So, I started the season with lightweight base layer garments -- Hot Chilly's peachskins. I love them, but I don't have enough natural insulation for them to be enough, so I've been looking for more stuff.
Tops, I've got assorted fleece mid-layers, and they're fine, but pants have been an issue. I understand they should fit snug, but barely going over my ankles and up my calves is a problem -- especially when they then won't stay up on my butt! Brands tried have been the assortment that you find at Sierra Trading Post and REI.
Until last night.
I was at the ski shop, picking up our skis -- we're going to Grand Targhee this weekend, and got 'em tuned up for the trip. (DH always says "we don't need to, just had that done" -- never mind that it's been rock season where HE skis!) Since I was on my own, I had the opportunity to shop some, and it's always fun, even if I don't find things to buy.
After putting the skis in the car, I decided to check out the other two shops on the block. One I hadn't been to before, and I hit paydirt!
I found a shirt and pants for Mr. Kano. We won't tell him how much they set him back, he'd have a coronary. Not that they were expensive, mind you!
I found myself TWO sets. We DEFINITELY won't tell him how much!
They haven't been out in the cold yet, but in the house, and to touch....
First set:
O'Neill Transit fleece pants and microfleece 3/4 zip shirt.
On the web site, the fabric is listed as "100% polyester pique fleece." There's lycra in there. They're not handy to check the tags in the garments right now. I think it's 92/8. Inside is a soft, cozy fleece, outside is a smooth, unshiny finish -- it's going to slip neatly into insulated pants with fleecy lining, and into my jacket too. As a fabric connosieur in my other life, I'm confident in this fabric to keep me warm and dry.
Finding these pants was like striking gold! I've been hunting for a smooth on the outside fleece pant to wear under the ski pants this year. Fleece kind of sticks to fleece, and then comes the bunchy feeling... The pants are "yoga" style -- kind of low cut at the waist, but not too low for this old lady, and boot cut at the leg, so they'll fit over top just fine. There's a pretty design printed at the left ankle area, and the logo embroidered on the right hip area. (front) They're "pretty" enough to be out in casual public. The ankle area is large enough to go over my boots. Length is just right for comfy shoes or slippers after ski. I could live in these!
I'm 5'4, 163, and wear a size 10 lately, depending on the brand/cut of the pants. On the advice of the sales clerk, I bought these in a medium, and they're SNUG, without showing off things we don't want to see/show, y'know? (no camel toe!)
The top -- it's a mock turtle with the zip, which is good for me. At 50, I find I need the ventilation opportunities that zip front garments offer! The medium is SNUG on me. Sleeves are the only place I feel like this garment might be TIGHT, but the clothing is more geared to Junior sizing, and my arms are NOT. The fabric DOES, however, take about twenty years off my arms!
I think that the large would have been too big, but the medium, cut a little more athletic shaped than I am at this point, does kind of mash my breasts. My daughters wouldn't like this, as they're still show offs, and would like a bit more room there. I'm okay with it. It means that there's "shrink room" in the shirt for me! This shirt is long enough to cover my butt, and worn together with the pants, there will be no drafty spots on me. I could probably feel comfortable seen in public with this top on, though I think I'll put a cami under it and leave the zip open. I'd also like to find something with a bit of color to offset the black-ness of the ensemble! (a down or "fur" vest would be fun!)
To see the pieces:
https://www.oneill.com/juniors-products.php?sport=snow&categoryID=1&typeID=48&seriesID=134&id=2069
The second set:
Bula makes these, and I didn't buy matching pieces here. I bought last year's model of the pants from the "Bula Seamless" collection. They look a lot like the men's team stuff in the gunmetal color, so they're not exceptionally pretty. COZY, though! The description of the fabric and how they're knit is on the main page for the seamless styles. It would be cool to see really close up shots of it. Ribbing knitted in just under the kneecaps, for example, help keep everything in place. I bought medium, and it felt like I could have gotten away with small as I was putting them on. The fabric hugs right up to my body though, so I don't think there will be any sagging with time, and they'll be warmer in this size. I may find that I want to fold them up out of my boot cuff, but we'll see how that goes. I'm very likely to pack a light weight "smooth" layer to put between these and my insulated pants that have a fleece lining if the layers don't move well together.
The top, oh the top... It's the "Bula Microstretch" stuff, and this feels heavenly!
Given the choice of black or pink with polka dots and the black or white floral, I picked the black floral print, in medium. (white was only available in small last night.) Like the pants, I may have been able to get by with the small, but this fits smoothly and is very comfortable. This shirt definitely can go out in public, and desperately wanted to be worn to work today. If it weren't destined to go into my duffel bag tonight, I'd be wearing it now. When I find more of these, in more colors and prints, at bargain prices, I'm having more! Again, this one is long enough to ensure no drafts anywhere, since it will cover my butt too! I MAY find myself putting it on Saturday morning, and not taking it off until we get home late Monday night!
See these pieces at
https://www.bulabula.com -- click the Layer One link!
