Urban fashion in a Finnish winter?

[sujitsu]

Hello all, I've been reading this great forum for a while, but this is my first post, how exciting!

I am moving from the UK to Turku in one month, to stay for the next few years. I've secured a job, but I've never *actually* been to FInland. However, having heard it's reaching -25ºC at the moment, I am fretting about what to wear/buy, as this kind of weather is completely alien to me.

I'm a woman in my mid-20s who dresses functionally but also girly, and I'm keen to have any advice on shops, brands or styles that are available in Finland/UK for urban Finnish life (that will not make me look like a massive tourist).

Firstly (and most importantly): footwear. What are the pavement conditions like, and what kind of footwear do people generally wear around the city? i.e. is it worth investing in an expensive and pretty pair of North Face snow boots, or are there cheaper styles of shoes/boots that people tend to wear that will stand up to icy conditions, keep your feet warm and dry, and don't look like you are on an expedition to Lapland?

Secondly: outerwear. Could I get away with my normal (non-waterproof) winter coat with a lot of layering, or is it worth investing in a thick winter waterproof coat? What do people tend to wear? Also - would woolen gloves and hat do the trick, or should I get something a bit more robust?

Thirdly: Any other suggestions for essential clothing are welcome!

I apologise if these are total girl questions, but I guess it is always better to ask before I go and freeze

Thanks!

[FinnGuyHelsinki]

It depends a lot on how much time outdoors at those rare extreme temperatures you are aiming to spend (the normal in the south is around zero, give or take a few degrees, so something you may experience in London during the winter). First of all, one gets used to it, to a certain degree, so it's not 'immediate death' after a little while, especially when you've experienced the gradually decreasing temperature starting from the early autumn. Obviously, no matter what you wear you will not be nearly as comfortable as during the warmer seasons. Some discomfort is unavoidable but you'll learn to live with that soon. In general, you don't need the north pole expedition-type of clothing, unless you intend to stay hour upon hour outside. In a city, considering that you'll be spending maybe half an hour maximum outside (e.g. standing queuing for a taxi after a night out) you'll do fine with your (woolen, I presume) winter coat, cap and gloves. Heels are nice, but certainly not very practical nor warm, although there are women that won't change theirs to something else unless absolutely critical. At first, for the extreme weather, I'd suggest at least some sort of ankle length shoes (don't need to be boots), no-one will think twice of it style-wise at times when they're just reasonable. Of course you can carry another pair for indoor use, when the situation calls for it.

To put it short, there may be some initial shock (if you're unaccustomed to -10 to -20C temperatures) but after a short while, it won't be a problem once you realize that the feeling of cold air won't kill you. It is definitely rare for Turku (just about the warmest areas in Finland) to have anything like -20C or colder during the winter (it's around -10C there currently). So just relax, you'll be fine

[tuulen]

Weather well below freezing, -10 C and colder, tends to be dry, as any moisture is then frozen.

Layers of clothing is a good strategy, but be prepared for any wind, including a light windbreaker.

No need for Arctic boots, but girlie shoes are not girlie sensible in winter conditions, go figure.

Remember to include insulated and windproof gloves, and a hat big enough to cover your ears.

This is an unusually cold winter, where Finland and the UK are getting a Siberian frost.

[maxxfi]

For the outerwear I think you can find something more of your 'girly' style there in UK.
As others have already told, the -20 in Turku are unusual (hoping that it will keep being unusual also in future )
so a good winter coat should suffice.
As for the footwear, maybe here in Finland you will find more varieties with a right combination of protection
from cold, good grip on icy road, fashionable for girls and in Finnish style to help you hide among the natives.

[inkku]

Agree with what FinnguyHelsinki writes.

The weather can be anything between -30C and +5 C ->. The conditions depend also where you live: if you live in the city centre, there is less snow, more slush and potentially ice. In the periphery more snow.

Footwear:
The problem is not so much coldness, i have succefully used running shoes through some winters (yes, i am not girly:)) but wet slush and slippery ice. Basically you can wear pretty much whatever you have, it depends how much you want to trade off your comfort for your appearence. In the cities you can see women strolling around wearing high heels or even spike heels, for instance in Helsinki city center where they have underground heating system and there is no snow it is fine but would be uncomfortable in the suburbs.

Some options:
low heel boots for everyday use
higher heel, for example ankle boots for occasational use
then some robust ones with thick sole for leisure, for walking etc if you want to
Be aware of slippery plastic soles.

you have to fit in thick tights and potentially and additional sock to keep warm.

Buy shoes boots etc in the UK but the robust ones in finland if you need them.
Use either waterproof material or spray the boots before use then there is less concern about slush

Coat:
I strongly recommend a warm long coat, it is so much comfortable and can still look elegant. It should be large enough to fit under an additional pullover or cardigan. The coat you can buy in finland for example from UFF/FIDA second hand shops with a very reasonable price or from seasonal sales, if you are lucky.

A down jacket is also handy.

Basically, wool is warmer than cotton.

