How to Dress for Cold Weather, Explained by an Arctic Researcher
Every bad winter that comes around, American need to relearn how to deal with, and dress for, cold weather. It’s more important now than ever, when staying safe out of reach from coronavirus means spending more time outside in the cold. When it comes to dressing for a hard winter, there are people who are experts in this particular area, for whom brutally cold environments are just part of the job. Cathy Geiger is a professor at the University of Delaware, and has studied the behavior of sea ice at both the arctic and Antarctic poles for more than three decades. Having worked on 10 polar expeditions, Geiger’s seen a lot (including some gross frostbite stuff that involves eyelashes; we’ll get to that). For the sake of clarity, because layering for sub-zero temperatures is pretty complicated, the following information will be distilled via a handy question-and-answer format.
What’s the best layering method?
There are a couple main tenets of layering that Geiger adheres to. The first and most important of them is to wear lots of loose layers — the key word here being “loose.” That’s because the insulated air that circulates between each layer is what’s actually keeping you warm. The more active you plan to be, the fewer layers you should wear.
Another important tip she stresses is that good body circulation is the key to warmth. “If you’re wearing 700 layers and you’re like the Michelin man and you can’t move, all that padding isn’t going to do you any good if you block off your circulation,” she explains. “[If you wear] four pairs of socks stuffed in a boot, your toes are going to get frostbite because everything’s too tight. There’s no blood down there.”
What are the best fabrics to use to shield from wind and cold, and how should I layer them?
Conventional wisdom says to keep away from cotton, because it has virtually zero moisture-wicking properties. Instead, Geiger says, make sure that the fabric closest to your skin is made of synthetic fabrics or merino wool. Why are moisture-wicking fabrics so important? “Sweat is what will kill you,” she says. “The big thing to do is [move] slower than you think. Once you get into the zero digits, you don’t want to start running around and warm up so much that you break a sweat.” And regardless of how you feel about Canada Goose, they’ve done hoods right. Geiger recommends hoods with fur (or faux fur) trim because “fur creates friction that holds back the wind.”
What’s the best way to protect my skin from the elements?
You should always be wearing sunblock on your face, but before heading out into a snowy environment, there’s one place that people might miss: the underside of their nose. “Snow reflects!” she warns. Once you’re back inside, go for the usual suspects that promise to moisturize: heavy lotions, balms, and Vaseline.
More at: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/staying-safe-this-winter-means-a-lot-of-time-outside-here-s-how-to-stay-warm
= new reply since forum marked as read
Cotton is comfortable, but can trap moisture. Silk and wool are excellent wicking fibers and still insulate well when wet.
Great advice there about avoiding tight clothes and overpacking your boots. Mittens superior to gloves.
Thanks for article! 
One learns those principles early on. The only thing that changes is the improved technical fabrics.
So, on this date, can we all light a virtual candle for the memory of Malden Mills owner, Aaron Feuerstein, who literally invented fleece (Polartec) and unlike the zillions of greedy corporatists, actually paid the salaries of all his displaced workers after a fire in his factory during the last years of his life.
He will always be in my "good Karma" memories with every layer of fleece I don. 
with our old tractor with no cab or heater I was cold & miserable and my face would be bright red by the
time I finished pushing snow around. Then one year besides all the layers I put on I tried something new,
I wore my full face motorcycle helmet and was shocked to learn that the cold wind didn't bother me in
the least bit anymore, plus my face quit turning red. 