The majority of Michiganders will sleep tonight on the same sheets they had on their beds in August. Egyptian cotton, bamboo, linen—whatever Target or Macy’s had. When it’s time to turn in, they’ll leave the heat at a hellish temp, knowing they can always blast the fan if they get hot.
In the morning, even as a blizzard rages outside, they can walk around the house in shorts and T-shirts. To walk from the house to the remotely started car, some have heated jackets and vests. Heated gloves and socks. Heated hats. May as well cook our brains while we’re at it.
This life is unnatural. It’s boring. But it’s very common.
Yes, we’ve come a long way since sleeping around a fire pit or keeping a chamber pot next to the bed to avoid a snowbound outhouse. But our clothes, which humans have used for millennia to regulate temperature, have become an afterthought.
Why do we spend so much time, money, and energy on heating our environments and pay so little attention to what we actually cover our bodies with?
“Winter wear” isn’t as much about color or style as much as about fabric and cut. When you dress for the season, the emphasis should be on durable, comfortable fabrics—preferably natural and worn in layers.
When you’re dressed for the weather, winter is a lot better. You should start with your sheets.
One simply cannot explain in words the heavenly experience of a long winter’s nap in a chilly room with soft flannel sheets. It is divine. Just make sure to turn the heat down and maybe even crack a window. Experts say sleeping in a cool room supports better sleep and makes you healthier, anyway.
Flannel is actually just cotton (though good flannel can be made of wool as well), but its looser weave and brushing create a fuzzy nap. Even cheap flannel sheets can add a whole new layer of luxury to your sleep.
During the day, try embracing more flannel pieces in addition to fabrics like corduroy, wool, and velvet.
Corduroy, typically made of cotton and available in various wale widths, is soft and sturdy. In winter, corduroy pants, skirts, and dresses both look nice and provide insulation in the cold. Where jeans stiffen and do little to shield against harsh winds, corduroy remains supple and warm on your legs.
Wool is the ideal winter fabric. Derived primarily from the fleece of sheep, humans have been wearing wool for 12,000 years. In its various forms, it is super soft, warm and insulating, breathable and “moisture wicking”, durable and long-lasting, biodegradable—and even flame retardant. Sweaters and hats made of wool are always a good choice, but thick wool socks are the No. 1 thing I’d suggest for keeping your feet dry and warm in the snow.
Velvet is more of a fancy dress fabric. It’s especially great for women’s special occasion dresses and blouses. While many ladies reach for such pieces in polyester, nylon, viscose, and other thin synthetics, these don’t work for winter. You’ll be far less likely to linger in good conversation outdoors in something like this. A plush velvet number, on the other hand, offers both style and warmth.
And if your heat is down and you’re still cold, a classic fisherman sweater will do the trick. Get a pair of shearling-lined moccasins for around the house. Invest in a long terry cloth robe to throw on right out of the shower.
It’s important not to let winter become a time we wish away. Fabric-maxxing with flannel sheets, wool sweaters and socks, corduroy pants, and other cold-season fabrics helps add comfort and harmony to your life.
Faye Root is a writer and a homeschooling mother based in Northern Michigan. Follow her on X @littlebayschool.
