Comfort factorization:
the WinterSilks equation for winter warmth.
Comfort is fairly easy to quantify. Either you feel too hot, too cold, or as Goldilocks said, just right. Getting to that perfect temperature is a little more of a challenge. Luckily, we at the WinterSilks office in Madison, Wis. consider ourselves experts on ‘just right’. Many hail from the upper-most regions of the Midwest (Green Bay isn’t called the Frozen Tundra for nothing!) And we love that silk plays a ‘just right’ role in all six factors of outdoor comfort: sunlight, wind, evaporational cooling, temperature, humidity, and of course, clothing. First, silk either absorbs or reflects sunlight, depending on if it's knit & matte or woven & shiny. We can consider the next few factors together. Since silk has both amazing absorption abilities as well as quick drying properties, it’ll draw the warmth-siphoning moisture from the skin and quickly release it into the air. This is especially important when high wind or low humidity speeds the evaporational cooling process. Conversely, silk’s breathability helps release excess body heat when winds are low and humidity is high. See our Snowflake Guide to help you find the level of warmth you’re looking for. Since we imagine, design, test, wear, launder, and closely inspect every single design, you can be confident that each order will lead you to your "just-right" equation as well!

Silk Abroad: Hidden Monopoly maps
proved no trivial pursuit during WWII.
Monopoly games delivered to British POWs during WWII gave a new meaning to ‘get out of jail free.’ Inside the boards secret escape devices were hidden, including a compass, tools, real currency under the fake money, and silk maps depicting routes specific to the camp the game was delivered to. Before leaving for missions, British airmen were told to look for the kits in Monopoly games, should they be captured. It’s believed that hundreds of “special edition” Monopoly sets were delivered by secret charity groups during the war, depicted by a red dot on the free parking space. Even prior to WWII, silk was the material of choice for military maps. They were light enough to hide nearly anywhere and didn’t make a crinkle sound in the presence of the enemy guards. Just another innovative use for history’s finest fabric.

Of altitudes and attitudes.
The dash of an aviator.
Once the preferred neck cover of open cockpit ‘branstormers’ in the early 20th century, the pure silk aviator scarf signaled daredevil spirit. However, the piece had a practical purpose as well: warmth! In order to stay comfortable at high altitudes, the early aircraft innovators wrapped their necks in the finest jersey silk, which prevented rubbing, itching, or anything else that may distract them while soaring through the sky in an oft-home-made plane. Our aviator scarf has been a favorite of customers for over two decades, and now comes in 5 great colors for him & her. The iconic piece still shows of panache whether in the air or with both feet on the ground.

Recipe for warmth:
just-right baked oatmeal.
Sure to warm you on chilly winter mornings, this
hearty baked oatmeal
recipe can be customized
by adding your favorite
dried fruits or berries!

Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup dried cranberries/raisins
or fruit of your choice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix oats, brown sugar cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Beat in milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir in dried fruit or berries. Spread into a 9 x 13 baking dish.
3. Bake for 40 minutes.