A friend’s status on Facebook this morning read “at -28C fashion no longer matters”.  Funny, as we Canadians are stoically enduring yet another arctic air mass in January.  I do get her point that we practically need to be dressed up like Charlie Brown for extreme cold but on the other hand we don’t have to sacrifice mobility to the point where if we fall down we can’t get up.  Modern fabrics and design have come up with some pretty neat gear for cold weather featuring greater insulation capabilities and lighter weight materials in some arguably very cute designs.

So, short of wearing fur, the key to dressing for extreme cold is layers.  About ten to be exact.  Here’s my guide to surviving a winter in the Great White North.

1. Start with your basic under garments…then;

2. Thermal long underwear for situations where you will be outdoors all day or if you are just going from point A to B, a nice thermal shirt is always fashionable over leggings when you go inside;

3. A fleece; or for more wind breaking capability, a light but insulated jacket which is still thin enough to fit comfortably under your overcoat;

4. Some type of insulated legging, many fashionable patterns available here http://urban-planet.com/girls/shop-by-category/bottoms-1/leggings.html for ideas;

5. A down jacket or overcoat (warm, lightweight and fashionable with many styles to suit your needs) and;

6. One of those lined ‘hoser’ hats with the flaps that come down to your eyebrows, cover your ears and ties under your chin;

7. A thin jersey type hood and a scarf to bury the lower half of your face;

8. Sunglasses, not only to shield glare which can cause snow blindness (!) but to protect the eye sockets from wind chill;

9. Thick soled, properly insulated boots with a heavy tread for optimal traction while running from marauding polar bears;

10.Thin, cotton socks…thick ones actually make your feet colder faster.  Cashmere socks work too.

Other vital survival gear?

11. Always have removable crampons handy in case of ice lol

12. Snowshoes and safety kit in case of car breakdown or just to get something in the shed after the latest Nor’easter;

13. A wood burning fireplace and plenty of dry wood at close hand for cooking during ice storm season;

14. Snacks, candles and let’s not forget alcohol in case of power outage 🙂

15. Lastly, keep a large cooler handy for all your fridge items during power failures. Placing it outdoors keeps your beer and food supply perfectly chilled but safe from wandering animals.

Is it any wonder after enduring 8 to 12 weeks of extreme cold that when the mercury goes up to -9 it feels balmy? Live here for awhile…you will totally understand this concept.