Farm Fashion - Layering

Layering might be a fashion trend that comes and goes but it will never go out of style on the farm! Here, layering is a survival technique! One of my dairy farmer friends was asked by a professor why he always wore so many clothes in the winter. His answer: “I come from a place where once you get cold, you never get warm again!” And he was soo right! I mean, not that you NEVER EVER get warm again but it might not be until Spring … ok, ok maybe just until chores are done.  On some farms that isn’t until the end of the day 5, 6, 7, 8 o’clock at night!  And then the next day you start all over again. So what do you do? You become a pro at LAYERING!

Here is a quick and dirty lesson in Layering 101 so you can stay warm too! 

Base layer –this is critical. Leggings and a long sleeve t-shirt with wool socks make a great base layer. I prefer moisture wicking material but your stand long johns work great too. And be sure to tuck that shirt in! You don’t want the wind finding any cracks in your defense!

See! Tucked in!

Layer #2 is mostly just a hoodie sweatshirt but could include an extra long sleeve t-shirt and sweat pants on REALLY cold days.

That hood is going to be important!

Layer #3 is where it gets SERIOUS. Insulated coveralls, insulated winter boots, and winter coat are all necessities if you are going to be outside in an Iowa winter for several hours at a time. Coveralls can be tricky, if you're like me you are going to want to make sure and get the kind that are insulated all the way up and not just to the waist!

Hmmm, the things you learn when you look at pictures of yourself. Maybe the next installment of Farm Fashion will be about patches :)

Accessories! The best winter farmer accessories include a hat, a scarf and layered(!) gloves. See the hood comes in handy as an extra barrier to keep the wind from your ears! Just make sure to put your hood up before putting on your scarf. The scarf holds everything in place AND keeps your neck warm!

The middle picture shows me holding 2 different gloves. The black gloves are really thin and made of silk. They can turn almost any glove into a nice warm winter glove! They are pricey but take good care of them and they will last a long time and they provide versatility and warmth while wearing gloves that still allow you to use your fingers! Use of fingers is always a plus around here :)

On the right, I am modeling an optional layer that I don't like to pull out!  However, the cows don't really care if it's raining. They still want fed so I am grateful that this massive yellow raincoat keeps me dry!

Me being goofy. But HEY, I'm ready for the weather!

Now the great thing about layering is that it is flexible. You can adjust the number and weight of your layers based on the expected temperature and weather. Also, in the event that you over dressed you can usually remove part or all of a layer to accommodate! Don’t underestimate the weather though! Most farmers are much too stubborn to go back to the house for additional layers once they are in the barn!

Enjoy! 
Brun Ko Farm