My Historybounding Winter Aesthetic : 3 historical ways to winterize your wardobe
Vložit
- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- From a wearable blanket to petticoats, Victorian winter wear is a great way to stay warm while keeping a historical aesthetic. Join me for a historybounding getting dressed for winter. Brooklinen is giving you $20 off any order over $100 using the code SnappyDragon20 at checkout! bit.ly/SnappyDragon_Brookline...
Keeping warm in winter has never been out of style, and fashion history is full of stylish and effective ways of dressing for the cold. Getting dressed for winter in historical winter clothes might be too much for the modern world, but that's what historybounding is for! Here are my three favorite ways to stay warm in winter while keeping my historical fashion : wool, pettiocats, and wearable blankets. I've even made a little lookbook to show you how I use all three at once in my day-to-day outfits to stay warm in winter . . . well, as much winter as we get in California 🤣
Wearing wool is one of the best ways to winterize your wardrobe, whether in 1800s fashion or today. From wool socks to the popular flannel petticoat, historical winter wear is made of wool for a reason! It's breathable, biodegradable, and gives great insulation. It also doesn't need washing too often, and does fine with a cold water soak, so our modern worries about shrinking or ruining our wool base layers for cold weather needn't stop us. There's a reason Victorian clothing used so much wool, even though doing laundry was much harder. And if you wear skirts, you can layer up even more with petticoats! The trapped air insulates really well, so even a lightweight linen or cotton petticoat under a walking skirt will keep you warmer. But a flannel petticoat is a classic for a reason, as is a quilted petticoat, so don't be afraid to make an underskirt that's basically a blanket you can wear around your waist.
But my favorite of these three ways of staying warm has got to be the WEARABLE BLANKET cloak. Cultures across the world have these, from Medieval cloaks to ponchos, to the ancestor of the kilt! Yes, the great kilt is literally a big wool blanket pleated and belted so it can be worn. My wearable blanket cloak is a square with a slit cut in it, and it goes well with all sorts of styles from Medieval and Victorian winter wear to vintage fashion for a more Old Hollywood look. Whatever your winter aesthetic is, there's a vintage wearable blanket that will work for you. Bring back winter cloaks!!
Join my Patreon for behind-the-scenes updates, pattern diagrams, research lists, monthly video chats, and more! / snappydragonstudios
Or, you can buy me some Ko-Fi : ko-fi.com/snappydragon
Follow me on IG for more stitchy business : @missSnappyDragon
For business inquiries, send an e-mail to : SnappyDragon at TBHonestSocial dot Com
I do not take personal costume/sewing or research commissions.
Want to send me letters? Send mail to PO Box 11573, Oakland CA, 94611! Letters and cards only please 💚 - Jak na to + styl
Wool tip from another person who lives in a chilly/damp climate - if you can afford it, go for alpaca! It's literally the dream team for fabric when it comes to cold and damp - lightweight, warm, and water repellent, and not itchy at all if you get the high quality stuff. I have several alpaca wool capes now (collected over many years) and I don't even bother with a coat anymore 95% of the time.
I thrifted a 100% alpaca button up cardigan a few weeks ago, it's become my new favourite and to boot it's red, my favourite colour.
@@isabelleblanchet3694 Wow, nice find!
I got an alpaca sweater while visiting Ecuador and I love it! I wear it almost constantly from fall-spring and am always looking for more that I can afford. Whenever this one is no longer able to be repaired, I'm going to cry.
I bought an alpaca silk blend yarn and made a netted shawl from it and was really surprised with how cozy it was. I made it expecting it to be this light summer night item and it's definitely a fall item lol 😂
I LOVE my alpaca hoodie! That thing is so warm, although it take another layer if it's windy.
I always get "Aren't you cold?!" When I wear skirts in the winter.
I'm wearing a minimum of 4 layers under all that, much warmer than your Jeans mate! 😂
Skirts are so much easier to layer for warmth when necessary than trousers!
Yesss. Leggings and thick stockings are my cold weather friends.
@@ragnkja totally!
@@saraquill thermal leggings are the best!
@@saraquill And petticoats! Don't forget petticoats!
Alternatively, when I don't want to wear several petticoats (which is most times), another fave is just wearing my shortest woolen skirt as a base layer instead of as an outer layer, so it's close to my body to keep me warm, and that lets me wear pretty much any skirt(s) I want, as ĺong as they're not outright exclusive summer skirts, on top of that. They just need to be slightly longer than my base skirt.
I'm a guy and dont wear skirts. My fibromyalgia makes me sensitive to temperature, so I took to wearing a pair of linen pants i got at Aldi under my jeans this winter. So now, I'm in the process of making a few "petticoats for pants" to replace them. Yes i know thats just a pair of long drawers, but i plan on making them a bit more androgynous/genderfun with some lace hems (and maybe some insertions if i feel up to it 🤩)
Edit: I have discovered 1650s "petticoat breeches" and I'm in love
Coats with skirts are a fun and attractive way to add layers to the lower part of a masculine winter outfit.
Oh that would be so fun to see how you make them. Also have fibro so live in skirts in winter becouse harder to solve under pants when i not want to tigtht sitting things some days. And those days usally are the coldest ones
Me also made a felt wool long skirt in a me made pattern for kinda walking skirt type that been really nice this winter that so far been the coldest one in sweden in 25 years
petticoaats for pants need to be a thing! I love 1940s wide-legged trousers but sometimes the wind goes straight through!
Um. Pajama pants and scrubs under jeans make a difference too. My godson taught me that. Layers!!!
Goth fashion is for you my friend. As far as I know the goth coats have the lower portion of the coat flare out in a way that can easily function as a woolen skirt itself. Even the men's ones are flared like this. Plus long flared woolen coat looks amazing on anyone!
In case anyone actually wanted the mini lesson on thermodynamics: thermal conductivity is a measure of how easily a material conducts heat. Heat transfer happens when the atoms in one area 'steal' energy from atoms in another area. The details involve electron wiggles and bumping atoms. Low conductive materials either have lots of air or stubborn elements, or both. Copper is a very conductive metal, while iron is much less so. Using copper to coat the bottom of an iron pan helps keep the whole pan the same temperature.
