Your mercury is in retrograde

Now that we've emerged from the deep freeze—at least for the moment—let's talk foundation garments. Specifically, that age-old problem of transitions when you want to go back to dresses and heavy skirts, or that lightweight pair of dress pants.

But you feel stupid wearing tights, and extra high socks do nothing for your thighs. For years now, leggings have been an option, and we hear leg warmers are coming back. (We knitters have to be working on something beyond scarves, right?)

Seriously, though. We recently struck upon the perfect solution: SmartWool long underwear. The 100 percent merino wool bottoms are like coconut butter on your legs. Buy them a little small for a stylish capri cut. Buy them a size up for down-to-the-ankle coverage. You can even buy them in three different weights, depending on where the mercury is at, and the color pallette is simple but versatile, from black to plum and pink.

The secret at the heart of this noble obsession? Wool is the original super fabric. Today's microfiber merino is smoother than silk, it self-regulates from -20F to +75F, and it will stay odor-free for a week of continuous wear. You say, "Ewwww." We say it's still too cold to risk getting out of our favorite unmentionables.

$50 in microweight pink, $60 in midweight black, and more. Available at REI, Midwest Mountaineering, and Galyan's.

REI, http://www.rei.com, 750 W American Blvd, Bloomington, 952.884.4315
Midwest Mountaineering , http://www.midwestmtn.com/, 309 Cedar Ave. S, Minneapolis, 612.339.3433
SmartWool, https://www.smartwool.com/

Secret sale alert: REI shoe department

Keen: If there is a hotter footwear company in the country, we'd like to know about it.

First, there were the water shoes and sandals—whatever they were, they were a nice alternative to Tevas and Chacos. Now, Keen has a whole range of shoes, from faux bowlers to clogs to boots. The unifying motif? That big rubber bumper across the toe.

Something like Earth Shoes (which are back, by the way), Keens all carry that pedigree. And there is no other brand that has simultaneously captured every demographic from 40-year-old men to 10-year-old girls with plenty of moms thrown into the bargain.

Another selling point: Keens are relatively affordable—most pairs are well under $100. If you get on out to REI beginning this Friday, you're sure to find their stock of Keens deeply discounted, along with other prestige brands that are synonymous with trail mix and 12-rod portages, such as Merrell, Sorel, Dansk, and Born. (Steer clear of the North Face though. Much as we love this brand, their shoes and boots are predominantly made in China. Something about their name and its associations with Tibet gives us pause, when it comes to footwear.)


REI: http://www.rei.com
Bloomington
750 W American Blvd
Bloomington, MN 55420
(952) 884-4315

Roseville
1955 County Rd B2 W
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 635-0211

Maple Grove
11581 Fountains Drive
Maple Grove, MN 55369
(763) 493-7861