I'm obviously not Norwegian. On Wednesday night, my boots decided they'd like to get some air, so they jumped out from underneath me. I did my best to use Ian for balance, but his boots had similar ideas (though his feet had more to say about it than mine), so he wasn't much help. I was able to laugh at myself (joining the Norwegians walking by us), so I didn't mind too much. My boots seemed to get the air they needed to, as they've remained under me for the past couple of days.
In order to bear some of the seasonal temperatures in Oslo this past week (it was around -20C (-4F) on Thursday), I've been wearing the scarf my step-mother knit and gave me for Christmas. I haven't worn a scarf in my adult life, so I'm not up on my scarf-wearing-etiquette. Most of my thoughts on this come from Joan of Arcadia, whose main character is almost always wearing a scarf. Unfortunately, people in Oslo seem to more utilitarian; they actually use there scarves to stay warm. It seems almost embarrassing to have my scarf hanging out from the bottom of my jacket. Maybe I need to do more wrapping or knotting. Scarf wearing tips are most welcome.
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Ahh, my brother. It seems that you need a lesson in what I like to refer to as "strategic scarfing." On super cold days, I travel with three scarves, earmuffs, and a hat in order to maximize upper-body insulation. I usually wear a slightly shorter fleece scarf hung around my neck and criss-crossed in front, hanging down my torso in order to insulate the button hole draft inside my coat. This scarf should cover the back of your neck, and is best for button-down fronts. If I have the recently knitted hat and scarf set, I then wrap that scarf 3-4 times around my neck and lower face, as it is good for warmth. I then have another wide-knit, extra large and wide scarf that I wrap 1-2 times on top of the new scarf, and over the back of my coat, in order to create an extra insulating layer. This third scarf is also good for alternating cover over the mouth and throat, in case you get overwhelmed with breathing the hot air for too long, as I do. The earmuffs are also excellent insulators, and the hat is pulled over them, down to my eyebrows, and tucked under the top insulating scarf.
An alternative method is to wrap a 1st or 2nd medium-wide width scarf over the top of the head, criss-cross under the chin, and wrap once to tie behind the neck. The 2nd or 3rd scarf would then be wrapped multiple times around the neck and face, over the head scarf, again, to create an insulating effect. This method does not work as well with hats, but may work well with hatless hoods.
The key to creating good scarf insulation is to wrap at least 2 full revolutions (tieing on the 2nd revolution), and to spread the scarf to its width for maximum coverage. I also recommend layering, even if only for traveling, and silk long-johns. Double-gloving is another useful trick; 1 thin glove inside for insulation, and a thick glove or mitten on the outside for extra warmth.
And as for the airborne boots, don't lock your knees when you walk - keep them fluid.
This has been a post-Saturday-spent-at-work presentation by your big sister. Best wishes with your cold from mine in Boston. Yours won today :)
When its -20
this is true. when it's a snowy 18
Ah, my friend...you are not Joan of Arcadia(aka a 17 yr old girl). While scarf wrapping, as the lovely Corri demonstrates, is important, I would not follow fashions set by women on tv. Others may not agree with me...I would find suitable scarves and wrap to your warmth as was suggested by previously mentioned lovely sister.
It is definitley snowing HERE! This is one thing I always have to see to believe. I spent too much time as a youngster hoping it would snow only to be disappointed. Local weather forecasting has made me a sceptic on the issue. NO WORK NO WORK. I hope.
If anybody noticed Lorilei's scarf wrapping on Gilmore Girls this past Tuesday, she had it equally double wrapped and yet it still almost hung to her ankles. And people question my dear scarf's length when unwrapped!
And is anyone as happy that RETURN OF THE KING won FOUR GOLDEN GLOBES!!!
Quite the scarf-wearing tutorial from my dear sister. Goodness. Well, the past couple of days I've been doing the double-wrap and it seems to work well enough. No more worries about my scarf hanging out the bottom of my coat.
All this has suddenly become much more pertinent since my beard fell off last night. It was with me just over a month, but definitely had to go.
Helen, I've never understood how you can wear flip-flops in the dead of winter. Just one of those things I can't fathom about you. :P
Rebekah, good point on the not paying attention to the fashion of 17 year old girls. I should have thought of that. And did I hear correctly that RotK got nominated for 12 Oscars? Not that that has much to do with being cold in Norway, but oh well. :)