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People usually wear layering pieces underneath their clothes, but I prefer wearing my toasty thermals on the outside. Case in point, this Rugby by Ralph Lauren Thermal Dress ($170, originally $228) was made for shopping trips, coffee dates, and movie nights — anything, really. If a full-on thermal dress is too much for your taste, slip on a colorful top or hoodie. Attention rugby shoppers! Check out this sweet make-your-own-fashion-show game.
If Kate Hudson is looking for fresh snow gear for her family's annual Aspen Christmas trip, Topshop has her covered. Not to mention, yours truly. I'm gearing up for my first weekend of the season in Lake Tahoe, so Topshop's chic cozies are right on time. Sporty shades, cool thermals, snoods, goggles, gloves, and socks complement ski and board pants, parkas, and a furry-hooded boiler suit. All designs are wind and waterproof and feature rubberized zip-pulls and waterproof-coated zips, offering total comfort and protection from the elements. The collection drops online next week — ski on.
Exercising outdoors in the winter is all about layering and choosing performance base layers can be tricky. Basically there's two main choices. Polypropylene or Merino Wool.
Polypropylene is a quick drying polyester fiber that wicks moisture away from the body. The fabric was engineered to do the wicking, since we all know regular polyester just makes you sweat. The downfall? The fabric retains odor, so even though you wash it, it can still smell a little stinky. Patagonia makes 4 different weights of its polyester performance baselayer called Capilene, so you can dress according to the temperature. They cost anywhere from $40 to $90.
On the other hand, Merino Wool is a natural fiber that's not at all itchy like that bumpy sweater your grandma knit you. When it comes to an active lifestyle, it keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The wool naturally wicks away moisture. Plus, it can be washed and won't shrink. The downfall? It's a little more expensive than "polypro." Smartwool makes a great long sleeved shirt for $75.
If you want to know which one you should choose, read more
