Cold weather wear

[Nanook]

I'm not really worried about my kilted regions in cold weather as I've recently experienced the mid teens without trouble. However, I'm trying to find a cold weather coat to wear that will look good with my MacQueen tartan. Preferably something black.

What to you wear in cold temps?

If you want to keep in style I'd suggest a large plaid-- roughly a large piece of fabric with fringes on the ends---- as was the tradition for generations. Why not even in the MacQueen tartan? Don't underestimate the warmth provided by a daywear jacket (such as a tweed Argyll) with a couple of yards of heavyweight wool wrapped around you. It also has the advantage can one can quickly just throw it over your shoulder. If you want to keep to black (to coordinate with some other items perhaps) then you can choose from some wonderful tweeds and heavyweight worsted wools. Single width fabrics are easiest (other than making the fringes its really no work) and work best (just, I think, the right width).

The other option (as I mentioned in another thread) would be to get a Loden cape as are common in the Alps. They are traditionally green (its a different green from Archer Green but still a green that has a long tradition in the wardrobes of much of the European aristocracy) but also commonly found in grays and even blacks.

Another option, of course, is a waxed jacket. I highly recommend the Bardour Northumbria for its robustness and wamth but its a very heavy jacket (several kgs). Its really the classic Bardour jacket for walking the countryside. They should be sized at least 1 size (if not more) than one's typical size to be worn over your day jacket. Add a few layers and its suited to under -20C.