Here’s how to: Stay warm and chic in the turkey queue

We are going to be outside more than ever over Christmas, be it queuing for the turkey or enjoying the annual Boxing Day walk.

And fortunately for us, the fashion industry is offering up padded and quilted everything, technical fabrics that would see you right on the north face of the Eiger, plus faux fur collars, cuffs and hoods you can add to the winter coat you already own. We began to see this trend for all things super-snuggly on the autumn/winter 2020 catwalks.

Moncler’s jackets took padding to a whole new level, making it clear that nobody would freeze in their designs. JW Anderson, meanwhile, added fluffy or oversized collars to coats and dresses.

Late this autumn, the High Street also began responding to the increased demand for warmth. You may have noticed that everything from your gloves to your leggings is now made of a technical fabric involving the word ‘heat’. 

Uniqlo is the expert in this with ‘Heattech’, a special blend of fibres which wicks moisture away from the skin and converts it into heat, which is then trapped in the air pockets within the fabric.

If you prefer M&S base layers, then look out for its similar ‘Heatgen’ fabric. Then there’s the sock brand ‘Heat Holders’, which claim to be ‘the warmest socks on sale today’. I went a step further and purchased a pair of battery-warmed socks (£22, amazon.co.uk) so I could continue my born-of-lockdown passion for cycling. 

When my children noticed the battery packs bulging under my knees, their mirth knew no bounds. In an effort to salvage my fashion credibility, I may have go for a pair of chic Bluetooth-enabled earmuffs. The Tommy Hilfiger ones above come only in blue, while Ugg does a sheepskin pair in black or chestnut (£95, ugg.com/uk).

I would also recommend Helen Moore faux fur designs (helenmoore.com), which sells a beautiful range of fluffy tippets, collars, hoods, scarves and wraps that can be added to any outfit and, with many of the designs priced under £50, it’s an affordable way to warm up clothing you already own.

Meanwhile, I haven’t given up on my battery-powered socks yet, although it is rapidly becoming clear to me that they can only be worn when hidden under something concealing. I did notice that Moncler were doing down-filled maxi skirts . . .