Style Guide for the Extreme Cold

If you think dressing tastefully in Singapore is a hard nut to crack, try putting together an outfit in the bitter cold that will still have you reeking dapper. It hardly matters if you’ve just spent $200 on that “guaranteed to keep you warm” coat from the duopoly of specialised winter wear outlets we have here, because you’ll look all of $5. I’m talking about the fluorescent Nerds Candy green and pink clashes on nylon outer shells, or the Singapore Flag-ish red ski jacket that’ll have you look like a National Sportsman, until someone comments on the jarring yellow stripe right down the sides near your sleeve. If you didn’t hear it the first time, it was along the lines of your jacket being downright ugly.

Last week, I had the opportunity to go on a press trip to experience the latest Club Med ski resort in Yabuli, Heilongjiang, China, where temperatures dip to an almost unimaginable low of -30 degrees Celsius. While I wasn’t sniffing the icicles out of my nose or rubbing frost off my eyelashes, I spent a good amount of time eyeing the white canvas. It boasted gleaming alpine mountains, craggy bare trees and an icy terrain, but fronting the beautiful picture were people shuffling around in clashing bulbous shells. It felt almost like an esteemed painting gone wrong.

What happened to living winter vicariously through fashion magazine spreads, where men and women step out in sharp trench coats, berets and a scarf loosely draped around the neck, while snowflakes gently fall? Apparently, that doesn’t happen in negative temperatures, where survival trumps fashion according to most.

I’ll have you thinking otherwise. Here’s to keeping the dream alive.

Checklist for that Extreme Winter Vacation:

-          Long Johns/Thermal Underwear. You’ll feel fat and padded beneath your jeans, but these will save your life.

-          Balaclavas/Ski Masks/Scarves/Ear Muffs. There has never been an occasion this important to accessorize. If you’ve never liked the way you looked, -30 degrees Celsius is the perfect temperature for you to attract a woman with your charm and wit instead.

-          Sunglasses. Necessary to prevent your eyes from smarting. Added points for instant allure.

-          Down Jacket. Nobody had it set in stone that the thicker a jacket, the more effective it will be. Get one with down feathers, which are feathery light and can be easily stuffed into your luggage, yet provide all the warmth you’ll need.

-          Fleece Jacket. Wear this under your down jacket for added protection. It is hydrophobic, meaning that it holds less than 1% of its weight in water and retains much of its insulating powers even when dripping wet.

-          Winter Boots. Go with waterproof leather for durability, and a rugged outsole for traction on all surfaces. For optimum comfort, opt for a pair with a fleece lining.

Style Guide:

(Fashionable options for the slopes that will have you looking the part)

Top Row (L to R): Bugaboo Fleece from Columbia, White ski gloves from The North Face, Ninja Balaclava from The North Face

Middle Row (L to R): Forest green heat tech top from Uniqlo, Cashmere scarf from Burberry, Woollen threaded collar down jacket from Montclair

Bottom Row (L to R): Black long johns from Uniqlo, Striped heat tech top from Uniqlo, Rime Ridge premium boot from Timberland