watching AND playing), and under pajamas. Pricey, yes – but they aren’t going to wear out any time soon. And they are comfortable!
Heck, my son borrowed my tights to go running.
And he was amazed at how warm he stayed during a run in 15 degree temps.
Other than that, wool will certainly keep you warmer than cotton. Throw in a cat or two as a blanket, and you’ll stay toasty warm.
Silk all the way, Dharma Trading has a good price on silk knit leggings and a few styles of tops http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3302-AA.shtml I get lots of stuff there for tie-dye and my other dye projects.
I work for Hanesbrands and one of our brands is Duofold. Anytime we have good sales I pick up the “thermal” shirts. Most of them are not bulky or waffled. Basically they are designed for hikers, climbers, runners, etc. Also if I am really cold I put on running tights and then a pair of loose fitting sweats. These clothes mean I am comfortable, don’t feel bulky, and can keep the heat a little lower (becuase I am extremely cold natured!)
Hi Frugal Girl!
Sorry to be late in commenting. Definitely silk. Try the Lands End Website, they often have sales, clearance, less than perfect and a weekly mark-down called on the counter. When living in upstate NY (very very very cold) I bought 5 sets of top and bottom – saved me. ALSO get the Lands End sock liners too. They’re thin get incredibly warming and they go under your other socks, they reach up nearly to your knees and make a huge difference. Good luck staying warm!
Your aunt Jeannie in Minnesota says Cuddl Duds and anything fleece. Plus warm socks.