Dress for December...

[CanadaMan]

This is a bit of a naive question, but then, I'm rather thick-skinned. 

The weather in Perm now is in the -10 to -3 range. It will probably be a bit cooler in a few weeks when I am there.

I have a great winter ski jacket that I wear here in Canada.
It's very light and colorful, light blue and grey.
It's also very warm and all I require is a warm sweater and I'm set for temps down to -20C or more.

I read that it's not the style to be flashy in Russia as far as dress is concerned.

I'm thinking about going out to buy a more 'conservative' coat for the trip.
A waste of money or a good idea?

TIA

[docetae]

I went with my red Kanuk to Ukraine several times. no problem, people were only surprised this is so warm..

[UTRO]

I sounds like you got it covered with the jacket. Don't worry about whether it is flashy or not, so long as it is warm. I sometimes wear a bright yellow Ski-doo brand Racing Team jacket. It gets people talking to me! lol.
We Canadians rarely cover our heads. Russians will think you are nuts if you don't. Most wear a tight fitting tuque.
Mitts, not gloves.
Buy boots that are warm and have a very good tread. There really is no such thing as sidewalk plowing. The snow gets trampled down from walkers (and everyone in Russia walks!) so the sidewalks become skating rinks in no time!!

[CanadaMan]

I sounds like you got it covered with the jacket. Don't worry about whether it is flashy or not, so long as it is warm. I sometimes wear a bright yellow Ski-doo brand Racing Team jacket. It gets people talking to me! lol.
We Canadians rarely cover our heads. Russians will think you are nuts if you don't. Most wear a tight fitting tuque.
Mitts, not gloves.
Buy boots that are warm and have a very good tread. There really is no such thing as sidewalk plowing. The snow gets trampled down from walkers (and everyone in Russia walks!) so the sidewalks become skating rinks in no time!!

Thanks docetae and Utro!
I feel $100-200 richer now. 
I've got the gloves/mitts covered.
I'm one of those rare Canadians who wears some of kind of head covering when it gets anywhere below 10C !

I thought about boots, but was leaning towards leaving them at home and just taking some warm walking shoes. I just didn't want to schlep them around everywhere for temps in another city around freezing.

Perm has had its fair share of snow already, so snow will be the norm there.
I'd like to know if the consensus is to take boots?
Do you also take dress shoes?

TIA

[UTRO]

When I was there last winter I wore my standard winter Doc Marten boots. I never slip in them at home. In Kirov it was suicidal.
Svlana even put 'plasters' (gauze tape) on the bottoms to help hold me in place! Seriously buy a pair of Baffins.
Kirov is about 400km north-west of Perm.

[Boethius]

I suggest Sorels.  They generally have a better grip.

[dogspot]

I like these...light weight and made for cold and snow:

[Boethius]

The only problem with those is lack of ankle warmth.  If Perm hits a cold snap, those would be fine for feet only.  It could be pretty miserable waiting for a taxi or bus.

Perm's weather is not dissimilar from the winter weather I face. 

[docetae]

I like these...light weight and made for cold and snow:

How do you do with 40cm of snow ? Too short ! I have standard army winter boots, you can find them for cheap on ebay and they are really warm. They have even my size ! (15)

[boaterguy]

I took an insulated pair of leather workboots with me to Novosibirsk in the middle of the winter and they were fine. The only time I didn't wear them during the month I was there was when we went to the theater.

[SANDRO43]

The only time I didn't wear them during the month I was there was when we went to the theater.

Many years ago I went to Salzburg, Austria at the end of January for the Mozartwoche, it was cold and there was snow on the streets.

One night I went to a concert at the Mozarteum, and was surprised to see many ladies in furs and rubber boots alighting from cars and carrying a parcel: once inside, they went to the cloakroom, removed their boots and put on the evening shoes they were carrying. I was told by a local that they did that because the salt-sprinkled snow would otherwise harm the shoe leather .

[boaterguy]

Many years ago I went to Salzburg, Austria at the end of January for the Mozartwoche, it was cold and there was snow on the streets.

One night I went to a concert at the Mozarteum, and was surprised to see many ladies in furs and rubber boots alighting from cars and carrying a parcel: once inside, they went to the cloakroom, removed their boots and put on the evening shoes they were carrying. I was told by a local that they did that because the salt-sprinkled snow would otherwise harm the shoe leather .

My wife always had her boot conditioner with her and quickly removed any of the so mentioned grime! In Novosibirsk they didn't use salt. I became a master at walking flat footed!

[dogspot]

I was advised that these might be useful:



 

[CanadaMan]

Thanks folks!
I'll check out some Sorels and Doc Martens if I can and see how they compare with my current boots.

[UTRO]

Thanks folks!
I'll check out some Sorels and Doc Martens if I can and see how they compare with my current boots.

Altimate makes some awesome boots too. Like Sorel it's a Canadian company, but their designs are a little more funky. i use them for snowmobiling
Rated between -40C and -50C

www.altimateboots.com/store/snowmobile-gear-snow-boots-c-35_23.html

[Chicagoguy]

I haven't found any shoes or boots that work for sure. Nothing. I just have to walk slowly and carefully. And watch all the Russians pass me by. I don't think their boots are any better. It is just that they are more used to it.

At Cabellas and a few other catalogs I have seen things you can strap onto shoes and boots for the ice. And even boots with small carbide spikes in the sole.

[SANDRO43]

And even boots with small carbide spikes in the sole.

If you have an old steel-spiked snow tyre:

You could make yourself a couple of winter Ho Chi Minh sandals:

Instructions here: http://makezine.com/10/heirloom/ .