Growing up in Florida, I didn’t have a winter wardrobe. There was only one season and my closet reflected that. But when I moved to Philadelphia, twenty degrees days quickly taught me to dress appropriately. Even though putting on tights is probably one of women’s least favorite physical activity (thanks Macy for that fun fact!), it’s necessary to keep my appendages at their rightful temperature – 98.6 degrees.
The Weather Channel has some of the most interesting articles, and I recently came across one about winter wear of yonder years. Again, because of my upbringing, I had no clue that wool was the fabric of choice for winter and dates back to ancient Greece. Even though it wasn’t an ideal choice as it absorbs water like a sponge, it was used for centuries to keep warm. Fur was an alternative, but very expensive. Then, in the 1930s, Eddie Bauer invented the down jacket. After almost suffering from hypothermia, Bauer set out to find a garment that would provide warmth without the problems of wool. His solution was goose down and nylon. By mixing the two, he developed a product that has remained pretty much similar since. Modern coats might use different fabrics, but the concept is the same. Neat, right?
Even though I’ve been a north easterner for 4 years, I’m still learning the ways of winter. Does anyone else have any suggestions for how to be warm and stylish for the next couple of months?
