The "real cold question" season

[Daaaaang]

The other day we had a few inches of snow and I walked across town in a SWK, overcoat, hat and scarf. Of course I was fine. It didn't even occur to me that I could have been cold until I saw myself in a mirror at my destination. My black overcoat and hat were pretty much white with snow.

As long as you know what areas to keep warm, you're fine.

[davedove]

I dunno, it's odd to me that they ask that. I have a wool kilt (yay for used deals) and if I were wearing anything else in wool, no one would think twice about asking me if I were cold. But in a kilt...

That's probably a big part of it. The other night I was kilted and the temperature was around freezing. I was asked if I was cold. Now, I had on a heavyweight kilt, a wool sweater, and wool hose. I told them that I was in wool from head to toe and was actually a bit warm.

[Daaaaang]

Now I understand that people feel a need to start conversation and "are you cold" is convenient. But they don't stop to think, "maybe EVERYBODY asks that." In the past couple weeks, people have shown the decorum not to ask "the question," but I am so tired of hearing "aren't you cold?"

[Galician]

How odd that people should ask that question when you're wearing an overcoat and a hat. As you say, you've covered your upper body well with a warm fabric. It's said that 40% of our body heat is lost with an uncovered head.

On the other hand, I did stop a young guy last week, who was out in 20+ degree weather with shorts and flip flops (no hat) to ask "the question." Was I wrong?

[string]

I have a tendancy to tell people they are making me cold. I also force my nephew to put on sweaters when I am cold. yes, I am a mom in training, but I try to remember that other people have more cold tolerance than a scrawny girl from Kentucky.

[bikeolounger]

I tend to not get cold easily, a function of my weird metabolic rates and that I've worked outside for much of my adult life. Yes, I'm one of those who would make String cold simply by being seen by her.

Since this is my first cool season kilted, I've not been out in sub-freezing weather much. Also, I've not bought a nice wool kilt yet (I have a UK original and an Amerikilt, and an Alphakilt on the way some time). The one time I was out in cool weather, it was a bit gusty, and I was more focused on keeping the kilt from blowing around than I was on the temperature. It was just above freezing, with winds gusting to 25 or 30 knots, but my UK didn't answer "the question" for anyone. Nor did my cotton shirt and pile vest answer the "too cold" question for anyone. The only comment I heard on the kilt was from a bookstore clerk, who recognized it as a UK and wanted to get one himself.

[Rex_Tremende]

It's said that 40% of our body heat is lost with an uncovered head.

This is true only when everything else is covered up. I stood once in front of a thermographic imaging system, and I'm pretty sure that a hat would have not made much difference. The kilt (a tank), however, was a very efficient insulator.

Regards,
Rex.

[McClef]

It's been really cold around here the past few days but the part covered by the kilt never gets cold, just the rest of me!

[macwilkin]

I get asked if I'm too hot at reenactments a lot, I always say, aren't you? Invariably they just look surprised and say yes. I mean, I'm sitting there in 3 layers of clothing including a 1/4 inch thick set of leather stays (18th century version of the corset) of course I am! But no hotter than they are, it's what you are used to.
At cold events I'm always warmer than they are, but they haven't learned that I keep a steaming hot cup of tea nearby to stay warm with at all times, if you keep it just under your hem where you are sitting it's like having a little heater warming the pocket of air.
I would assume a Kilt, being wool would have the same effect, although I am pretty sure I'd freeze from ankle to knee (my feet do not become cold, ever)

That brings back so many memories.

I remember one lady at a living history event back in March, 1993 at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas asking me if the fire I was standing next to was a "real fire".

Todd

[davedove]

That brings back so many memories.

I remember one lady at a living history event back in March, 1993 at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas asking me if the fire I was standing next to was a "real fire".

Todd

Why no, it's a sophisticated holographic system set up to simulate the real fires of the time. We've also installed thermal projectors so that it even gives off heat. We spare no expense to make these recreations realistic.