Keep cosy this winter Rules for dressing warmly

Press, 3 July 1986, Page 17

Keep cosy this winter Rules for dressing warmly

“Bodywork”

by

PORTER SHIMER

When you are cold — no matter how stylish you look — you feel miserable. “Being cold puts a major stress on virtually all of the body’s organs,” says a preventive medicine expert, Dr Agatha Thrash. You should keep that in mind this winter as you dress yourself against the elements. There are definite rules for dressing warmly that fashion designers do not always hold in the highest regard. Better to look a little pudgy in a downfilled parka than to be shaking like a leaf in a thin vinyl bomber jacket. Here’s what the experts — and the laws of physics — say are the best ways to feel marvellous (if not necessarily look it) this winter. We’ll start at the head and work down. THE NECK. hat can bright,

and so can your coat, but if there’s a “leak” at your neckline for heat to escape, you’re going to know about it. Coats with collars can prevent some of this heat loss, but best of all is a good, wool scarf — great for pulling up around your ears and face when things get really frigid. THE HEAD.

Yes, your head really is your body’s “chimney.” You can lose as much as 40 per cent of your body’s heat through your head, so it’s important to cap your noggin accordingly. Best for the job on a really cold day, is a hat that’s fluffy and fits comfortably (better a wool ski cap, for example, than something tight-fitting with a sexy brim), and it’s a good idea to have your hat cover the tips, at least, of your ears. 4

THE TORSO. Studies show that the torso is the body’s first heating priority: not until it feels warm can any other part of you feel

warm, so it’s absolutely essential to dress your torso properly. The best way to do it, however, is not necessarily with a very heavy overcoat. Some of the warmest coats being made these days are the lightest in weight: parkas filled with down or synthetic fabrics.

Besides being super warm, these lightweight parkas offer the advantage of allowing you to move more freely than cumbersome overcoats — a real plus considering physical activity is one of the greatest body warmers going. THE HANDS. Unless you need the dexterity that only gloves can give, mittens are your best bet. In a study done at the University of Wisconsin, wool-lined mittens with leather shells proved thdywarmest of all.

Remember, though, that your hands are going to have trouble staying warm if your torso isn’t being kept toasty. “Torso protection is as important as extremity protection,” the study concluded. THE FEET. Like hands, feet will feel frigid if heat is being lost through the torso, so dress your upper body properly before you even think about your feet. Then, if you are going to be out in the cold for long think big. The larger your shoes or boots, and the more pairs of socks you can stuff into them, the better. Important, too, even for everyday winter wear, is the insulating : ability of your footwear’s soles — the thicker, usually, the better. —Copyright Universal Press Syndicate.