My understanding about pans was the opposite. Copper cookware is great for responsiveness, but because of that ability to rapidly change temperature, it’s more prone to hot spots. Contrast that with something like stainless steel or cast iron, which are less responsive and also tend to be thicker cookware so they also have more thermal mass. Combined that means they are a safer option if you need even heat, they just won’t respond as promptly if you make temperature adjustments.
@elsa_g not quite. Pure copper pans aren't very common. Mostly because they don't hold heat at all and that can lead to warping and other issues over time. It's also on the softer side for metals and is very reactive and expensive. I'm referring to the practice of adding a layer of copper to the bottom of a steel pan, that helps distribute the heat more evenly if the heat you are using to cook is particularly uneven. Or the hob you have isn't quite big enough for your pan. If you cook with cast-iron on a gas hob and you don't ever move the pan at all, you will get a hot spot over where the flame is hottest. Heat gets in but doesn't move around once it's there. If you're cooking over the same heat with a heavy steel pan with a copper bottom and don't move it, the hot spot will be much less noticeable. Not gone because it isn't a magic bullet, but much less likely to burn one spot while the edges are severely undercooked. But mostly it's just as easy to get around that kind of thing by learning your stove top and where the hot spots are at so you can avoid that kind of thing.
I literally made myself two skirts out of thrifted wool blankets. They keep me so warm up here in Canada.
That is so smart
Thank you for mentioning this! That was inspiration; I just located the very solid wool blanket that I'd previously cut an ironing board cover from. It's about to be laundered and I would love to have a skirt from it. I've already got the petticoats.
@@sherryhassler5932 Just be careful of the thickness if you pleat/gather it into a waistband. I broke a machine needle sewing mine because of it.
@@isabelleblanchet3694 Thanks for the warning! The thickness makes me think of an overlapped seam with double stitching and an overcast hem. This fabric seems unlikely to fray at all. I'm considering 1700's construction with slits for my pockets, versus putting pockets in. And I'll probably use a thinner broadcloth or quilting cotton for the waistband ties.
Sweet. I have 2 wool blankets and considering skirts or a cape. I live at 7000 feet and it stayed cool at night even under a heat dome. Winter is cold, and windchill can be ferocious. Jeans, sweats etc. are constricting and not warm. In Alaska I wore simple wool Aline skirts and they were warmer than jeans.
I am enjoying watching historical costuming.
My boyfriend’s mother is from Ireland, and I remember her telling me most people when she was younger didn’t wear coats in the village she lived in, instead since knitting was really popular they would knit these tightly knit wool cardigans and wear another wool sweater underneath. Apparently that was enough for the Irish winters, and it really goes to show how much of a power house wool is!
My recently discovered, favourite winter-wear is kirtles (cotton or linen) over linen shift, and Viking apron dress with loose-fitting double petticoat. Oh and leg-warmers (wool) because I don't want to spend all that time knitting size needle 2 socks. I made a wool kirtle for venturing outdoors and then also add a large wool scarf/shawl, a hat and wool mittens. Toasty and comfy. I cannot imagine what our fellow villagers make of me, a relatively recent arrival strolling around like it's 1450..... No matter, I'm comfy and warm and perhaps unwittingly entertaining, hahahahahaha!
I made a medieval hood in November out of wool and linen. I absolutely love it, even though it makes me look a bit like a garden gnome 😂
Going into this winter I seriously needed a petticoat, and I had no good cloth... except for a spare shower curtain I was never going to use as a shower curtain. Bleached white cotton-blend with a nice panel of lace towards the bottom made a great impromptu project! I've been wearing it so often that I've needed to legitimately launder it once now. Plus the fact that it was a shower curtain makes me giggle. It's awakened something in me and now I need 4 more petticoats.
I made a steampunk skirt out of a thrift store shower curtain. it was one of those "fancy" ones with the ruffles on it and the draping. It was 70% there already. i just had to add some buttons, ruching, and a waist tie off. I get compliments on it and it's one of the more comfortable ones I own.
Linen is better than cotton for a skin-touching garment in winter IF you are sweaty. I have a friend who sweats A LOT due to medical conditions, and he was always complaining about being cold, because his t-shirt always ends up SOAKED, even under a light sweater. He switched to linen and he finds it much more comfortable. (He can’t wear wool next to skin, even merino - and merino has its own problems)
What problems does merino have, please?
@@noblethoughts4500 context : Merino sheep have extra skin, because extra skin = extra yarn. The skin has a lot of folds, and if the sheep are not well cared for and regularly inspected, flies tend to lay eggs in the folds around the tail/anus.
mulesing (don’t search it if you’re sensitive to blood/gore) is a practice which consists in cutting skin around the tail, or the tail itself so it heals smooth instead of fold-y/wrinkly. This is often done without anesthesia, without any proper care really, the wound can get infected, the process is obviously horribly painful, etc.
Most of the commercial merino wool is from mulesed australian sheep. Now, there are certifications BUT in reality it’s extremely difficult to know whether the certified wool is actually what it says. And it doesn’t certify that the sheep was treated well overall.
If you want to know more about this, I recommend the Collective Fashion Justice website, they do a lot of fact-checking.
Other breeds of sheep are subject to cruelty, as do all animals involved in industrial scale production (including humans). You’ll have to look around and find what you’re comfortable with. (I buy second hand wool garment and yarn, or from small scale/local factories that do everything themselves)
V of the Left Couch Cushion is such a vibe. In this episode at least, I can't really fault her though...
In terms of the thermodynamics, the short answer is that most of the time it really is all about capturing a layer of little air pockets since air has a much lower thermal conductivity than most solid materials (as in the wool fiber itself) [a gas has fewer molecules/atoms per volume to transfer energy/heat]. The important part is that the pockets of air be small so that convection cannot effectively take place. Wool and down naturally have a good ability to trap lots of tiny air pockets. What often sets wool apart is that it can maintain those air pockets even when wet. Down, cotton, and basic synthetics won't do that.
