I want to start off with
a rant...why in the heck did we start naming winter storms? I mean, I
know why the Weather Channel did it. Just like the rest of the media,
they love to sensationalize everything in order to get you to watch their channel,
and thus make more money (I apologize...the Montanan in me is getting a little
out of control i.e. questioning big company motives). Winter Storm
Gandolf, from some years back, sounds cool and all, but I don't recommend
giving the storm that kind of distinction. We don't want a storm to get
full of itself. I prefer humble snow storms with fat & fluffy snow
flakes. This weekend's Winter Storm Jonas doesn't sound very threatening,
and it gives off Disney Channel vibes. However, it has been the biggest
snow storm in 28 years here in Music City, which should make the Jonas Brothers
very proud.
Back
Deck of Fashion, Fishing & Freedom's Southern Headquarters
I moved to the South a
few years back and admit that the folks here get a little excited when a winter
storm is coming. Good luck at the grocery store the day before, even
though the snow and ice will be gone in a couple of days, the shelves will be
empty of all bread and milk (ever tried a milk sandwich?). I for one love
it when the snow is coming, because I miss it so much. I get to break out
some of my favorite fashions, which stay in the bottom drawer until called
upon. I married a Southerner, which is why I'll give some credit:
Southerners don't have enough of the road equipment to keep the roads clear and
they get a lot more ice related storms, which makes it tougher to drive. Throw
in the additional fact that there are almost double the people in the Nashville
area than all of Montana and you get some mass hysteria every time a snowflake
flies! I'm not afraid of the roads, just the crazy drivers!
So all of this leads to
fashion. How best does a manly man tackle a winter storm? I'm here
to give you some pointers to impress that special lady in your life. A
wise man (possibly a Swede?) once said "There's no such thing as bad
weather, just bad clothing." The key to surviving the winter storm
is to dress in layers. Take it from the animals who use layers of blubber
and fur to stay warm (and warm our hearts/bellies).
Base:
(Also
normal Montana ski gear)
This is easily my wife's
favorite (emphasis on the wife ladies...I'm taken). She's always saying "Gah I'm just sooooo proud of you" when
I wear this. Notice the multiple patterns, even with the clothing that no one
can see (its all about self confidence). Como, stripes and solids were made for each other. (Please
no jokes about me not wearing any underwear...camo clothing jokes have run
their course).
2nd Layer:
(B&W
camo is underutilized in our culture)
Nothing out of the ordinary here. A tight 2nd layer will act just like the aforementioned blubber.
3rd Layer (Not shown):
Pick from any one of
your dozen or so flannel shirts or Carhartt hoodies (or both). Flannel is
always in style, no matter what those other untrustworthy fashion bloggers say.
Outer Layer:
(Rated
to 0 degrees Kelvin aka Absolute Zero)
Now you're set!
Take on the world comfortably and warmly. Don't forget to add the
snow goggles or sun glasses to avoid going snow blind. Final note:
frost-bite is not to be considered a winter tan.
