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Winter Clothes to Pack for an Eastern Europe Vacation
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Winter is one of the best seasons because you can look forward to the cool weather and snuggling in bed with a hot cup of cocoa. But that’s not all of it.
You can also look forward to a vacation as the winter season is the best time to travel, especially to Eastern European countries. Fewer people travel during this season, which in turn allows you to book tickets at cheaper prices.
It’s also the best time to see a whole new side of Eastern Europe.
But if you’re taking an Eastern European vacation during the cold season, one of your essentials should be your winter clothes. This is especially necessary if you’re bringing along your woman.
How to Dress in 30 Degree Weather
When in cold climates, the feeling of dread starts to seep in when you realize that you’re not dressed warm enough to handle it. And when you’re on vacation with your woman, you wouldn’t want to risk feeling that way.
After all, it’s a precursor to a day ruined as you can’t focus on anything else aside from how to stop yourself from shivering.
So when going to Eastern Europe, you need to know how to stay bundled up for winter. You need to dress warm, meaning you need to make sure that you’re clothed in a way that your body can handle the 30-degree weather.
That said, you’ll need the following items:
Mittens
During the cold season, some people prefer to wear gloves instead of mittens. Understandably, gloves allow for better dexterity. However, mittens help keep you warmer.
This is because, when wearing them, your fingers are held close together. Thus, they generate more body heat as compared to when they’re separated by fabric.
Invest in a pair of mittens that fits your hands, includes insulation, is waterproof, and allows you to use your touchscreen gadget with ease.
Hat
Notice how you’re shivering whenever you’re in a freezing, air-conditioned room and your ears aren’t covered. This is because your ear canals allow the cold to directly seep into your body.
Wearing a hat prevents this. So choose one that’s able to trap your body heat but at the same time, allows ventilation to keep you from feeling overheated.
Layers
When it comes to dressing warmly, it’s common sense to throw on layers of clothing. However, you can’t just throw on whatever and hope for the best. There’s a way to do it right.
The rule is for you to wear at least three layers of clothing — the inner layer, the insulation layer, and the outer layer. Moreover, you must choose layers with a fabric that’s designed to provide you warmth even when wet, rather than only making you look good.
What Material Provides Warmth Even When Wet
Finding the right winter clothes to use as layers is challenging. But the first thing you need to consider is this: Can it help you stay warm, meaning is it designed with a comfortable fabric that is ideal for wet and cold conditions?
To answer, the following are common fabrics that are said to be suited for the wet and cold winter season:
Is wool warm?
Wool is the best choice to wear during winter as it can provide warmth even in wet conditions.
Notice how you warm up in no time whenever you wear socks. That’s because wool naturally traps the air and absorbs moisture. That said, winter clothing made of wool is an ideal choice.
However, don’t get it too wet as it takes very long to dry.
Is polyester warm?
Like wool, clothes made of polyester fabric are also an ideal choice.
It’s made out of plastic that’s spun into fabric. And so, like other synthetic fabrics, polyester is moisture-wicking. Moreover, the thicker the fabric is, the more water-resistant it is to beads of water.
Unlike wool, polyester is more affordable. So it’s fitting if you’re on a budget. However, take note that the fabric is non-hypoallergenic and possibly contains dangerous chemicals used during its production. So if you’re someone with sensitive skin, it’s better to opt for something else.
Is cotton warm?
Most people love to wear a cotton flannel or a fleece jacket when it’s cold out. The reason is that cotton is designed to keep you warm by allowing your body to receive airflow.
Moreover, if you’re not the type who sweats much, cotton can still keep you warm. The downside, however, is that any clothes made of cotton are prone to damage.
How to Layer Your Winter Clothes
After being cooped up in your hotel room, you find yourself ready to explore the wonders of the Eastern European country of your choice. However, you take a look out of the window and see a pile of snow waiting to greet you. This pushes you to think of what to wear when it’s cold outside.
As mentioned, you need to have at least three layers of clothing.
Inner Layer
The first one should be your inner layer. This base layer clothing for cold weather is your first wall of defense. So ideally, it should be something light, fitting, and can repel moisture.
That said, you can try wearing a fitted undershirt or turtleneck.
Insulation Layer
If the first or inner layer should be able to repel moisture away from your skin, the second or the insulation layer should be able to trap the heat and keep you warm. Some of your insulation layer choices include a flannel, sweatshirt, and fleece.