This is why string vests work. Wearing what looks like an adapted string grocery bag seems weird now. I'm 61, I remember the 'old folk' when I was a child were fond of them. They give just enough of a gap between body and first layer to trap warm air. Knitting patterns from pre 1950 for underwear tend to use lacy patterns to trap the air, looking pretty was a bonus. Most were made from cotton for regular washing. I bought my mother a fine knit silk/wool spencer (t-shirt shape) in the early 80s. Expensive souvenir from Switzerland. She was able to wear it for 2 or 3 days before washing and it lasted for at least a decade. Best present I ever got her.
I have been clearing out my wardrobe after retiring (and losing 40 lbs,) and found I have a drawer full of half slips. Not getting rid of them because even though they are not warm of themselves, under a skirt or dress, it makes all the difference! Also, slip or petticoat-your outfit looks better!!
I'm from Finland. Here has been - 25 celcius. And I were still dressing up in dresses. Because I were wearing like 7 pairs of leggins'. 🤣 Layers and wool are my best friends!
I love sheepskin coats! I have one that looks like "old timey". It's too small for me but luckily it's my wifes size now. 😄 And I have sheepskin and fur (I don't know what kind) hats. There has to be almost - 20c before I could even think about using them or I would be sweating so much. 🤣
I have a vintage sheepskin winter hat, and even when it's super cold outside, sometimes I have to take it off because my head gets too hot! Super effective.
@@KristiChan1 yes! Same with that sheepskin coat. So warm that there needs to be like - 15c or you are sweating. 🤣 I'm so jealous for my wife that she gets to use my lovely vintage sheepskin coat. I hope to find one for myself because here In Finland it could get like - 35c. Now it's just - 5c and that feels warm after - 25c. 🤣
@@jennia.2318 I would love to find one, and I certainly could've used a sheepskin coat about 2 weeks ago when we were in the -30s and -40s F.
Your ruana is gorgeous. While they weren't historically lined, it absolutely works here. Very glad to see their use continuing on into the ages.
Petticoat fan here! I make them as tiered-and-pleated, single width top tier (60") pleated into a waistband, closed with a couple of buttons and three buttonholes (so very adjustable, but less bulky than a drawstring), three widths middle tier, 9 widths bottom tier (so yes, the final hem circumference is nearly 15 yards round), of heavyish plain cotton (150 gsm). Extravagant and floofy, and no pleat math (just divide in half and pin repeatedly).
Thank you! That has to be the simples petticoat recipe out there! ❤❤
Wow thats great thanks👍
My warmest outfit is a pair of cotton sweat fabric leggings, high wool socks and a long wool dress. I can add a petticoat too, and I’m way warmer than in Jeans and sweater.
I made a wool kirtle a couple years ago and it is the warmest thing I own, by far. It's perfect for winter. I barely even need a coat even when it's below freezing lol
I get you with the issue of limited insulation! Melbourne (Aus) get chilly in winter but houses have always been built to cope with hot summers, relying on cheap energy for heating. Well energy isn't cheap anymore, and all these open plan modern houses mean you can't close doors to redue the space for heating (seriously - my last house had this big void and window over the stairs, great for light horrid for heating).
My favourite winter skirt is vintage (70s I think) German felted wool in a bright purple! Its beautiful and warm. I use superwash wool a lot - which is lucky considering my child seems to smear something (snot, food, paint, etc) on my clothes every day!
My favorite piece of historical winterwear? Thigh-high mukluks! I believe they were held up with a belt threaded through long tabs. I'd like to try making a sock-like knitted wool version rather than the traditional sewn fur, and maybe find a way to work leather lacing into the sole so i can wear them without slippers.
Fur leggings were cool too. You'd garter them at the thigh typically, and if they got too hot under your atigi (parka) and/or fur pants, you could tie them at the knee instead.
I love Inupiaq clothes ^-^
Sounds like you want to make north-Norwegian lugga, and so do I. They’re made like thick, felted woollen socks with a felt midsole (often made from worn-out sea-mittens) and the foot part covered with dense wadmol.
@@ragnkja hmm, maybe. I can't find anything about them online. I was thinking something baggy, possibly with the appearence of a crimped sole, ties at the ankle, and geometric trim.
@@seraphinasullivan4849
It’s hard enough to find information online about lugga in Norwegian, so I fear there’s little to nothing about them in English. Anyway, they’re quite fitted at the leg (the sock base being fairly elastic, since the foot part of it should be more felted than the leg), and thus don’t need any ties, and very lightweight compared to other winter footwear but only suitable if it’s cold enough for the snow to be dry, though if you make the outsoles and uppers out of soft leather instead of densely fulled wool they could be suitable in wet snow as well.
@@seraphinasullivan4849
As for trim, it’s quite common to use ribbon with a pretty pattern for the boundary between the uppers and the “bare sock”.
@@ragnkja ah, a little too off the mark then
In a perfect world i could just have perfect recreations of mukluks it the form of cozy long slipper socks. Maybe even with baleen soles but that's too expensive and i'm too broke lol
* laughs in allergic to wool *
The only help is layering or giving the desired wool garment 1-2 layers of cotton/linnen/cotton batting before it reaches the skin and binding all the seams.
Layers, layers, layers! My favorite winter ‘go to’ right now is a wool blend long A-line high-neck sweater dress. It can function as a nightdress and and as the base layer for many outfits. It resembles a medieval tunic in shape, but as a medium weight knit is thoroughly modern.And cotton flannel (brushed cotton) is the absolute best warm winter ‘next to the skin fiber. I treasure my flannel sheets🥰 Love the insulated petticoats, too! I don’t have one - but I like the idea of creating a pieced A-line version - maybe I should recycle an old mattelaise (sp?) bedspread that’s seen its best days as a display item pass long ago.🥰
I used to go to a vinyl record show which took place end of January/beginning of February -- when it's around -20C. Problem was, I got there by public transit, so I didn't have a car trunk to put extra layers in, and inside the show building it was positively stifling.
So I wore a vintage (1960s-ish) wool jacket, and warm handknit mittens, scarf, socks, and a hat. I had on a thin wool sweater and jeans, with a t-shirt under the sweater.
