Silk Long Underwear
From LoveToKnow Lingerie
Pure, organic silk long underwear can be the best option for keeping warm and comfortable in inclement weather. Many people going skiing, camping or just walking to work in a winter wind are finding that a silk layer under their clothes makes all the difference to their internal temperature.
How Silk Long Underwear Works
Silk is one of the best wicking fabrics there is. Moisture on the skin's surface is what makes you feel the coldest, so silk's ability to both move that moisture away from the skin, as well as maintain a layer of warm air between the fabric and the skin, is what keeps you feeling warm. This is also why combining silk with wool makes for some of the best long underwear you can get, because wool's powerful warmth combined with silk's ability to keep warmth in and moisture out means the cold has a very hard time penetrating to the skin.
Silk can still provide a nice layer of warmth all on its own. This is especially true when it is organic. Once the fabric is processed or treated with chemicals, its natural ability to wick away moisture and retain warmth is compromised. However, some processes can add to silk's other properties, and processed silk is not only less expensive, it's easier to care for, so there are trade-offs. If you think you will use it a lot for a long time, it may be worth the investment in organic so that you get the strongest possible performance.
Choices in Underwear
A brick-and-mortar shop will usually only have silk long underwear available seasonally, although a specialty ski shop may have it year-round. However, many shops now sell silk underwear online all year long.
The most well-established and popular online or catalog shop for buying long underwear made from silk is Wintersilks. Despite the name, they carry a variety of silk underwear that can be worn any time of year. They also carry a variety of items like nightgowns, robes, pajamas, bras and panties and the increasingly difficult to find silk slips. They make shopping for warm underwear easy by providing a "snowflake" guide that tells you how warm something is – the range is from one snowflake to three. For cold weather, most people choose either two snowflakes or three. Two are good for moderate exercise in cooler weather and staying comfortable when it's on the cooler side indoors. Three flakes, on the other hand, indicates underwear made from either spunsilk, silk thermoknits or silk cashmere, all of which are designed to keep you comfortable even in frigid temperatures.
Wintersilks is prized for its variety. You can get this type of long underwear in any variety of cuts and weights. You can even get short thermals, which are ideal for wearing under skirts. Tops come in an array of cuts, including V-necks, scoop necks and sleeves of any length. Colors range from white to black and include pink and beige, although some pieces will have more choices. For men, the bulk of the choices are white and black and cuts match those found on most undershirts.
Although Wintersilks is possibly the biggest maker of silk long underwear in America, there are many other sources for silks. Favorites like the Sierra Trading Post and Amazon will usually have a small selection of silk thermals available, often at low prices.
If you are interested in something organic, you might try Greenfibres, a UK-based company that carries silk/wool thermals. Organics can be hard to find, so you should also consult Treehugger for good options and reviews. It should be noted that the bulk of silk/wool organic underwear available is for babies and children. While it's important to keep them in organics, the same items for adults will not be more widely available until the demand is more understood. It's getting there!
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