Long Underwear

Whether to keep you warm when hitting the slopes or trekking through town on a nasty day, or as an alternative to pajamas, long underwear is a classic, non-bulky layer that you just can't go without.

Since long underwear, also called long johns, is traditionally considered men's underwear, it can be surprising to learn that it is actually derived from underwear designed for women. The one-piece "union suit" was part of the clothing liberation movement in the nineteenth century. Women could wear the suit in lieu of more constricting underclothes, although most still wore corsets as well. The flannel suits quickly gained popularity among men, too, and in fact were worn by men well into the twentieth century, while the usage by women had soon petered out.

While union suits were convenient for their time, having a back flap that allowed one to eliminate without undressing, the development of the two-piece long johns promptly doomed the union suit. Men were pleased to have the option of wearing only the top or bottom as activity demanded. A fly flap was retained for convenience. Once made of wool or cotton, most long underwear is now made of artificial fabrics that retain stretch longer and can promote more warmth.

What goes around comes around, and when designers noticed that women often purchased long johns for themselves, they began manufacturing underwear specifically for them. Obviously, there was no front flap, but nor was there the now-comical back flap, so a woman can risk some cold when skiing. However, this has not kept long underwear from being wildly popular among women who live in or travel to cold climates.

While the long-sleeved, long-legged underwear makes the most sense in extreme weather, long underwear has evolved to address needs in more moderate temperatures. Besides just being lighter weight, women's underwear especially can be shorter. Tops include three-quarter sleeves, short sleeves, cap sleeves and no sleeves. Necks are round, deep, V-neck and square, allowing you to wear an extra layer under any sort of blouse. The leggings themselves can be full length, just below the knee, or just above, so you can keep your thighs warm even under a short skirt. The underwear can be found in a variety of thin, but warm, fabrics to allow for maximum convenience and comfort.

Natural, organic fibers are always the optimum for wearing next to the skin. They usually breathe the best and are overall healthiest. However, pure silk and wool do require a bit more in the way of care than artificial fabrics and are more expensive as well. There is a large variety of fabrics used in the making of long johns and many of them do the job of keeping you warm and wicking away moisture just fine.

So how do you distinguish between various registered trademarks on what is effectively polyester? You can start by consulting forums for avid skiers or search for items sold in shops outfitted solely for cold weather sports enthusiasts. If you shop on sites like Amazon, be sure to read the customer testimonials. What you want to know about is not just look and feel, but also performance and long-term effectiveness. Long underwear is not a bargain if it wears out quickly, never mind not keeping you warm and dry.

Blends are great when you can find them. While silk-wool is one of the best blends available, it can be surprisingly difficult to find, especially in the US. However, it is worth looking out for, because when it is organic, it is soft, warm and moisture-wicking all day long.

Whatever you opt for, long underwear is a great choice for keeping comfortable in the cold.

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