By the time I got to the show, I was cold but not frostbitten. But, thanks to that thermal regulation property of wool you mentioned, I just had to stuff the hat and mitts into my pockets and i was comfortable and not overheated indoors.
Wool really is the game changer in the cold. You don't feel heated and sweaty like you do with synthetics.
I can't wear sheep wool against the skin, I have an allergic reaction to it. I used to have to wear a wool sweater with my band uniform and I put alot of layers between me and the wool and still had problems with it. But I've learned that Alpaca wool doesn't give me a problem. I wear Alpaca wool socks (year-round), wash them in the machine and hang dry. I have a poncho made of Alpaca wool which I wash once a year in the machine and lay flat to dry. I've found alpaca wool products at Native American stores and craft fairs for a reasonable price.
Considering this to be an historical period, nothing will beat insulated winter boots (wool felt insoles) with treads.
fun fact a good amount of fur trade era winter coats are just bay blankets someone lightly shaped, though sleeves are really useful if you are paddling a canoe
I have a heavy wool walking skirt that is darn near a blanket, that I wore in the snow and it kept me so warm and cozy!! Love a good cloak too
When I was a kid my grandfather visited Peru (I think) and brought back a couple of llama wool ponchos for my sister and me. They were very warm but my goodness! If they got rained on, they were seriously stinky!
I’m guessing they smelled like wet llama 😆
😂😂😂😂 You have no idea how appreciative I am of your wonderful sense of humor Vi! It is a gift these days to be able to be really funny without resorting to cussing. I'm an old lady, so I actually understand that it's harder to make something funny this way, but the twists of the phrases actually make for more hilarity! Here, a little north of Atlanta GA it's been 12 degrees one week and 70 the next! That's why we say if you don't like the weather, just wait for fifteen minutes. It WILL change!😀 For this reason, I have a three-in-one coat that you can wear just the rain shell, just the puffy coat, or zip the puffy inside the shell for real warmth and water-proofing. I love wool and cottons though, so your tutorial on the fabrics and how to use them was really wonderful! When I get moved and my sewing machine and big table set back up, I plan on utilizing this new knowledge. One question though: Atlanta doesn't have a lot of good fabric stores anymore (Which breaks my heart!), so where do you get your wool and silk fabrics? I can't ever seem to find what I'm looking for when I go online. I would be very grateful for your help here. Thanks!😊
P.S. I knew I'd see that down filled petticoat again when it got cold. I love that thing!
that "we got to get you properly dressed" had the same energy as your caring mother scolding you not to be an idiot and it's exactly how i expect actual edwardian people to communicate with us
I'm belgian and the weather has been not terrible recently (also i stocked up on good quality wool items and damart underwear) and i can assure you the worst most uncomfortable weather after the plain heatwave where you want to die is the damp atmosphere where even if it's 70F outside ad your home is thoroughly heated, you feel like the cold is personally harassing you. Also this week the winds have been so hard and cold that it literaly blew in my face at night when my windows were closed, my thermal curtains drawn and the radiator is located specifically next to the window sill to block cold air from entering the room
My go-to for modern wear is a simple Roman cloak made from a thrifted plaid blanket, pinned with a lovely brass penannular brooch. For reenactment I'm ususally in viking age kit and so I will have a woollen dress over a linen underdress, a silk cap with either a headscarf or a woollen hood and possibly a cloak too
In Eastern Europe we've figured out how to wear blankets *on our feet*. Finnish huopatossut, or in Russian valenki, are boots made out of thick fulled wool. They are generally worn when the ground is well frozen so getting your booties sodden isn't a problem. If they do get a bit damp though, they still feel warmish as wool is magical.
Layering is so easy in historical clothing! Petticoats, a hat, and my ankle-length wool Regency greatcoat are plenty to keep me warm in northern Arkansas. I do need more wool socks though....
Boy pajama V is full of sass today, lol. I'm native to California but I live in Arizona and it doesn't get that cold that often here. Keeping warm here is not really something we take too seriously, its more the opposite end of the spectrum. Though it does get quite chilly for about a month in the winter. We're talking full on frost on the ground and all. When it gets that cold I break out the walking skirts and layer them with a heavy linen petticoat that I made from some scraps from another project. But I want something a little easier for hanging out on the homestead on so now that I'm done with the bustle gown and have until May for the next dance to dedicate some sewing time to myself, I plan to make a couple of medieval stay kirtles and a couple tutor style kirtles for everyday lazy history bounding. 😉
You're look is so stylish and elegant = very old Hollywood just as you said - and you're toasty and warm also 😊😊
I love this video! I was just in tahoe this weekend and wore two petticoats, cotton camisol, edwardian corset, wool stockings, regency repro boots from American duchess, a cotton long sleeve blouse, a wool walking skirt, fleece lined leather gloves and a shapka hat. I read a book at 6am walking in 32 degree weather and was just fine lol
A standard in China is the quilted jacket. The cut is much like the chanel jacket. Thicker quilted fabrics were also used as armour.
By far my favorit historical winter hack are long skirts!!! Not only can one pretty well layer underneith them, just one usually ends up being warmer then a pair of throusers either way!
😂 this is great. My super crafty friend literally turned a on sale tree skirt into a festive cloak not long ago. I did not manage to make it to the same scale due to illness. But her cloak is super cute and is essentially the same as the pattern you have given.
My warmest winter wear history bounding was a combination of a lined raincoat and a Tibetan vest from folkwear patterns that i made from scraps of wool and silk, lined with cotton and interlined with a light weight Thinuslate fabric, belt with a fleche (a French Canadian woven belt) i was pregnant at the time and the outfit grew with me as needed. The vest was also great at sca camping events at night.
I don't like cloaks for me. They let the cold wind in, they are in the way and since for physical reasons i use a back pack a lot they just don't work.
Oh! As other people mentioned. Headwear! You lose a lot of heat through your head. If the wool of your hat/beanie is itchy (mine often were), a headband of fleece (polar fleece) puts a good barrier in place against that. One of my favourite beanies is wool with a sewn in fleece band to stop the itching.
