FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

With energy bills soaring this winter, thermostats across the country will be being turned down a degree or two, or even ten. So what is one to do who is always chilly during the winter months to begin with? Dress warmly in some of falls greatest fashions in decades. To begin your search, think comfort, and think from your feet up.

Socks and slippers that will keep your feet warm are available in designs that can easily be worn around the house, or even the workplace. With the advancements of materials that are thin, and warm, (think Under Armour Cold Gear and similar styles!) you can pull on a pair of feet coverings that will feel like you have pulled on your favorite pair of fuzzy slippers from when you were a teenager. The difference being these will not look out of place at your big meeting with the boss as they are thin enough to wear with any pair of shoes save for a pair of open toes. For at home comfort, there are designs in fleece, cotton, even velour, with non-slip bottoms. Pull on a pair and your feet will be cozy even on bare wood and linoleum flooring.

If you are the type who needs all the added warmth you can find, then this year's lineup of Under Armour in general is for you! Look for their long john styled pants and shirts to wear as your first layer. Available in a variety of colors and weights, you are sure to find the perfect set to keep you cozy. Other brands besides Under Armour are available, some for a lot less dollar wise, but from personal experience I can tell you that the Under Armour brand stands up to repeated wearing and washings, and is as warm and comfortable as advertised. What is so nice about these new styles is that they are both comfortable to wear, and are so thin, you can easily wear them beneath just about any style of clothing. They are very different from the old-fashioned bulky long johns from just a few years past.

Top off your daily wear with a comfortable and warm sweater or cardigan. When shopping, think of just how cold you do get when deciding on features such as collar height and thickness. If you shiver at the thought of the first snowflake and do not want to come out of hibernation until the last day of spring, look for sweater styles that have the classic turtleneck or rolled collar, so you can adjust to your own comfort level. Sleeve length should be long enough that you can tug slightly over the base of the hand, and fabric should be as soft as snuggly inside as it looks on the outside. A sweater that is itchy and scratchy will not keep you warm simply because you will not wear it. If you are of the nature to be freezing one minute, and hot the next, top off your wardrobe with a few select cardigans that will match just about any outfit you own. This way you can just grab one in the morning and wear, or not, depending on your current temperature or the temperature of the room.