How a SmartWool Sweater Helps a Writer Stay Warm

I’m cold-natured, always have been, and don’t look forward to winter the way I wish I could, even in relatively temperate Raleigh, NC. I also live in an old, drafty house, where I spend many hours because I work from home. My office happens to be in the coldest area of the house: the lowest level of a split-level ranch. So needless to say, I focus a lot of my energies on staying warm.

I’ve tried space heaters near my desk, but they tend to make either my feet or face uncomfortably warm, depending on where I position them, leaving the rest of me cold. I’ve tried sweatshirts, bathrobes, turtlenecks, bulky scratchy wool sweaters, but while some of these worked to warm me up, they left me feeling less than professional. Maybe it’s just me, but I have a hard time staying in work mode if I’ve got something on that I wouldn’t wear to even the most casual workplace. (Those Snuggie things? Not going there.) And while coats and parkas leave me toasty, they conjure up that “I’m about to leave now” feeling, which affects my concentration.

Short of investing in a new, more energy-efficient heating system or moving to South Florida, I was at a loss for a solution. When I discovered my husband’s down vest, I thought I’d found it. The only problem was that the down made me too warm; when I shed the vest, I was cold again in an hour, and the cycle went on and on. I was like Goldilocks, only I couldn’t find something “just right.”

Not long ago, I finally found what I’m optimistic is the answer to my cold-natured prayers: a SmartWool sport-knit zippered cardigan in a gorgeous espresso brown. This sweater isn’t even available yet—it’s due to roll out in the fall of 2012—but thanks to the friendly folks at Outdoor Sports Marketing I’m getting to beta test one. Like all merino wool garments, it’s soft and sleek, so the finish is very professional looking. The cut of this particular sweater is also feminine and wouldn’t look out of place in an office. Of course, it’s super-warm without making me roast like down does. Worn over a turtleneck, it’s all I need to be both warm and comfortable. I can honestly say my productivity in my chilly little basement office has gone up since I started wearing this sweater!

Suzanne M. Wood, a freelance writer in Raleigh, NC, is married to Scott Wood, a buyer at the Great Outdoor Provision Co.