After moving from a hot, humid state to a state that often gets around -12 and can go as low as -40 in the winter (no, at that point, I do not go outside), I have learned quickly the benefits of wool. Wool tights, the modern version of the tall wool socks, are a game changer. I wear skirts all winter. Tall boots with wool stockings, wool skirt, wool turtleneck, wool coat, leather gloves lined in... yep, wool.
In Spain the wearable blanket is called a “sayo”. When no being worn wrapped around the body, it’s folded lengthwise and work draped over one shoulder and tied under the arm. It’s probably most familiar to people in photographs from the Spanish civil war.
There is also an expression about it: “Hasta el 40 de mayo, no te quites el sayo”; which means “Until the 40th of may don’t take your sayo off. Winters in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula are no joke, and even in spring there can be huge diurnal temperature variations so often it’s barely above freezing at night.
PS; I live on a mediterranean island and definitely can sympathise with the damp chilly weather, where it feels like the cold gets into your bones.
I live in Canada, Montral, to be more specific, and I can attest to how unrelenting *humid* cold can be. So I can confidently say that even if you're not super into history bounding on a daily basis, taking queues from historical construction methods and traditional textiles has been a *Boon* in the winter!
My husband has taken to wearing a viking cloak/Celtic brat around the house- a wool tartan throw blanket from ikea about his shoulders with a kilt pin
I live in Co Springs, Colorado, along the mountains. I also ride a bike to work . This has given me some ideas about what and how to layer under and over my pants, to deal with the wind. I can’t wear layers all day, because I work in a bakery and wear a uniform. I would like to have to do less to change when I get to work and before I ride home in the evening. Thanks everyone!
I was a member of the CF Reserves, Calgary Highlanders. We had the Saint Julian's Parade every winter. The kilt is heavy wool and just like the classic highlander we did not wear underwear. In fact, if you did wear underwear you would be unreasonably warm down there. The only chill we felt was in that thin gap between the bottom of the kilt and the top of the socks.
Nice video.
Layers are definitely the way to go. I live north east of you close to Sacramento & it is cold & wet here in Winter (Jan mostly) & ridiculously hot & dry for most of the summer & fall. Dressing to be comfortable outside can be challenging since most homes & businesses over heat/over cool interior spaces. Layers are definitely required if you run cold or hot or just like to be covered even if it's hot out.
I live in the UK, so dealing with the damp/rain and some kind of breeze is the norm as well as winter temps that usually hover just on the wet side of freezing. Linen and wool are by far my favourite fabrics because of how they can handle the damp, and wool is king for being able to handle both wet and cold at the same time. I am slowly working to transform my wardrobe so my winter clothes are predominantly linen and wool, with some silk for added warmth and pizzazz.
Speaking of silk, while it is up there with wool for warmth, it doesn't breathe the same way wool does, so in inner layers I've found it to be less comfortable are more likely to make me sweat, but as an outer layer I adore it, as that lack of breathability translates to an excellent wind block. A for the issue of silk and the rain, I pre-wash all my silks, including those that traditionally are not washable in water due to coatings, as I despise owning things I can't wash in some way. This changes the quality of some silks making things like taffeta and dupioni more matt and gives more drape (taking away some or all of the crisp quality), which I take into consideration and have adapted to make a feature not a bug.
As for style, well, it's layers all the way of course; linen shifts first (or cotton if those are all in the wash), then another layer of linen or cotton on my torso, some kind of petticoat in cotton or wool, then either a skirt and jumper or a dress and jumper, maybe a shawl or cape on top of that, topped with some kind of hat and gloves. My dresses are currently all cotton or linen, but that's only because I haven't found any wool dresses that I like that are in my price range and have not gotten far enough in my sewing journey to dare make one for myself (but will soon I hope).
Oh this is great info. I have silk that I bought heavily reduced on sale. But I've not known what to do with it. I can't afford to be dry cleaning my clothes and don't want to sew something I'll only wear once. This is good encouragment to be brave and see how it washes 🫣 maybe swatches first. 😅
@@sewathome When it comes to taffeta and dupioni (usually dupioni for me, it's usually much cheaper, and I don't mind the slubs) the result I get after washing has varied wildly. One fabric I have almost didn't change at all, it just became a bit softer with more drape, while others became so matt they're almost like crepe. The one that didn't change has a lot of smooth fibres going in one direction, while the others have a more even weave that is light all over. Also, the first wash gives a dramatic change, then once ironed out the properties stable out and stop changing with more washes. Light weight taffeta/dupioni type fabrics can become fairly fragile once washed, like a more typical light weight silk fabrics, so as with other light weight silks, reinforce areas that will be under strain, or just don't use it to make things that will be stressed that way.
Oh, and when washing silk and/or wool, remember to use a silk and wool safe detergent, normal detergent damages protein based fibres like them over time. I personally use ecover delicate laundry liquid, which works for both. And, when they are wet, be careful not to stretch silks, either when handling or when ironing - silk can stretch when wet, but wont stretch back. Lastly, when ironing silk, I turn my iron up a bit from it's silk setting - I can only speak for my steam iron, but it's silk setting is rubbish for use on silks, a hotter temp is needed. This might have something to do with attitudes in the West that treat silk as very delicate, while in traditional silk using areas like Japan, they iron silks using very hot irons indeed. So far turning my steam iron up a bit, just between my silk and slightly hotter wool setting (or just using the wool setting itself), hasn't done any harm that I have seen, though I am usually only ironing silk after the first wash (still experimenting on weather it is better to wait for them to dry first, which I am leaning towards given the stretching issue). In historical style I am not washing my silks very often as my outer silk garments aren't getting dirty often to need it.
Thermal resistance is a measure of how hard it is for heat energy to travel through a material. It is the opposite of thermal conductivity which measures how well a material transmits heat energy. A metal like steel has high thermal conductivity, low thermal resistance which is why it's good for a cooking pan
Another person who’s always chilly in the Bay Area. I paint theatrical scenery in a drafty warehouse and live in a 1920s house with a 1930s furnace with only one heating grate.
