Which coat to wear

True - if I wear a hat then I feel warmer :-) I have a nice furry hat that is very warm.

Scarf/neckwarmer, leather gloves and maybe a hat. If those bits of me are warm, then I'm warm and they're easy to take off. I have a drawful of crochet scarves that go snuggly round my neck to keep any drafts out.

janeainsworth

I went to the north of Norway (into the Arctic Circle) 2 years ago & was worried about feeling cold.
I bought a Rohan padded coat (synthetic not down, so it’s washable). It’s very light (Rohan give weight, pack sizes etc on their website) & was invaluable. I also got some fur-lined boots from josef Seibel which are also very light but warm & have a hiking boot -type sole which was great in snow & ice.
I agree with others about uniqlo being great for vests, long-sleeved tops & merino or cashmere sweaters, all very light.
Also thin thermal leggings under trousers.
Have a great time!

I like Rohan :-) I have their trousers. It's a bit late for me to buy anything new now as we're going in a couple of days but I have book marked that for the future. And clearly I am missing out on puffer jackets as well! I'll stick to what I wear in the uk then = which is a seasalt bodywarmer under my thigh length mac and a jumper and t shirt under that - and carry a warmer jumper in my bag in case I need to swap it. I also have a fleece bodywarmer which is less warm than the seasalt one.

I might look like a bit of a country bumpkin but can take the bodywarmer off indoors :-)

How about one of those lightweight waterproofs, They keep the heat in but a easy to stuff in a backpack when you get hot.

RosiesMaw2

Paris- how lovely!
I would wear a (fairly lightweight ) puffa coat, easy to take off when you are inside but it can be on the chilly side in a December. A lovely big scarf, which can double as a wrap over indoor clothes and comfy shoes. Those cobbles can be punishing and if you are using the Métro at all, few of the stations seem to have heard of escalators!
I hope your mobility issues won’t be a problem, Paris can be surprisingly hilly with lots of steps even where you least expect them.
Are you flying or going by Eurostar?

Thank you all :-) Yes it's all planned to only go to accessible places - a lot of places are now. I'll be on my mobility scooter so it's taken a lot of planning (ramps on trains etc). Avoiding the cobbled places. I doubt I'll look glamorous at any point at all ha ha. I do have one nice top packed but focus is on being warm and comfortable (but not too warm). My main waterproof, if it rains, is a scooter poncho that covers me and the scooter to keep the electrics dry. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to go to the top of the eiffel tower - only the second level.

OP I can’t wear wool - I itch dreadfully - but have discovered that whilst I couldn’t wear a cashmere jumper directly on my skin I can wear one over a long sleeved T shirt/base layer.

I went to the north of Norway (into the Arctic Circle) 2 years ago & was worried about feeling cold.
I bought a Rohan padded coat (synthetic not down, so it’s washable). It’s very light (Rohan give weight, pack sizes etc on their website) & was invaluable. I also got some fur-lined boots from josef Seibel which are also very light but warm & have a hiking boot -type sole which was great in snow & ice.
I agree with others about uniqlo being great for vests, long-sleeved tops & merino or cashmere sweaters, all very light.
Also thin thermal leggings under trousers.
Have a great time!

Paris is beautiful, have a lovely time.

I was imagining the North Pole, Iceland or Scandinavia , not Paris.

Paris- how lovely!
I would wear a (fairly lightweight ) puffa coat, easy to take off when you are inside but it can be on the chilly side in a December. A lovely big scarf, which can double as a wrap over indoor clothes and comfy shoes. Those cobbles can be punishing and if you are using the Métro at all, few of the stations seem to have heard of escalators!
I hope your mobility issues won’t be a problem, Paris can be surprisingly hilly with lots of steps even where you least expect them.
Are you flying or going by Eurostar?

A scarf, makes all the difference if I am cold. 🥶

Ooooh lucky you Paris. Have a great time. I am sure you will be dressed well for every occssion. Joyeux Noel

HelterSkelter1

I agree Uniqlo down coats and jackets are great. And fit well under coats. Being slightly slippery fabric they slide under a coat easily and often have a high neck which you can tie a scarf round to keep extra snug. I wear a Uniqlo down jacket under my waterproof mac. It scrunches into a small bag so can pop in your bag or rucksack. I have had mine for about 5 years. Havent washed it yet and think the down may get lumpy. So I may have it cleaned eventually if it is dry cleanable. I very much like Uniqlo things, but there arent many actuak shops around. The sizes come up small. I am a size 10 / 12 and choose med or large sizes. Medium in the down jacket so it fits snugly.
I am excited for you OP. Enjoy your trip.

Thank you everyone. I've learned a few things - I don't know Uniqlo.

