Cold Weather Gear

Having spent most of my life in south Georgia, Texas, and Bangkok....I'm not exactly what you would call acclimated to cold weather. I may never be. I don't enjoy being cold and I hate the feeling of being so bundled up I can't breathe. Somehow, ski gear is usually fine, but you can't wear that daily.

Winter for me is a battle to stay warm, even though I love seeing the snow and the mountains. This year (with Herr J's guidance), I made major steps in learning to cope:

• Lightweight, soft long underwear? Check. Thanks, Thermotech!
• I still cringe a little at the thought, but buying a pair of Uggs was the kindest thing I've done for my feet.
• Earmuffs? Got 'em, love 'em! Keeps me warm like a hat, without adding yet more knots to my hair.
• Hand warmers...I use gloves and liners, but usually am still cold. With these guys, I can wear light gloves suitable for photography and stay toasty.

During our recent trip to Finland, I found the ultimate cold weather gear for someone who hates being weighed down and strangled by winter clothes. The Halti Whiff Jacket, made by Finnish outdoor outfitters Halti. It's windproof, water repellant, oh-so warm, and super light. I feel like I'm enveloped in a soft cloud. I actually wore it to walk 30 minutes to dinner in Helsinki at close to freezing, with a very light shirt underneath. No problem!

I have to love any company whose slogan is "Weather Yourself."

Best of all, it folds up into one of the pockets to be a pouch. I'm enjoying hiking, but don't want to carry a lot and don't want to be cold. This thing is pefect (and was half off)!

How light is it? Let's check it out compared to common household items....

Folded up, we have the jacket weighing in at 466g. That's just over 1 lb.

Seems pretty light for wearing and for bringing along hiking just in case (the temps change rapidly at altitudes and depending on the sun)

What about a beer?
Sorry, Augustiner...your Maximator weighs in at almost double. Without the bottle, we'd still be at 500g.

Or my new lens?
Not a very heavy one, but still too heavy 

 How about my wallet?
Nope, those Euro coins weigh a lot! (I even took out 6€ first)

 

Maybe a couple packs of gummis?
Getting closer, but a little light.

A pint glass perhaps?
Almost...

Or maybe a really heavy book?
Perhaps if she hadn't edited down Galt's speech, it would be the right weight.

We finally have a winner...my lovely sugar free coffee syrup

So, it feels great, is super-warm and incredibly light. Of course the question is how does it look?

I'm loving it...can't wait to go hiking again!

Choice: Less Is More

An expat's trip to the US is rarely a holiday or an opportunity to see somewhere new. It usually consists of (1) Visiting family and friends, and (2) shopping.

Each time I go home, my list of must-haves is smaller and smaller. In some cases, I've found reasonable substitutes here; in others, I've decided I just don't care so much anymore. Upon arriving home from 2 weeks in NY, I exclaimed to Herr J "But my bags were 8 kg below the limit...I could have fit so much more!" I guess this is a good sign...I've been working to deplete the stocks in my closet and I've realized there are only a few things I need from home.

Still on the list...

But what always strikes me is the sheer number of varieties of the same product. And I think it's gotten worse.

I have sensory overload when I go to CVS or Wallgreens (don't even get me started on Target!!). I just stand at the shelves with no idea what to buy because there are 28 different choices for each product, and I'm usually just thankful to find one of something where I understand what the product is! Now there are about 10 different varieties of Sudafed, plus an equal number of the store brand and 5 variations on how many pills in the box. Yet, they're pretty much the same - the good stuff behind the counter, or the weaker stuff on the shelf. Luckily I got to CVS an hour before closing.... I wanted to buy the classic St. Ive's Apricot Scrub, but now there are different formulations of it, plus the store brand. While of course I want to make my own decisions, I now see the space that advertising and magazines fill in trying to convince me what to buy!! If the marketing people weren't out there telling me how their product is differentiated from the others, how would I know what to buy?

The choice is just too much for me sometimes. And I'm realizing that a lot of things in life are like this.

For example, I've taken quite a few trips in the past month, and while I feel each time the packing is better, I still end up having packed things I never wear on a trip, and it's still a decision what to wear in the morning. I'm a pretty careful packer....I had a carryon and a half-empty small checked bag for a 2 week business trip. But still I had too much.