I will update this with how they performed out in the snow next week, but I have every confidence of staying toasty warm in all of these pieces!
Kano
Tops, I've got assorted fleece mid-layers, and they're fine, but pants have been an issue. I understand they should fit snug, but barely going over my ankles and up my calves is a problem -- especially when they then won't stay up on my butt! Brands tried have been the assortment that you find at Sierra Trading Post and REI.
Until last night.
I was at the ski shop, picking up our skis -- we're going to Grand Targhee this weekend, and got 'em tuned up for the trip. (DH always says "we don't need to, just had that done" -- never mind that it's been rock season where HE skis!) Since I was on my own, I had the opportunity to shop some, and it's always fun, even if I don't find things to buy.
After putting the skis in the car, I decided to check out the other two shops on the block. One I hadn't been to before, and I hit paydirt!
I found a shirt and pants for Mr. Kano. We won't tell him how much they set him back, he'd have a coronary. Not that they were expensive, mind you!
I found myself TWO sets. We DEFINITELY won't tell him how much!
They haven't been out in the cold yet, but in the house, and to touch....
First set:
O'Neill Transit fleece pants and microfleece 3/4 zip shirt.
On the web site, the fabric is listed as "100% polyester pique fleece." There's lycra in there. They're not handy to check the tags in the garments right now. I think it's 92/8. Inside is a soft, cozy fleece, outside is a smooth, unshiny finish -- it's going to slip neatly into insulated pants with fleecy lining, and into my jacket too. As a fabric connosieur in my other life, I'm confident in this fabric to keep me warm and dry.
Finding these pants was like striking gold! I've been hunting for a smooth on the outside fleece pant to wear under the ski pants this year. Fleece kind of sticks to fleece, and then comes the bunchy feeling... The pants are "yoga" style -- kind of low cut at the waist, but not too low for this old lady, and boot cut at the leg, so they'll fit over top just fine. There's a pretty design printed at the left ankle area, and the logo embroidered on the right hip area. (front) They're "pretty" enough to be out in casual public. The ankle area is large enough to go over my boots. Length is just right for comfy shoes or slippers after ski. I could live in these!
I'm 5'4, 163, and wear a size 10 lately, depending on the brand/cut of the pants. On the advice of the sales clerk, I bought these in a medium, and they're SNUG, without showing off things we don't want to see/show, y'know? (no camel toe!)
The top -- it's a mock turtle with the zip, which is good for me. At 50, I find I need the ventilation opportunities that zip front garments offer! The medium is SNUG on me. Sleeves are the only place I feel like this garment might be TIGHT, but the clothing is more geared to Junior sizing, and my arms are NOT. The fabric DOES, however, take about twenty years off my arms!
I think that the large would have been too big, but the medium, cut a little more athletic shaped than I am at this point, does kind of mash my breasts. My daughters wouldn't like this, as they're still show offs, and would like a bit more room there. I'm okay with it. It means that there's "shrink room" in the shirt for me! This shirt is long enough to cover my butt, and worn together with the pants, there will be no drafty spots on me. I could probably feel comfortable seen in public with this top on, though I think I'll put a cami under it and leave the zip open. I'd also like to find something with a bit of color to offset the black-ness of the ensemble! (a down or "fur" vest would be fun!)
To see the pieces:
https://www.oneill.com/juniors-products.php?sport=snow&categoryID=1&typeID=48&seriesID=134&id=2069
The second set:
Bula makes these, and I didn't buy matching pieces here. I bought last year's model of the pants from the "Bula Seamless" collection. They look a lot like the men's team stuff in the gunmetal color, so they're not exceptionally pretty. COZY, though! The description of the fabric and how they're knit is on the main page for the seamless styles. It would be cool to see really close up shots of it. Ribbing knitted in just under the kneecaps, for example, help keep everything in place. I bought medium, and it felt like I could have gotten away with small as I was putting them on. The fabric hugs right up to my body though, so I don't think there will be any sagging with time, and they'll be warmer in this size. I may find that I want to fold them up out of my boot cuff, but we'll see how that goes. I'm very likely to pack a light weight "smooth" layer to put between these and my insulated pants that have a fleece lining if the layers don't move well together.
The top, oh the top... It's the "Bula Microstretch" stuff, and this feels heavenly!
Given the choice of black or pink with polka dots and the black or white floral, I picked the black floral print, in medium. (white was only available in small last night.) Like the pants, I may have been able to get by with the small, but this fits smoothly and is very comfortable. This shirt definitely can go out in public, and desperately wanted to be worn to work today. If it weren't destined to go into my duffel bag tonight, I'd be wearing it now. When I find more of these, in more colors and prints, at bargain prices, I'm having more! Again, this one is long enough to ensure no drafts anywhere, since it will cover my butt too! I MAY find myself putting it on Saturday morning, and not taking it off until we get home late Monday night!See these pieces at
https://www.bulabula.com -- click the Layer One link!
I will update this with how they performed out in the snow next week, but I have every confidence of staying toasty warm in all of these pieces!
Kano