I knit wool sweaters, mostly from vintage patterns. So many vintage sweaters. I don’t knit sweaters with alpaca because it doesn’t have much memory and tends to stretch, droop and generally grow. At work I wear layers which always includes a scarf. I don’t wear skirts at work because I climb ladders and because I ruin my clothes pretty quickly.
Northern Wet Coaster here: I had a Christmas event in early December where I had to spend two freezing days in an unheated building that opened to the prevailing winds. I wore a summer maxi dress of cotton double gauze as a bodiced petticoat over a cotton thermal-knit undershirt and long johns, wool socks, synthetic velvet skirt, cashmere sweater, waistcoat, and wool shawl. Layers work.
I made myself a quilted petticoat. Very warm. Upcycled from an old sheet and a mattress cover
Bay Area person who has lived on and off on the East Coast: I always find Bay Area winters colder because houses aren't sealed. Growing up, my grandmother would always tell me to put on another sweater! Although when I started wearing long underwear, I could deal with windy Bay Area windows much better!
11:00 reminds me of the Snuggie:the blanket you wear
I prefer a calf length skirt, so my winter uniform is fleece tights, wool socks and boots, a heavy skirt with a cotton petticoat, a long sleeved cotton base layer, and a thick sweater. And I never go out without a scarf! I've been thinking of investing in some nice scarf pins so I can worry less about them unwrapping. I also discovered this past winter how cozy a silk scarf can be when wrapped snugly about the neck! This all works very well in the damp and cold of Seattle ^_^
“Damp and chilly”. 😂 it’s a below freezing here. But I feel ya.
That being said, I loved my wool coat (it got destroyed by paint thanks to my child). I miss it soo much. It was perfect for our dry cold winter days (when it doesn’t snow/rain).
I need a petticoat. It’s tempting so I can wear my skirts in the winter. I love skirts.
What I wore for a week recently:
chemise. Fresh one each day. some flannel. Some long-sleeved.
Corset (canvas and quilting cotton, adapted from a redthreaded 1790s pattern)
flannel petticoat (made to go under a sari on a trip to an ashram in Santa Cruz, which is CHILLY in the morning hours)
full broadcloth petticoat.
3/4 length shirt
canvas walking skirt (Edwardian drafting instructions used)
thick knee socks
Shawl
When we had that epic chill, I was so glad for my history-bounding and historically-inspired wardrobe pieces.
Now it is warm, so the pieces that went over the chemise are taking turns getting washed, and they will be there when the temperature drops again.
By "shawl", do you mean the historical sontag, or the modern shawl? I've never been interested in shawls because I don't know how to wear them to keep them out of the way. But recently, I've started to see their value in warding off the cold.
I’ve been meandering toward more and more natural fabrics because they’re just better for thermoregulation for me usually.
The other day I was like “I’m wearing mostly…… no wait… the only thing I’m wearing that’s not natural fiber is the ruana cloak that my mom gave me. 😂”
That was a surprise. Happy surprise. I had a cotton shift and a cotton skirt and a wool cape… ❤
I'm working on finding my style again now that I'm done having kiddos and I love wearing skirts and dresses. I got myself a really nice plaid wool skirt and when I wear it over my fleece lined leggings with my winter boots I'm always surprised how comfortable I am, even down to the negative double digits C. Working on building up my wardrobe a bit more, a piece at a time but it's definitely things to keep in mind!
I made a medieval-ish hood out of a heavy (thrifted) wool fabric and lined with a very historically accurate Ikea pillocase and wear it everywhere I go. It's just so comfortable and pretty and it keeps me so much warmer than the hood on my modern coat.
Oh, what you have is a ruana! I think they are originally from the North of South America, or at least that's where they've been widely used in the last few centuries. I come from the South, where the thing is ponchos, similar but with a hole for the head instead of a slit. I've been thinking about weaving one.
My go-to during the unfathomable -24°C we rarely get (I live in the land of vineyards and peaches, this should NOT be happenning, and yet...) is to layer modern thermal leggings, summer long light cotton skirt and woolen skirt made specifically for the coldest days. On top it's a long sleeve cotton shirt, a woolen tunic, a plush hoodie (a woolen sweater is in the progress, but drop spindle needs A LOT of time) and a crocheted long coat made of antipilling cotton yarn (it was on sale and I couldn't afford woolen yarn at the time of making this coat. It also took 3 months to do this , ridiculous.) The coat has no fastening, I use a plastic pin (left lapel pinned to right collarbone) and a strechy belt. This way I can add as many layers as I want underneath.
And Snag's merino tights are a lifesaver. I wear them under everything
I live in the frigid upper-midwest. My favorite winter clothes are the lovely cashmere sweater my mom regifted to me (hypersensitive skin and eczema=wool is the WORST), and wool socks.
Wool against the arms, neck or torso is awful for sensitive skin, and historical practice makes a lot of sense to me in that regard, enough that I follow it in my modern dress.
@ragnkja I always wear a tank top or t-shirt under my sweaters, but the wool doesn't bother my arms. My mother, on the other hand, has such sensitive skin that even the collar or cuffs touching her is a no-go and may result in rashes. Not sure if it's a proper allergy or just her skin being sensitive to everything, but she refuses to have wool anything on her house except dryer balls.
@@kellyburds2991
I really should make myself some chemisettes to protect my neck against the collars of my woollen jumpers, because the texture of the wool, no matter how soft, irritates my skin.
When I lived in canada I'd wear cotton sports pants under two layers of linen skirts. Worked like a charm.
As I get older (and more disabled), I've come to understand and appreciate shawls a lot. It literally is A Blanket, But Make It Fashion, and having to sit a lot in the cold has made obvious how useful a garment that can be moved from my shoulders to my legs or even wrapped around my hands truly is. The stereotype is to associate them with Old Grannies ™ but honestly I think that's just because older women have the wisdom to appreciate them and the "deal with it" energy.
