Wrapping up warm for winter

Arry Awk · Post by **Arry Awk** » Sun 02 Aug, 2009 1:12 pm

blackprince wrote: 'Arry 'Awk wrote: blackprince wrote: Seeing what people were wearing in the sixties on the YEP footage of city square got me thinking about my own school uniform in the 60's. In a typical Leeds winter I would wear a vest ( aertex or string vest when they came in) white cotton or bri-nylon shirt, V neck pullover ( long or short sleeves), blazer , school cap, and if it was actually raining or snowing top this lot off with a full length gabardene mac or duffle coat and a scarf and woollen gloves. I am sure most other people wrapped up similarly warm. That's 5 layers in total. I was wrapped up better than a german soldier at Stalingrad. Why did we think an average Leeds winter needed as much outdoor clothing as Captain Scott or Sherpa Tensing? These days I hardly ever wear more than 2 layers and might put on an extra layer and a hat for cold weather ( winter hiking or foul weather at sea). If I dressed up in 5 layers as we all did back then I would collapse with heat exhaustion.So whats changed the most- mild winters or the technology of the fabrics, or our centrally heated and car-borne lifestyle. I bet the lasses all cheered before you put your kegs on as well!!!LOL! PS no wonder you were cold! lola! For the sake of decorum Arry I was keeping the discussion above the waist, but as you raised it, the ensemble was completed by cotton draws, flannel trousers, and long woollen socks & wellies in snow. Come to think of it boys wore shorts up to the age of about 12 in those days so the nether regions were a bit exposed, especially the knees. Pity the poor scotsman in his kilt. I think a lot of older men in those days wore long johns all year round. Ne'er cast a clout till May is out! Hi BP! Thanks for the clarification re absence of shorts!Underpants? What were they? They were worn only byposh north Leeds schoolboys!We Burley Roaders and Brudenellians made do withour grey flannel shirt tails and 'laps' tucked round the draughtyareas! My dear Mam,one winter around 1938(!), bought mea set of .Combs' (Combination vest and pants with a buttonflap at the rear for hygiene purposes). These 'Combs' weremade of wool and were extremely itchy and the arms and legsalways showed below shorts and short sleeved shirts and, inmy case, caused great hilarity and derision from classmates!I soon got rid of those by teling Mam they were toouncomfortable and hard to manage at PT and Games times!Can't remember having a vest until I went in the RAF!Guess what I was issued with? Not quite combs, but woollen'Grandad' vests and woollen tight legged 'passion killer'underpants!! Can't win! Glad to say those items were onlyissued during recruit training. After that, the kindlyAir Ministry suppliers brought in Aertex drawers and Singletswhich were much more comfortable!Anyway,these days,it's boxer shorts (and a T-shirt in winter)under outer wear.As you say,modern materials seem able to stand up tocold, wet weather much better . As for the lasses,the mindboggles (happily!) at the miniscule amount of clothing theycan wear and get away with! I am NOT complaining!

Si · Post by Si » Sun 02 Aug, 2009 1:24 pm

Hi 'Arry,Are "combs" those red one-piece things with a buttoned bum-flap John Wayne used to wear!? Also seen in "F-Troop!"

liits · Post by **liits** » Sun 02 Aug, 2009 2:40 pm

Ooooh, Combinations! My old man had a couple of pairs of them. He also preferred galoshes instead of wellies when it snowed. Every winter he would complain that his galoshes were on their last legs and he couldn’t get anymore. I’d never seen galoshes anywhere other than on my old man until I found some in WallMart in Texas [must get lots of snow in Dallas]. He complained that I only got him the one pair. Silly old sod must have thought he was gonna live forever.

franco · Post by **franco** » Sun 02 Aug, 2009 7:36 pm

Thanks Leeds-lad and Si for the Donkey jacket information.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Sun 02 Aug, 2009 8:03 pm

Used to call the backend catflaps.

zip55 · Post by **zip55** » Mon 03 Aug, 2009 2:09 am

liits wrote: I’ve just remembered this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAqXku3uCAY. I thought it was called “Be safe, be seen” but obviously not. The damn link doesn't work! the film is called "White at night" and is a 1973 public information fulm. I remember the "wear something white at night" campaign, I went out one night dressed in a white jacket, white pants, white shoes, white hat and gloves .... got hit by a snowplough.

Arry Awk · Post by **Arry Awk** » Mon 03 Aug, 2009 4:56 pm

Si wrote: Hi 'Arry,Are "combs" those red one-piece things with a buttoned bum-flap John Wayne used to wear!? Also seen in "F-Troop!" Them's the ones SI! Never saw any red ones tho'.The wool ones were a yukky beige colour, altho youcould get white interlock ones later.'Orrible creations!Shouts of "Bomb doors open---bombs away skipper!,"frommany a RAF loo!

Arry Awk · Post by **Arry Awk** » Mon 03 Aug, 2009 5:02 pm

zip55 wrote: liits wrote: I’ve just remembered this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAqXku3uCAY. I thought it was called “Be safe, be seen” but obviously not. The damn link doesn't work! the film is called "White at night" and is a 1973 public information fulm. I remember the "wear something white at night" campaign, I went out one night dressed in a white jacket, white pants, white shoes, white hat and gloves .... got hit by a snowplough. As you say Zippy,'S'no fun at all' (You may groan,quietly!lol)