I hate the cold. And I mean really hate it. Even in the summer, I’m cold – I wear woollies all year round and it’s usually not until the end of May that the weather starts to warm up enough for me to ditch my winter coat and come out of hibernation.
On holiday, you will not find me carelessly frolicking in the sea or swimming pool. It takes me the best part of an hour to inch my way in, whimpering and squealing like a piglet. “It’s fine once you’re in!” shout my husband and kids. “No, it’s not!” I’ll shout back.
When deepest, darkest winter kicks in, my wardrobe goes into SOS mode. I gather my emergency kit of Arctic-ready staples to help stop the frostbite-like pain I suffer in my fingers and toes (I also get split fingertips, inherited from my dad). So, it’s safe to say, I know a thing or two about keeping warm.
As Good Housekeeping’s fashion director, I’m often on photo shoots outdoors in all weathers. The topsy-turvy magazine world means I’m shooting our spring fashion shoots in sub-zero temperatures in January and February so, not only do I have to keep myself warm, I also have to make sure the model and the rest of my team and crew are comfortable in the cold.
With that in mind, I thought I’d share some of my tried-and-tested tricks on how I keep toasty in bitterly cold temperatures that don’t involve carrying a hot water bottle in your backpack or hand warmers in your boots (which I have done). As they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing…
Double-puff
When a particularly bitter cold snap comes around, the very first thing I do is double-puff. That means I wear 2 puffer coats at once! If you only buy one thing, you have to buy an ultra-thin, lightweight puffer and/or gilet, which can be worn underneath your coat as your “base” layer. Other stores do them, but Uniqlo is unrivalled, in my opinion.
Ask any fashion editor who’s ever braved the great outdoors during London Fashion Week in February and you’ll find they have a Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket secretly hidden underneath their chic, street-style worthy coat, trust me!
The new accessory you need
So long, the scarf! The balaclava (aka the knitted hood) is officially the accessory to own. Cosy and cool, I love them so much, I’ve bought two! They’re winter’s unexpected hero and are easier to pull off than you think. Tucked into a tailored coat, the ‘pop of hood’ will give a new-season sporty twist to old outerwear, and honestly, it makes such a difference at keeping drafts at bay.
Invest in glove liners
My father-in-law is a keen cyclist and often goes for early morning bike rides. Cycling gloves are not very insulating so he wears silk gloves inside, which he recommended I try. They are so fabulously thin, they fit inside my regular gloves. And guess what? They really help!
As another top tip – mittens are warmer than gloves. They tend to be the warmer choice – keeping your fingers together generates more heat than when they are separated from each other by fabric.
Faux fur insoles
This is a trick I picked up from a photographer who needed to insulate her wellies on a photo shoot on a farm midwinter. She recommended Hunter Shearling Insoles, but you can find similar faux fur insoles from many retailers, as well as in your local shoe repair shop. You can slip these furry insoles inside any boots, loafers, trainers or wellies. She said they felt like they were giving her feet a warm hug.
Cashmere wrap
There’s nothing quite like the sheer snuggliness of my cashmere wrap. This is no ordinary scarf, this is a luxurious Rise & Fall oversized cashmere wrap. I’ll be honest, if I ever lost mine, I think I would cry. It’s wide, it’s long and you can wrap it around your neck several times (no drafty gaps) and then have some extra cashmere to cover your shoulders like a blanket. With more than 300 5-star reviews, I’m not the only one who loves it.
Thermal layers
Not the most glamorous or the sexiest of fashion items, but they’re a cold-weather game-changer. Thermal ranges have moved on a lot from grandad long johns. Damart and Marks & Spencer have great affordable choices and colours, but my ultimate favourite is the clever and trendy Japanese HEATTECH range at Uniqlo. Their genius, thermal clothing technology has innovative fabric which absorbs and retains body heat to keep you warm. I own one of everything!
Double up on socks
Our extremities often suffer the most when temperatures plummet because the body prioritises keeping our core and vital organs warm. To counteract the effect, pop on two pairs of socks and make sure there’s no gap at the ankle for cold air to creep in. Choose wool over cotton for really toasty toes – it sounds silly and obvious but it really works.
Tights under trousers and jeans
Yes, it’s an oldie, but an absolute goodie. The higher the denier, the warmer you’ll feel. For extra cosiness, fleecy tights beneath roomy (read drafty) wide-leg trousers or jeans is really effective. With nearly 160 5-star reviews, I'm upgrading my standard opaques to these H&M fleece tights.
Haute hiking boots
It’s official, hiking boots are the new trainers. But ladies, these are no ordinary boots; this is a genius non-slip, luxurious shearling lined boot with inbuilt retractable stainless steel studs! When the weather turns treacherous, simply flip down the studs to provide traction on slippery, icy surfaces. I wore them last week on a fashion shoot (outdoors) and they honestly kept my feet so warm. I love them, and so does Oprah apparently! She added them to her renowned gift list, Oprah's Favorite Things 2024.