Unlike the inner layer, which is oftentimes not visible, the insulation layer peeks out more. Take this as a chance to make your style interesting by layering a patterned cardigan or a uniquely-designed sweater.
Outer Layer
If the two previous layers serve to protect you, the outer layer is meant to protect the other two from external factors that can damage or make them wet. In other words, this shields you from the snow, rain, and cold gusts of wind.
In that case, choose to have a thick layered jacket, poncho, or trench coat. However, make sure that your outer layer blends with your overall outfit.
How to Layer Clothes Without Looking Bulky
You now know what three kinds of layers you need to keep warm when visiting Eastern Europe during the winter season. But now you have to figure out how to layer clothes without looking bulky.
Avoid looking stuffed with layers by sticking to these three tips:
- Have a thin base layer clothing for cold weather.
- Choose fabrics that you can easily layer. (e.g., cotton and silk, polyester and wool)
- Layer your clothes in a way that you can easily remove them if it becomes too hot.
Winter Colors for Clothing
As mentioned, your layers of clothing need to blend well together to create a nice overall outfit. So if you try to recall your past winter, you’ll probably remember seeing many of your family and friends wearing dark winter colors for clothing, such as black, brown, gray, and navy. This is because dark colors absorb heat better, allowing you to still look good while staying warm.
However, you can also wear light-colored winter clothes, especially if you’re going for a fresh look. Just be sure to wear something monochromatic.
Winter Clothing for Men
Surely, you’ve got a lot planned out for your winter vacation to Eastern Europe, especially if you’re going there with a woman. In this case, here are some tips on how you can be dressed warm for several occasions:
Men’s Winter Date Night Outfit
As a man, you must show up well-dressed for a date night with your woman. Remember, how well you put yourself together communicates how you feel about her. That said, here are some must-knows when it comes to assembling a men’s winter date night outfit.
Casual Date Night Clothing for Guys
For a casual night with her, you can never go wrong with leather boots.
Unlike sneakers which can oftentimes look too casual, good-quality leather boots make you look sophisticated. Moreover, you can tread through snow or wet streets without having to worry about literally getting cold feet.
If your boots aren’t waterproof, however, you can coat them with wax or a good amount of boot oil.
You can also consider slipping into a comfortable cardigan. It works well as an insulation or outer layer. But it also works to help you look fresh. Moreover, cardigans are known for being soft to the touch, which gives your woman a reason to initiate physical affection during the cuddle weather.
Formal Date Night Clothing for Guys
If you’re spending winter vacation in your woman’s country, then you are most likely going to have a formal meeting with her parents. You can’t just say no because you don’t know how to put a winter outfit together. Imagine how disappointed she and her parents will be.
To avoid such a situation, you can assemble a simple winter outfit by keeping it classic with black outerwear. Whether it’s a long coat or a blazer, black outerwear can make a statement on its own. That said, it allows you to make a bold declaration that you are mature enough to take care of your woman.
Besides black outerwear, consider wearing clothing with textures, such as corduroy pants. Although you may feel hesitation, as most men do when it comes to corduroy, it’s a piece that makes you look chic.
However, remember that since it’s a formal gathering, corduroy pants with thinner wales are preferred compared to the wider ones which are often used casually.
Hiking in Cold Weather
If you and your woman are the active and adventurous type, then you might want to go hiking despite the cold weather. However, you won’t be able to enjoy the beauty of the winter landscape if you’re freezing.
So be prepared to face the cold temperature by covering yourself up. This means layering your clothes and wearing a hat as recommended earlier.
Moreover, even though it can keep you warm, cotton is a no-go when it comes to hiking. This is because you’re going to produce a lot of sweat when hiking. As a result, you’ll end up feeling damp. A better option is to wear synthetic clothing or wool as these fabrics repel moisture away from your skin.
In addition, try to wear sunglasses. When hiking, wearing sunglasses isn’t just for accessorizing purposes. Doing so protects your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun and the strong winds you’ll face as you go up.
Winter in Europe
If you’re planning on taking a vacation with your woman to Eastern Europe, then it’s in your best interest to know what winter clothes to pack.
Remember that keeping warm takes more than just being bundled up in a ball of clothes. It’s about knowing what to pack, how to layer, which fabrics to use, and how to be stylish even in cold weather conditions.
