Today is all about winter wear and how to stay warm and still be period correct. I think winter wear is one of the hardest things to acquire because it seems to be scarcer than your average run of the mill dresses and hats and peep toe pumps. Dressing in winter wear at events seems to be much more unusual as well and thus maybe not given enough focus. But then again, how many events take place in the winter for civilian impressions? Honestly, not a lot. . . .but nonetheless, here we are talking coats and crap. Why? Because I want this to be the best reference resource possible for a German WWII Civilian impression.
Choose a Good Coat
To start, a great investment is a coat. Coats can be expensive, but they can be worth their weight in gold. Choose a coat that is a bit larger than what you really need so that you can wear lots of layer's underneath. Coats can be made of thick wool in solids, plaids, or even both! Coats can be fur trimmed or plain. A good vintage coat is obtainable and can be found in thrift shops or online. If shopping online, be aware that because these coats can be heavy, shipping may be a bear. If a vintage coat cannot be found, there are some 1980s does 1940s and modern coats available that are passable. When it comes to winter wear, your safety needs to be number one over authenticity. 1940s coats come in a variety of styles so studying original images can be very beneficial.
When you are coat shopping, and are concerned about the cost, I recommend you use the cost per wear thought or what my dad calls "girl math". If you spend $100 on a coat and wear it only once you have a $100 item . . .When you wear it twice, the cost per wear makes it $50. If you wear it 4 times the cost becomes $25. The more you wear the coat, the more you get your money back on it as an investment. An item that you plan to wear a lot will have a less cost per wear and thus be a good buy. A coat you only ever wear once will not be a good investment. When coat shopping, do ask yourself if you plan on wearing this coat a lot or plan on attending lots of winter events and if not, then may be a winter event or a winter coat may not be a good event or purchase for you financially at this time.
Invest in Appropriate Footwear
Keeping warm can depend on the condition of your feet. Keep your feet warm by keeping them dry. The best way to do this is by investing in period correct footwear that can hold up to being in the elements. Lucky for us, there are a few modern winter boots that are pretty close to what they were about 80 years ago except now they may have zippers to open and close instead of buttons and are made with thicker and more heavy-duty materials. My best advice in this category is to invest in a good plain winter boot that looks passable or as authentic as you can get without sacrificing your safety. There are a few companies that do reproduce boots that look like the winter boots of the 1930s and 1940s but they absolutely and totally suck as real winter footwear (and I won't name names either). They look great and that's where they start and stop. They do not keep moisture or the cold out. They are only a fashion boot. I believe you need more than a fashion boot depending on what you are doing and where you are going. Protect your feet! I really do recommend investing in footwear what will protect your feet even if that means sacrificing some authenticity. Although frostbite and numb toes are period correct sensations, they are not something you want to experience.
While on the topic of footwear, let's talk about leg wear too. I would recommend thick stockings or tights even. Although thick knitted wool stockings are a thing, they can be expensive and hard to source. I am not afraid of wearing thick tights because they can actually look just like stockings and are warmer too. Look for a pair in solids - black, grey, white, or cream.
Good Headwear
Don't forget to keep your head warm. Period hats can be pricy and can tend to be more stylish than practical. To stay warm in winter and be period correct, look for large scarves that can wrap over your head and shoulders or tie under your chin. These large scarves can even be shawls. They are plain, simple, and are very effective too.
Gloves
Gloves are a nice addition to your winter wardrobe. They can be in leather or knitted from wool. There are lots of period magazines and knitting books out there for making your own mittens if you are talented in that department. Otherwise, use those resources to find a pair. These need not be expensive either and can be really easy to find too. Leather gloves can be easily sources as well. Find a pair that fits you well and is in good wearable condition. For added warmth, find multiple pairs that can be layer up.
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