If you’re someone who’s constantly freezing the second winter hits, trust me .... I’ve been there. I used to bundle up in the biggest, bulkiest sweater I owned and still wonder why I was cold all day.
Turns out, staying warm isn’t actually about piling on more layers. It’s about wearing the right layers in the right order. Once I figured that out, winter got a lot more comfortable.
Here’s what’s really going on when you can’t stay warm, and the simple tweaks that make a huge difference.
1. Your Base Layer Matters More Than You Think
For the longest time, I didn’t realize how important the first layer is. I would grab a thick hoodie and hope for the best. But if the layer touching your skin isn’t helping keep your natural warmth in, nothing on top of it will work the way you want it to.
A great base layer should:
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Hold onto your body heat
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Pull moisture away so you don’t get cold and clammy
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Keep insulating even if you sweat or get a little damp
That’s why in the dead of winter, I live in the Hannah Top and Piper Leggings. They’re a heavier-weight merino designed specifically for cold weather. They create this warm, breathable base that doesn’t feel bulky, and I wear them under everything. Seriously, once your base layer is doing the heavy lifting, the rest of your outfit becomes so much more effective.
2. Cotton Might Be Making You Colder (Yep… Really)
This was another “aha” moment for me. Cotton is great in a lot of situations, but in winter, it’s honestly kind of the enemy. It holds onto moisture - even the tiniest bit of sweat - and once it’s damp, it actually pulls heat away from your body.
So if you ever wondered why a cotton long sleeve feels freezing the second you step outside… that’s why.
Swapping the first layer from cotton to merino is one of those tiny changes that feels massive.
3. You Might Be Missing a Mid Layer
Once your base is right, the next step is adding a mid layer that traps warmth without making you feel stuffed into your clothes.
A good mid layer should be:
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Breathable
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Soft
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Light but insulating
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Easy to wear indoors and outside
Think a cozy merino hoodie, a soft quarter-zip, or even a sweatshirt. The goal is warmth, not bulk — and a well-chosen mid layer makes all the difference.
4. More Bulk Doesn’t Equal More Warmth
I know it’s tempting to grab the biggest puffer jacket and call it a day, but warmth isn’t about size - it’s about how your fabrics work with your body.
Merino wool naturally traps heat in tiny air pockets while still letting your skin breathe. That’s why you feel warm but not sweaty, insulated but not smothered.
When you build your outfit with smart layers (base, mid, outer), you can stay warm with pieces that actually feel comfortable to move in.
5. Your Simple Winter Warmth Checklist
Here’s the quick checklist I swear by on cold days:
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✔ Merino base layer (this is the game-changer)
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✔ Merino socks - don’t skip these!!
Get these pieces right, and suddenly winter feels a whole lot more manageable.
SO....
If you’ve been shivering your way through winter, it’s not you - it’s your layers. Once I figured out how important that first layer is (and stopped relying on cotton), everything became easier. I actually stay warm now ....like, really warm.... without wearing five bulky pieces at once.
And if you’ve never tried a temperature-regulating merino base layer before… it might just be your winter miracle. ❤️
