How To: Get Dressed in Finland!
February 11th 2010 00:17
Time: 6:15pm Date: 10/02/2010 Location: My Apartment, Helsinki
Welcome to my 'How To' series of surviving in Finland. This first blog post is about getting dressed to transfer from the warm, radiated comfort of your own home; to the freezing, below zero, face-hurting chills of the outside cold.
**I have been meaning to write about this for ages because it was one of the first things I noticed when I arrived. You always have to give yourself 10 extra minutes to get ready because seriously; it takes that long!!
Anyway, I remember a quote from Shrek in his self-titled movie, who once said: "NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers." This is exactly what it is all about here in Finland, when putting your clothes on. Whether you look at it from an onions' point of view or from an ogres' point of view; you are required to put yourself in one of their shoes.
Step 1. Put on some nice, warm, comfy undies. The chill factor is so strong when it passes below -10 and if you start to feel it in the downstairs region; you will find it is not a very nice feeling at all! If your not careful, you may end up having icicles in your pubic hair!
Step 2. Put on a thermal pair of pants, a.k.a: long-johns. Merino wool are by far the best and the warmest. Beware, you look and feel like a total moron when you haven't got your outside pants on but I'm telling you now, it's totally worth it. Also, another word of warning: if you haven't got tight fitting jeans and the luxury of a belt, you will find your jeans will tend to slide down a lot quicker than if you weren't wearing long-johns.
Step 3. Put on an outside pair of pants. Ski pants are by far the warmest but look the gayest - especially if your walking around the middle of Helsinki. I would suggest jeans because they are the most durable, yet comfortable piece of pant wear. Previous experience has seen track-pants freeze if they come in contact with the snowy ground.
Step 4. Put on a thermal long sleeve top. I haven't stopped wearing mine since I got here. Again, merino wool is by far the warmest and it breathes really well so you hardly have to wash it. Too bad if your not a fan of your body shape because since it is so tight fitting; it shows your exact body outline.
Step 5. Put on a fleece top. This is used for extra warmth and they feel nice. However, they are not very fashionable! That is all.
Step 6. Put on a FASHIONABLE item of clothing. Although, this doesn't really provide you with any extra warmth; a nice jumper or jacket goes well when you dispose of your large down jacket when you walk inside. Remember, wherever you go...it's all about the look!
Step 7. Top off your top half with a well invested down jacket from Mountain Designs. Though you may have to fork out hundreds of dollars for one of these things, they are well worth it. It is a MUST for anyone brave enough to venture outside in Helsinki. They provide you with so much warmth that you actually get hot when you are doing the shopping or stopping for lunch inside and you still have it on. Also, don't forget to attach your reflector to your jacket when you go outside because since it gets dark so quickly in the Winter; this is a way for people and vehicles to see you!
Step 8. Put on your first pair of socks. Seriously, when the temperature gets as low as -20 or even -10 degrees, one pair of socks is not enough. Thick, woolen socks are the best but you may struggle to get two of these on at once. Therefore, a good pair of anklet, sporty socks will do the trick.
Step 9. Cover your first pair of socks with your second pair. As previously mentioned, thick wooly socks that preferably come up to the knee is highly recommended.
Step 10. Put on some water-proof, good quality apre boots from Rebel Sport (like most pieces of winter clothing, these can only be purchased during the ski season!) They are very comfortable to walk around in, they prevent you from slipping on the ice and they are extremely warm. Seriously cold feet is bad news!
Step 11. Acessorise! Accessorise with the three necessities of -10 degree clothing. BEANIE, SCARF/NECK WARMER, GLOVES.
- A tight fitting beanie will keep your head warm and hopefully ears as well. Unfortunately, you have to cop the fact that you can't impress any ladies with your crazy hairstyles due to the beanie flattening your hair, but it's well worth it when you step outside.
- A scarf or neck warmer is the key to keeping your neck warm (go figure!). Personally, I prefer a neck warmer coz it keeps most of your face warm to. Again, a cold face is a hurting face!
- You wouldn't survive without gloves. How do I know this, because I have been there!! During Australia Day, we ventured outside to kick the footy in -18 degrees and all I had was a t-shirt, a pair of jeans and my socks and shoes. And the result: my hands almost dropped off due to frost-bite. Emma Ring, from Tasmania had to use her chest to warm my hands up, so I could firstly feel them and then secondly, use them again. Therefore, a good pair of thick gloves will keep your hands warm when you are walking outside. You will find that most Fins wear woolen or leather gloves or mittens.
