How to Dress for a Michigan Winter

While I enjoy winter in Ann Arbor, it does get very cold; and many students who are from a warmer climate find the winter temperatures unbearable.  As a result, it is important to dress warmly, especially if you plan on being outside for a period of time. Below are several clothing suggestions that will help keep you warm in the winter. 

1. Dress in layers: One of the most important things to remember is to always dress in layers during the winter.  It will help keep you warm when the temperature goes below freezing.  For instance, wear a tank top that you can tuck into your pants under a long sleeve shirt.  Remember to wear something under your jeans such as thermal underwear, leggings, tights, long john’s (the male equivalent to leggings), pajamas, sweats, or anything that you can fit underneath your jeans.  Also wearing two layers of socks is helpful if you don’t want to buy thicker socks made of wool.

                                              

2. Wear the correct boots: While flip-flops and converse are comfortable during the summer and spring, winter boots are a necessary purchase for the winter.   Good winter boots will keep you warm, are waterproof/water resistant, and have good traction.  Many good quality boots have temperature ratings on their tag, and this is a good way to determine how effective they are in keeping your feet warm.  A good way to determine if the boots are waterproof or water-resistant is to look at the outside material.  For instance, if the outside material of the boot is rubber, then they are good at keeping water out. If the outside material of the boots is suede, then they're probably not good.  However, if you have some boots that are not waterproof, you can always use a waterproof spray on the boots.  To determine if boots have good traction, look for grooves on the soles of the boots.  If the sole of the boots are smooth, then you will be more prone to falling on icy and slippery surfaces.

                                                  

3. Wear a coat that covers your waist: While cropped jackets are cute, they won’t keep you warm during the winter.  Make sure that any coat you bring/buy will cover your waist completely.  The longer the coat is, the warmer you will be.  A good winter coat to buy is one with down feather insulation and one that is waterproof or water-resistant.  Also a coat with a hood is a perfect for keeping your head warm.

                                                        

4. Don't forget to keep your head warm: Since you lose more heat through your head than any other part of your body, it is important to wear a hat, especially if you are going to be outside for a good chunk of time.  If hats aren’t for you, then having a hood on your coat or wearing earmuffs is helpful as well.

                                                

Hopefully these four suggestions will help you stay warm so that you can enjoy all the fun outside winter activities. 

Written by: Sonja Grinfeld, Doctor of Pharmacy Student