(And woven shawls exist and can be both beautiful and warm! Even a fine wool fabric will keep me much warmer than most modern jackets)
I have a couple of surcoat like long dresses, one is a very full cut denim pinafore, one is a fuzzy acrylic tunic. I will generally wear leggings and boots, or jeans and boots underneath, with a couple of upper body layers too. I wear the fuzzy acrylic tunic under the denim dress for extra warmth, and have a load of ruanas and ponchos and cloaks for on top.
And this is reminding me of my 18th century petticoat project I still need to finish...and start...
I’ve found that my handknit wool socks worn over a thin cotton sock ensure that I never get cold feet, and they only need to be washed every few weeks. I also knit a lot of shawls and sweaters, which are wool and great. The fact that people are so scared of wool (and so incompetent) has to be assumed, but actually owning and caring for wool from all the knitting is just not a big deal. They only need washing occasionally and it can be done in the sink, no problem. Less trouble than stain removal.
Are your cotton socks hand-knitted or store-bought? I'm suffering from cold feet and would like to try your suggestion. And is there a way to wear shawls without them getting in the way?
I love the look of Sontag shawls (knit or crochet - I'm a crocheter) - I believe you can see them in the 1997 Little Women film.
I’ve inherited my grandfather’s luscious black wool evening cloak (which dates from the Edwardian era and which I must reline!) Who cares if it looks witchily wonderful? Not I!
I live in Finland, which can be warm in the summer and pretty cold in the winter. I love cotton flannel bedding in the winter and linen in the summer.
And my favourite thing about wool clothes is that airing it really helps cut down on the times they need to be washed with water and a detergent.
ETA: and yes, damp weather hits different to dry weather, particularly in places where houses are less insulated than they are here. I tend to wear more layers of wool when visiting family in the UK during the cooler months, as the damp chill really gets to be worse than temperatures below freezing (because in Finland the weather is usually marginally less damp once we go below -5C) at least in my coastal area.
I have a really cute boiled wool cape that I love when the temperature is hovering between 10C and 0C, and which kept me plenty warm on my wedding day (over elbow length leather gloves, an elbow length knit cardigan and a biiiiig circular lace shawl), when the weather fluctuated between a few degrees above freezing and a few degrees below it.
Linen night gown grutle stays bonned farthingale seven paticoats over skirt an robe Français wool stockings boots and wool hooded cape would be my go to
I live in northeastern part of Europe so the winters here can be very harsh. I dress a bit historical with a mix of folk traditional style of my area and I would say that winter and folk/historical styles go along hand in hand perfectly. For me the old vintage sheepskin coat and fur hat I inherited from my grandma is a must if I don’t want to freeze to death when the temperatures drop to -20 Celsius. It is the warmest outerlayer ever! Warmer than a regular down jacket I would say. I do not support animal cruelty so it’s best to get them second hand (or get them from your grandma if you can:)), and you can get them very cheap. Also I would throw on some beautiful Slavic babushka style wool shawls which are not only beautiful but add some extra warmth. I also wear wool skirts and petticoats are great for insulation along with wool socks or tights. Wool is also perfect for upper parts of my body. If the temperatures are not so low I usually have my trusty thick wool coat, also from my grandma, and I am nice and toasty☺️
I love wool so much. Especially merino. I have no trouble just putting mine in the wash on delicate and then hanging them to dry. For wool tops that go right next to the skin I can wear them for about 72 hours before they need go be washed, while my heavy weight cardigan that I mostly wear on walks gets a wash about once a year to remove the dust it acculumated sitting in my closet over the summer. Everything else is in between.
I live in the extremely windy mountains, and it can get down to -20 or -30*F here. I can get by really well with thermal underwear+thermal tights (thank you Italy)+2 petticoats+wool coating 1890s skirt+cashmere sweater (lightweight)+scarf+coat+gloves.
For me I find having a hat is supppper important to staying warm because my hair isn’t very thick. My “hats to knit” pile after 4 months living here got pretty tall😂
You know what the easy way to get a fancy cape that's pretty warm? Christmas tree skirt.
Presently my favorite (and only) such winter-wear is actually two rectangles cut in roughly the way you show--the inner a shorthair-fuzz blanket polyester and the outer a wool. Together they let me survive wet cold into the 30s fine enough, so long as I keep them clamped over my unsleeved t-shirt arms. The height of practicality, but I like it nonetheless.
I have three separate cloaks (only one of which is remotely historical but shhhh) and I am not above wearing all three at once. I actually have one patterned like the day-to-day winter cloak shown here, and I frequently wrap it and pin it around my waist to make a wonderfully cozy skirt. it stretches out the neck slit a bit but eh, needs must
In the Midwest, where I am, we get both dry cold (which is bad enough and we had nearly two weeks of that after a blizzard earlier this month of January 2024) and damp or wet cold (which is the literal worst). Layers that can trap air close to the skin are a MUST.
I spent 13 hours in 8° F / -13°c last weekend. With multiple layers of wool and fleece, I was the warmest person there, and the best dressed.
Wool is also fire resistant.
I prefer to keep the house cold so I can wear *all the layers* in winter
I usually have cotton tights, an extremely simple poly satin petticoat I made from gifted fabric, and one of my two cotton flannel shirts. For top, I'll usually wear just a cotton shirt. Once it hits low 30s, I'll toss on a tank top underneath and possibly a vest. If I'm going outside, I toss on a shawl (almost identical to the one in the video!) And pin it shut. Rarely need a modern coat
In the midwest we recently had around -30F windchill. I dressed every day in skirts and boots. I never got cold. Layering skirts and petticoats with a warm leggings underneath and fur lined boots kept me much warmer than a single layer of denim ever could. And wearing my pretty clothes kept my serotonin flowing.
Denim is the worst thing to wear in cold weather ( next to panty hose) unless it is lined with flannel which fashion denim never is. I also used to wear mid calf skirts, petticoat and knee socks with boots in the winter.
@@lenabreijer1311
One of my strongest memories of feeling far too cold outdoors was while wearing jeans (tight-fitting, as was the fashion at the time) on a cold, rainy and windy December day. A bus driver even stopped and gave me a ride to the top of the hill I was trudging up, presumably because I looked exactly as cold and miserable as I felt.