Now you are ready to take a step outside in Finland and not die! True fact! Even the Fins are still not used to the cold!
Welcome to my 'How To' series of surviving in Finland. This first blog post is about getting dressed to transfer from the warm, radiated comfort of your own home; to the freezing, below zero, face-hurting chills of the outside cold.
**I have been meaning to write about this for ages because it was one of the first things I noticed when I arrived. You always have to give yourself 10 extra minutes to get ready because seriously; it takes that long!!
Anyway, I remember a quote from Shrek in his self-titled movie, who once said: "NO. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers." This is exactly what it is all about here in Finland, when putting your clothes on. Whether you look at it from an onions' point of view or from an ogres' point of view; you are required to put yourself in one of their shoes.
Step 1. Put on some nice, warm, comfy undies. The chill factor is so strong when it passes below -10 and if you start to feel it in the downstairs region; you will find it is not a very nice feeling at all! If your not careful, you may end up having icicles in your pubic hair!
Step 2. Put on a thermal pair of pants, a.k.a: long-johns. Merino wool are by far the best and the warmest. Beware, you look and feel like a total moron when you haven't got your outside pants on but I'm telling you now, it's totally worth it. Also, another word of warning: if you haven't got tight fitting jeans and the luxury of a belt, you will find your jeans will tend to slide down a lot quicker than if you weren't wearing long-johns.
Step 3. Put on an outside pair of pants. Ski pants are by far the warmest but look the gayest - especially if your walking around the middle of Helsinki. I would suggest jeans because they are the most durable, yet comfortable piece of pant wear. Previous experience has seen track-pants freeze if they come in contact with the snowy ground.
Step 4. Put on a thermal long sleeve top. I haven't stopped wearing mine since I got here. Again, merino wool is by far the warmest and it breathes really well so you hardly have to wash it. Too bad if your not a fan of your body shape because since it is so tight fitting; it shows your exact body outline.
Step 5. Put on a fleece top. This is used for extra warmth and they feel nice. However, they are not very fashionable! That is all.
Step 6. Put on a FASHIONABLE item of clothing. Although, this doesn't really provide you with any extra warmth; a nice jumper or jacket goes well when you dispose of your large down jacket when you walk inside. Remember, wherever you go...it's all about the look!
Step 7. Top off your top half with a well invested down jacket from Mountain Designs. Though you may have to fork out hundreds of dollars for one of these things, they are well worth it. It is a MUST for anyone brave enough to venture outside in Helsinki. They provide you with so much warmth that you actually get hot when you are doing the shopping or stopping for lunch inside and you still have it on. Also, don't forget to attach your reflector to your jacket when you go outside because since it gets dark so quickly in the Winter; this is a way for people and vehicles to see you!
Step 8. Put on your first pair of socks. Seriously, when the temperature gets as low as -20 or even -10 degrees, one pair of socks is not enough. Thick, woolen socks are the best but you may struggle to get two of these on at once. Therefore, a good pair of anklet, sporty socks will do the trick.
Step 9. Cover your first pair of socks with your second pair. As previously mentioned, thick wooly socks that preferably come up to the knee is highly recommended.
Step 10. Put on some water-proof, good quality apre boots from Rebel Sport (like most pieces of winter clothing, these can only be purchased during the ski season!) They are very comfortable to walk around in, they prevent you from slipping on the ice and they are extremely warm. Seriously cold feet is bad news!
Step 11. Acessorise! Accessorise with the three necessities of -10 degree clothing. BEANIE, SCARF/NECK WARMER, GLOVES.
- A tight fitting beanie will keep your head warm and hopefully ears as well. Unfortunately, you have to cop the fact that you can't impress any ladies with your crazy hairstyles due to the beanie flattening your hair, but it's well worth it when you step outside.
- A scarf or neck warmer is the key to keeping your neck warm (go figure!). Personally, I prefer a neck warmer coz it keeps most of your face warm to. Again, a cold face is a hurting face!
- You wouldn't survive without gloves. How do I know this, because I have been there!! During Australia Day, we ventured outside to kick the footy in -18 degrees and all I had was a t-shirt, a pair of jeans and my socks and shoes. And the result: my hands almost dropped off due to frost-bite. Emma Ring, from Tasmania had to use her chest to warm my hands up, so I could firstly feel them and then secondly, use them again. Therefore, a good pair of thick gloves will keep your hands warm when you are walking outside. You will find that most Fins wear woolen or leather gloves or mittens.
Now you are ready to take a step outside in Finland and not die! True fact! Even the Fins are still not used to the cold!
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