Have probably packed too many things but it gives me options. We're going to Paris. Forecast looks ok for the few days we're there. Sunny 2 days and temperatures between 5 and 8 degrees.

Could you not tell us where you are going?
A quick look at BBC weather for that area would be what I would consult - invaluable

readsalot

Where do you buy them Graceless?

I gotmine from Patra (I've just checked and they do still exist). I first got them for a trip to Nepal in 1993. In 1998 I travelled around South America for a year and took them with me then. So they have coped with camping in the Himalayas and the Andes. i also took them to Iceland when I went in December 2017 for my 70th birthday- the same set are still going strong albeit a little the worse for wear.
Sorry no link but I'm not good ar copy and paste due to wonky eyes.

You do not mention where you are going. If it is one of the Scandinavian countries, most people are not warming their houses or shops as much now, due to rising fuel prices, as we used to, so the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures are not so great.

Climate change indicates wet, mild weather (above freezing) unless you will be practically in the polar regions.

I would wear whatever outdoor clothes you wear at home, and take a fair isle or similar jersey or cardie to wear under your coat if you are too cold, leggings you can wear under skirts or slacks and a thinner woollen cardie if an Arran sweater or the like is too much.

You can check temperatures and weather using Google Earth or the like.

HelterSkelter1

I agree Uniqlo down coats and jackets are great. And fit well under coats. Being slightly slippery fabric they slide under a coat easily and often have a high neck which you can tie a scarf round to keep extra snug. I wear a Uniqlo down jacket under my waterproof mac. It scrunches into a small bag so can pop in your bag or rucksack. I have had mine for about 5 years. Havent washed it yet and think the down may get lumpy. So I may have it cleaned eventually if it is dry cleanable. I very much like Uniqlo things, but there arent many actuak shops around. The sizes come up small. I am a size 10 / 12 and choose med or large sizes. Medium in the down jacket so it fits snugly.
I am excited for you OP. Enjoy your trip.

I have several down coats and gilets and I tumble dry them with a clean tennis ball in the dryer . This plumps up the down and stops it clumping .

Whenever I visit a cold country I rely on my Uniqlo light down gilet.
It packs up small into a little bag and can be worn under any coat or jacket.
I also take a couple of Cashmere jumpers.

You can also buy a waistcoat made from same material as Uniglo down jackets, really light and you can slip it on top of your clothes with a lighter weight coat on top.

I agree Uniqlo down coats and jackets are great. And fit well under coats. Being slightly slippery fabric they slide under a coat easily and often have a high neck which you can tie a scarf round to keep extra snug. I wear a Uniqlo down jacket under my waterproof mac. It scrunches into a small bag so can pop in your bag or rucksack. I have had mine for about 5 years. Havent washed it yet and think the down may get lumpy. So I may have it cleaned eventually if it is dry cleanable. I very much like Uniqlo things, but there arent many actuak shops around. The sizes come up small. I am a size 10 / 12 and choose med or large sizes. Medium in the down jacket so it fits snugly.
I am excited for you OP. Enjoy your trip.

I would take a Uniqlo hooded, down coat to wear under your waterproof raincoat.. They are incredibly light and fold up into a small bag.. and are on sale at the moment

What about wearing a shirt/rollneck top or something similar as well as a vest under your jumper? This is my standard wintry weather gear. Sometimes the 'vest' is a thin t-shirt.

Also, though I love jumpers, if I'm likely to need to adjust my warmth then I find a cardigan is useful instead as it can be unbuttoned around buttoned depending on need.

I would love a cashmere jumper but I can't wear any wool unfortunately. This is annoying and can mean more layers to get the warmth.

But yes I think I'll stick with the lightweight waterproof coat and gilet/bodywarmer under it. I have two of those - one is a fleece one, one is a padded duvet type one - so I can swap those about depending what the temperature is like when I get there.

That is a good point about an over the head jumper being a pain to take on and off. So I have a zip up man made jumper
I can wear under the gilet - and a cotton long sleeve top under that. I'm not sure that jumper will be warm enough though for outside.

I do also have a thin fleece zip up I could wear under the bodywarmer though.

It's a really difficult balance because if I get overheated, it comes on very fast and affects my skin and breathing. That isn't going to happen outdoors.

This is partly why I'm wondering whether a warmer coat with less layers under might be easier (just the cotton top and man made jumper - so no pulling things off indoors - just taking the coat off. On the other hand the coat would be bulkier to carry.

At the moment, the manmade jumper (acrylic and polyester) may not be quite warm enough but a thin fleece zip too warm!

I have a drawer full of wool jumpers I can't wear. I have another man made jumper that I think is just the right warmth (but that's a pull over your head one!).

Where do you buy them Graceless?

I swear by sillk thermals.