I would add a woolly hat that pulls down over the ears, or in extremis two . . . Thin machine knit and thick textured hand knit with matching cowl. And the same with the hands. Thin machine knit gloves and/or handknit mittens.
Feet also have two pairs of socks. Layers are the secret!
Brit living in Southern Sweden, -13'C is fairly usual, sometimes odd days at -18'C.
Viking re-enactor and one of my friends did decide to just put her Viking kaftan on over all her modern gear for collecting the kids from school . . . She was toasty and looked awesone!
My favorite winter historicalish wear is a black long wool coat. I found it new but without tags at the Goodwill for $15, three years ago. Its made by Liz Claiborne but everyone thinks its reproduction wear because of the length.
I do wear over the knee wool socks from a thicker yarn. This is more about repairing years of damage done to my feet. I have all the leasions gone for good and I want to keep it that way. Mostly I wear period wool pants. I can't walk in the snow and can't manage with a walker or quad cane. So I don't warm up in a wheelchair. Long coat and trousers are nice. I make much of my things from washable wool or machine wash with Woolite.
I really love your breakdown of wool fibers and what makes them great. One of my deepest woes as a fiber enthusiast and historical fashion nerd is that I am VIOLENTLY allergic to sheep wool!😅😭PSA to anyone else out there that might be sensitive to wool fibers, Lanolin is a common moisturizer used in many beauty and bath care products so make sure you check those labels if you find yourself getting puffy hands/ lips after using handcream or chapstick 😃👍
Wool and silk washing tip. Wool and silk are animal products, was them with shampoo, it’s made to support animal proteins. Don’t use detergents, they are made to breakdown stains, ie. proteins.
Viking woolen ‘apron dresses’ may have evolved from a wrapped blanket with straps over the shoulders, called a hjøp. The theory being that the big brooches holding said straps together had to evolve for a reason: and those brooches would absolutely do the job if the front of the garment consisted of an overlap. I too use my Medieval hoods, snood and all, on really, really cold and windy days: viking climate was often coastal 0˚C or 32F very damp even when not raining, and windy! We (and they) LOVE WOOL
It gets down to the -40s Celsius (which is also -40 Fahrenheit) where I live, and when I have to go outside in that I wear leggings under my wool stockings under my trousers, modern winter boots (if anyone knows a place that makes historical footwear suitable for -40, please let me know!) a modern cotton undershirt, 1-2 thick sweaters of cotton or wool, 2 scarves, a hat, gloves, and a knee length wool coat I bought at a thrift store years ago. All the layers, especially the wool coat, make it possible to go out in the dead of winter without being quite so scared of frostbite.
I wear kilts and skirts, cause they fit me better then pants. I have used polyester leggings in the winter and can say no to them. Though they are very warm, they are not good when it's in the 40°f and above. They also seem not to really work in freezing temps either.
I have found just a cotton petticoat or medieval brais to help out a lot for an under layer!
I have a great alpaca wool scarf, the best thing to keep the wind from slipping down your neck
I have a full circle calf-length cloak that I have, very historically, relined twice, turned once, and will face the thin parts with contrasting wool fabric next time I reline it. It's lasted me thirty years and as I am in my fifties, I daresay it will last the rest of my life. I am also starting to historybound my winter wardrobe because I like skirts in cold weather. (Actually in steamy weather too.)
I went to college in west Michigan and walking around campus in the winter was *so cold.* I wasn’t at all into historical clothing back then, but I started layering long skirts. I would even find ugly but long ones at thrift stores that would always be an under layer. Cotton leggings, wool socks, and 3-4 skirts kept me so warm in those well-below-zero temps! I always told my friends it was like wearing blankets. 😆❤️
The quilted petticoat is really fantastic, I made mine from a twin size matelasse comforter.
I'm actually hoping to save up for a wool comforter among other things for more warmth and efficiency in the colder seasons. My fibro riddled form is not compatible with cold
I live in Atlanta, Georgia, where it’s humid but not usually much below freezing, and is often above freezing by midday. (Last week we had temps in the teens; this week it’s over 70.)
I recently began wearing cotton petticoats under my skirts, and it’s a game changer. Not only does my skirt hang better, but it’s so much warmer!
I’m definitely making cotton flannel for next year, in multiple lengths. Last week was tough.
I also wear modern footless “fleece lined tights” (not the fake fur type), and I have thigh-high leg warmers to wear outside. I don’t like the way the feet feel on the fleece tights, so I wear lightweight wool-blend socks. (Mainly Bombas.) I take the bus, so have to brave bus stops pre-dawn in winter.)
My shoes for cool and cold days are zero-drop leather boots, with a wool insole for winter. My boots lace and have a side zip, so I can adjust them according to the socks I’m wearing.
Currently sweating my behind off in over 30 degree weather (I hate summer), wishing it got cold enough here to have to worry about layers.
And the weather is so darn temperamental. It’ll be a nice 23ish and raining in the morning and over 30 with ridiculously high humidity in the afternoon.
I teach on an island (humidity!) in a country where central heat isn't really a thing for both cost and save the planet reasons, and what heat we do have often doesn't really do much (home is fine, but big public buildings...not so much!)... My winter 'uniform' currently for work is an ankle length wool plaid long skirt, black wool sweater, silk full slip, fleece on the inside tights, wool socks, and boots. Add wool scarf, coat, and gloves as needed. It's probably viewed as quirky - It walks the line between history bounding and modern trends here, but I'm toasty. Silk and wool are both great for winter. Our ancestors in cold climates knew what they were about!
I just made a flannel petticoat, super cozy! That’ll keep my warm for quite a while. 😊
I moved up north just in time for the -40 degree weather. (Cold enough to not matter what temperature scale you're using! not kelvin though...) I mostly just didn't go outside, but I did finally realize why gloves exist. I'm with V on struggling with the additional clumsiness they provide. Also, the difference that just wearing an additional layer makes is pretty incredible, though it looks like no one in these comments needs to hear that. :) Maybe leaning into more historybounding (and finally making a petticoat for my walking skirt) is what I need to adapt to the weather. Thanks for the inspiration!