Between holiday travel to chillier climes and preparations for El Nino, now is a good time to check out fashions geared to keep you warm and dry.
But, before you go, it’s important to know what you need.
“If you’re only looking for something windproof, you don’t need to spend the money for something completely seam-sealed designed to keep a monsoon out,” said Andy Bell, president and CEO of Jones Global Sports.
Windproof, water-repellent and stretchy materials are becoming go-to items for active shoppers, with wool continuing to be a winter favorite. When combined with certain tech designs, the latter material can be worn with increased confidence.
“Melton wool is so tightly woven that it does a great job blocking wind,” said Christine Guerin, senior product developer for Orvis. “(Adding an) elastic waist and cuffs help to trap that heat.”
Guerin also points to another fabric often associated with summer that works well in winter.
“Since corduroy is made of cotton, it’s comfortable to wear and breathes, yet the weight gives the cloth its durability and warmth,” she said. “Guys love heavy cords.”
One of the basic rules of winter wear is layering, which often means a mock undershirt or vest to keep the body warm without feeling confined.
“The idea with a base layer is that it never comes off; it truly is the base,” Bell said. “From there you build up for warmth or rain or both. With technology today, life should never require more than three layers. If it does, get a good book and get by the fire.”
Colorful checks, plaids and Tattersall remain popular winter patterns, but a trend is emerging with hues and tones.
“It doesn’t have to be traditional khakis and browns anymore,” Bell said. “We focus more on interesting color pairing, with brights and neutrals. As the world has evolved to a performance mindset it is also more accepting of a greater range of color.”
Orvis’s Guerin has noticed a similar approach.
“Most guys will do brighter colors or riskier patterns for their shirt, then layer with something more subdued on the outside,” he said. “A lot of our shirts have hints of red, burnt orange and gold for pop. Grays, burgundy and green are also trending and good bases to work off.”
All manufacturers stress the importance of hats, scarves and gloves in chillier weather because people tend to lose heat through the head and hands quickly when it’s coldest.