[riku2]

One big difference between the UK and Finland is that in Finland they don't put lots of salt down to melt the snow and ice away, instead they plough the snow away but it leaves some compacted snow and ice and then they spread gravel on it. So you'll be walking on ice quite a bit.
The boots they sell in finland in the winter have softer rubber soles than normal - which gives a better grip when it's really icy. So for that reason you might want to buy the boots in finland and not the uk - something like walking boots with a thick tread from the UK might look impressive but the soles are quite hard and you end up sliding around.
And the kind of boots that have a zip on the side as well as laces can also be quite handy, since you take your shoes off when visiting anyone's house - so there's lots of taking on and off. This can be quite strange when the plumber or other workmen take their shoes off when they visit your house though!

In finland there's a lot less "putting up with the cold and suffering" than you find in the uk, people wear hats and gloves more even if the temp might be the same as the uk (eg zero). You will not find many t shirts or shorts in finland in october - unlike in the uk where even December will find a few in t shirts going down the high street.
And the same goes for inside - there are no draughts and the heating is on 24h/day - the idea of central heating on at 6am and off just after you go to work is not known. All my guests from the UK do find the house a bit warm though, since they're used to bedrooms that drop to +17 overnight.

[sujitsu]

Wow, thanks for the replies, it's really useful to know before I hit the sales !

The advice on the footwear is really useful - I will endeavor to seek out some slush-proof shoes with better grip and a softer sole. Here in the UK it has been freakishly cold and icy, and I have indeed found that my fancy hiking boots are completely useless ¬_¬

So... would it be fair in saying that the weather we have been having in the UK (between -10ºC and 0ºC with a bit of snow) is more like a 'normal' Turku winter... ?

[EP]

would it be fair in saying that the weather we have been having in the UK (between -10ºC and 0ºC with a bit of snow) is more like a 'normal' Turku winter

Yes. But we cannot know what is normal in the future because Turku is having a second abnormal winter in a row. Maybe this is what is normal nowadays.

[tizlit]

I would not say that the average temperatures in Finland is something you have experienced in London (apart from this winter harsh conditions). Having lived there for years, I found the weather much milder.

Ankle shoes might let snow inside (even in Helsinki one had to try walk in the snow on the streets which had not been plouged yet), ankle or full length boots better, keep your feet dry.
A woollen coat tends to get wet in snow/rain, same goes for gloves. Get warm lined leather gloves.

[FinnGuyHelsinki]

You should abandon all hope of retaining your femininity when you come here >_> You'll soon be wearing unisex long-johns under hiking gortex pants and hunting jackets and fugly shapeless rubber Nokia boots. Or you can go the other route and wear the so-called feminine Finnish uniform, i.e., cheap skinny jeans/leggings and tunic under a black peacoat, all from H&M/Gina Tricot/Alexi13/KappAhl.

Good luck finding even one person wearing a hunting jacket and/or rubber boots in the city. With the latter, you might have some luck when it's raining but even then, it'll most likely be of a feminine/girly type, and not the Nokian Kontio etc. models you're referring to, which are all about function (BTW Nokia makes phones etc., Nokian Jalkineet (brand 'Nokian') makes rubber boots). Underwear (as the name suggests, something you wear _under_ other clothing, so not exactly a fashion statement for the outdoors) comes into play when you're in cold weather for extended periods of time, which is fairly unlikely when in a city. The original poster said she's in her mid-20's, not in her mid-teens, so the 'uniform' comment pretty much missed the mark as well. If your response was an attempt at humor, it miserably failed. Finnish women my not be the most fashion conscious out there, but all your examples are pretty much BS.

[Pursuivant]

Just if you plan anight out - don't follow the northern girls example back in the UK. The Finns have the heels in a bag and magical transformations happen in cloakrooms

[Pursuivant]

That bit on "soft rubber" is the key. I have a pair of "lapikkaat" that have almost plain soles. They're good on snow and ice. then I got a massive pair of sheep-lined rigger boots with tractor soles. Just useless below -10 as the soles are solid and slippery as hell.

[sujitsu]

Haha, thanks Pursuivant!! Despite being from Glasgow I've never managed to do the whole minidress & platform heels (and nothing else) in sub-zero temperatures... and I always carry my heels in a bag. I am starting to think I might like Finland

Aw sheldon, I hope you are joking? I wasn't implying that Finnish girls wouldn't look feminine... I'm just wondering if there are nicer (practical) shoes/coats to buy over there, as here all the practical stuff isn't feminine at all... unless I'm willing to fork out a small fortune.

On that note... can anyone suggest shops in Turku that may help with the shoe situation...?

[tuulen]

A very long time ago, the most fashionable dress in winter was to wear a heavy coat made of wooly mammoth skin.

But then wooly mammoths eventually disappeared, no more mammoth skin, and so a substitute had to be found.

So, it was discovered that bear skin, including all of the hair, could substitute for wooly mammoth skin.

Today, the fashionable people in Helsinki can be seen wearing a heavy coat made of bear skin.

[inkku]

Today, the fashionable people in Helsinki can be seen wearing a heavy coat made of bear skin.

Ever been to Helsinki?