Mid-Month Status Report

It's time for...my first CorpGoth Mid-Month Status Report!

So...cold weather tricks indoors - this is a perfect topic for today because my office is extra cold. I have both a chilly home and a chilly office, so I have developed several tricks for staying warm in chilly times. I live near the western border of Virginia, so although it isn't as cold as my home state of Idaho, it gets pretty darn cold inside my office!

Mori girl, being warm! Sorry for the grainy picture - my office has poor lighting!

Firstly, I wear blazers, often over cardigans (an aside--I rarely wear this grey cardi, but I've worn it twice on the blog...it was the only one that really went with the mori girl vibe I was going for) especially wool blazers - they are naturally warming and need laundering less often than other fabrics. Scarf and mitts are essential - I have over 30 different scarves and the thicker pashminas or knit scarves and cowls are worn all autumn and winter. These mitts are from the pattern that I ended up making for Yule gifts last year - these were the 'test' pair, so I get to keep them (at least that's how it works in my head). They are made with superwash wool - meaning that they can be thrown in the washing machine with my other clothes - no special treatment required! BEST THING EVER (for fiber enthusiasts)! I wear them all day long. I have to have my fingers free at work for typing, but these help to keep my joints from getting achy.

 

Another trick I use is layering. Today I'm wearing a fully-lined overskirt, a cotton underskirt and a polyester slip. Each layer traps warm air - one of the tricks I learned from growing up in North Idaho. I'm also wearing a cardingan, elbow-sleeve jersey shirt and cotton tank top. Underneath all of that are leggings and SmartWool socks. Wool-blend socks can be spendy (I got these from SierraTradingPost.com for about $10) but they are totally worth it. You can get some that aren't so 'hiking sock' and there are a lot of thinner styles that are still warm. I have to wear thicker socks with these boots, but I also own angora-blend socks that are as thin as regular cotton socks. Wool breathes, so your feet stay warm but don't really get sweaty - plus wool will keep you warm even if it gets wet! I have tested this out - I always wear socks when going cool-weather kayaking and my feet stay toasty even though I walk through cold water to launch the kayaks. 

Finally, my secret weapon: a heating pad! (I haven't made a new cover for it, but that is in the works). This makes a HUGE difference in my comfort level at work. Not only does it keep the legs and buns toasty, but sometimes I'll put it in my lap to keep my hands warm, too. I am planning on investing in a small heater soon, too (if I get the promotion I'm waiting on!) . 

Outfit details:
Blazer - Thrifted, vintage
Cardigan - NY&Co
Shirt - Twenty-One, thrifted
Tank - ON

Overskirt - Maurices, hand-me-down from my mom :)
Underskirt - Target
Slip - Thrifted, altered (was the lining for a skirt that fit poorly)
Leggings - NY&Co
Boots - Target
Socks - SmartWool, via Sierra Trading Post
Necklace - Handmade
Mitts - Handmade

PS - I had to throw in a picture of my necklace. It is one of my own designs that I decided to keep. Real copper is my favorite metal, and I love the organic feel of this necklace. Too bad it was covered up by a scarf all day!

I'm excited to see what everyone's tips and tricks are for staying warm!