Matching Family Long Johns

What better way for your family to keep warm and cozy throughout the cold winter months than some matching family long johns?

Some stories state they were named "long johns" after the boxer John Sullivan, who would show up in the boxing ring wearing them, and others say they were named after the son of the man who invented the two piece long-johns (as opposed to the old fashioned Union Suit), John Stanfield. Whatever the true story behind long johns, they are warm, comfy and practical all at once!

Not so long ago, these practical cold weather pants and shirts were more commonly referred to as long johns. These days, you will find that they are more commonly called long underwear or thermal underwear. Whatever they are called, they are basically the same thing:

• Made from cotton or cotton blend (usually with polyester) fabric
• Have the traditional "waffle" pattern design
• Are designed to keep people warm by trapping body heat

Don't think that you have to pack away your matching family long underwear after the holiday season! Long johns have many uses during other months…except for summer of course.

• They are perfect for wearing as one of your layers if your family participates in winter sports or when shoveling snow in the winter.
• Wear the shirt underneath a long-sleeved t-shirt in the spring when it is still chilly out or in the fall when doing yard work.
• Kids can wear them under their clothes too keep warm when playing outside in the snow.

If you go into your local department store in search for matching family long johns, you may be there awhile, depending on the size of your family. It may be difficult to match up the color and pattern of long johns you find for adults with those you will find for kids. To save you some time and frustration, here are a few places Online that sell matching long johns for the whole family:

• Fire Catalog – The young children's sets come in two pieces with feet or "Granny" shirts. The adults can choose from old-fashioned one piece union suits or "Granny" shirts.
• The Sock Site – This website doesn't have matching patterns, but they do sell men, women's and children's long underwear in the same solid colors.
• Hanna Andersson – Every year, trendy kids clothiers Hanna Andersson runs a special on matching long johns for the entire family in fun prints.
• QC Supply – No matching patterns here either, but you will find matching colors of men's, women's and children's long underwear.

While it may take a little bit of time, you can find matching long johns at your local department store. Here are a few tips to find the perfect family matching long johns for your family:

• Look for solid colors – It's tough to find men's long johns in traditional little boys' prints of cars and trucks or women's long johns in little girls' prints of butterflies and fairies. Make it simple and look for solid colors in both adult and children's long johns.
• Coordinate – Consider coordinated colors and prints, for example, if you can find matching bottoms in plaid but not matching tops; look for a solid top in a color that coordinates with the plaid bottoms.

Most long johns are made of 100% cotton or a poly-cotton blend, making them perfectly safe to wash in a machine. Check the label first before washing though. Some long johns are soft wool blends and will shrink and pill if you put them in the washer and become totally useless if you put them in the dryer. If you are ever in doubt, wash them in the gentle cycle or hand wash, then hang them up to dry.

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