Dress for homesteading success

I am a real fan of  wearing a skirt or a dress as the homestead dress code. During the warm months they can be quite cooler, have a better range of movement than pants, and can be used as an impromptu basket for carrying eggs or produce back to the house. And when your day revolves around mud, manure, and otherwise icky tasks, anything that makes you feel a little prettier is appreciated.  Once the cold weather hit, some may think that pants or snow pants would be the only options. I have gone that route, and not only was I still cold, but I developed a walk akin to Randy in A Christmas Story. I too always had a fear of falling over and not being able to get up.  But that all changed the day I found these skirts made by The Mouse Works . This guy hand sews these polar  fleece(American made fleece I might add) skirts at his solar powered shop in Virgina.  He has quite a story of growing up on a self sufficient homestead and his progression into his own business where he practices good environmental stewardship due to his love of nature. Plus he makes a darn good product. I love supporting cottage industries, because if we don't there will be no options but imported toxic junk left.  So I ordered a skirt, and my winter wardrobe was changed forever. 

 Not only are these skirts super soft, comfortable, look great, and are WARM, but they have ample room to "add on". I once heard a woman during the civil war era wore 7 layers of clothes. I think they knew something we don't. I can wear long underwear and/or sweater tights under the skirt and not feel bulky at all. Then I add some leg warmers. I never got into this trend in the 80's, but boy I was missing out. These really amp up the warmth. Some wool socks, boots and the look is complete. And you might not believe me, but I am warmer in this outfit than in my one piece insulated snow suit-it was 8 degrees Fahrenheit when this picture was taken. Plus as the day warms up, or I go inside, I can start removing layers to adjust my comfort level. Its like a clothing thermostat. Since fleece dries quickly it  keeps me from having those icicles hanging from my legs where I always spill the water buckets on the way to the barn.

Santa has since bought me two more skirts and a hat, and I now have an official Hard Work Homestead uniform. And since each one is made to your custom sizes I could even get some made for the girls.

Nah, I can just hear them now "this skirt makes my girth look big"