With Old Man winter bearing down on most of the country this week, you’ll want to reach for a good pair of long johns or wooly socks. Lucky for you, base layers and socks have come a long way. Not only are they more breathable, softer and warmer without being overtly performance-oriented—a case in point is Woolpower, designed by the original makers of ultra warm knit terry products for the Swedish military, that you can now buy—they’re also stylish enough to show off to the outside world (a pair of exposed, smarty patterned socks will look great with that spanking new pair of dress boots) and better-fitting (2(x)ist’s long johns, as an example, now come in a no-show, hip rise). Here, 10 cold weather options guaranteed to put the fun back into suiting up for the cold. L-R: Soft combed cotton men’s reversible thermal pocket tee, Lands’ End, $44; tartan waistband cotton long johns, 2(x)ist, $34; Pallesson home knit wool socks, Nudie Jeans, $69; N12C7 Aran knit cotton hat, Stone Island, $145; cotton thermal long john with cotton chambray yoke, Choctaw Ridge, $84.99; honeycomb thermal scarf in grey, Reigning Champ, $43; concrete grey “fur-free” slim-fit thermal, John Bartlett for The Humane Society of the United States, $42; Italian wool Etiquette x Mark McNairy boot socks, $30; 200 G/M navy circular knit zip turtleneck (worn with long johns in same fabric), Woolpower, $115; viscose-nylon blend Gorra beanie, AllSaints, $65.