Our trip to Finland was an interesting experiment...Given that the temperature was mostly below freezing and the activities outdoors, the lodge provided clothing. Socks, boots, gloves, fleece, coats, hats - everything! All I packed for a 10 day trip was a couple of pairs of black leggings, 4 tops, underwear, a couple pairs of socks, a sweater, the boots I wore, and some warm long underwear. There was plenty of room left in my carry-on sized bag! The amazing thing was that I ended up with one shirt unworn. But even more amazing - getting dressed was so simple! With such a small range to choose from, life was much simpler.

A passage from Olivia Goldsmith's Fashionably Late struck me as quite true on many levels (including the impossible mission of returning anything in Europe!):

Karen had forumlated a few theories about why it was so hard for women to look comfortable and stylish. American women didn't know how to dress partly because they had too much. She remembered a French woman who had once visited Belle. Chic, elegant, and a Parisian attorney's wife, the woman had looked in Belle's closet with horror and asked: "But how can you dress well? You have too much to choose from!" As the brilliant shoe designer Manolo Blahnik had said, "It's all a question of selection, to choose less. That is something Americans do not understand. They think more is better."
Karen had observed that French women, even the middle-class ones, wore expensive clothes, but they had far fewer things than Americans and formulated their ensembles much more carefully. Of course, they learned the hard way not to make mistakes: it was next to impossible to return merchandise in Paris. Can you imagine the attitude?

The same happens here. It's changing with the advent of all the "disposable fashion" of H&M, Forever 21, and similar stores carrying low priced, trendy clothes. But in general, many Germans invest in a relatively small amount of quality clothing that will be wearable for many years. The German style is a little more classic (sometimes described as "boring") than the French (more feminine) or Italian (much more fitted, and on the flashier end of still being classic styling), but the attitude toward purchases is similar.

Even before this, I admit I have too much stuff. I have a bad habit of not wanting to throw out anything that is still functionable or wearable....though my definitions may be a bit skewed.... Also, I have almost 15 years of clothes suited to hot climates and driving everywhere. So realistically most of my clothes and almost ALL of my shoes were unsuitable for life in a cobblestoned city that has a long winter!

I've been trying to cut down and to also get rid of things that I don't or shouldn't wear. And to remember that when I replace something, I need to actually throw out the old one! I employed a new strategy during my trip to New York...I packed things that I really needed to throw out, and then I threw them out after wearing them. Socks with no elastic and small holes, too big underwear, and hair brushes that I had replaced because they were worn out (but still worked passably...). And throwing them out at the end cleared the way for chocolate chips and other goodies!

Tips for Shopping in Germany

A significant part of any travel/tourism experience is shopping.  Most visitors to Germany are looking for memorabilia rather than day-to-day items like groceries and clothes.  You usually eat in restaurants while travelling, have packed the clothes you need, and want to bring home items that are long-lasting reminders of the experience.  Besides, the groceries and clothes are not THAT much different than in the U.S. and cost considerably more.  (Thanks, VAT!)

However, Frau A and I live in Germany.  I need to get groceries, replace dress shirts & shoes, and yes, get new underwear.  I've learned a few things about shopping in Germany, and want to help ex-pats and tourists get more for their Euros.

1)  Stores are NOT open Sundays or Holiday.  Therefore, Saturday is complete chaos.  Especially before a long holiday weekend.  You get your things then, or have to wait until next weekend.  Brace yourself.  
Also, make sure to check their Saturday hours...it's only in the last 15 years that stores could be open past 4pm on Saturdays, and many of the smaller stores still close earlier than the Bavarian 8pm closing time. (Check your city's hours....the laws vary by state - Frankfurt has some open until 9 or 9:30; Stuttgart has an unbelievable midnight closing to some stores!)

The Apple Store in downtown Munich. It's a war out there.

2)  Store employees:  excellent know-how... if you can find somebody.  In Germany, the store employees in general really know what they're talking about.  They get significant amounts of training and are constantly learning about the latest products.  They can explain the different thermal properties of wool vs. synthetic materials, what brands tend to run bigger or smaller, and know every single pocket/zipper/secret compartment on every backpack in the store.

The problem is actually getting someone to help you.  The store employees are CIA-level experts at moving around undetected.  Also, the level of competence described above has a price -- they are often posted only for a very specific part of the store.  The person in the skiing jackets area will NOT help you with hiking jackets or boots, because they have not been trained on those products.  So even if you do find someone, it is likely that they will have a great reason why they cannot help you.

Recommendation:  As is typical in Germany, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.  You need to be assertive -- keep finding and bugging store employees until somebody helps you.  If you can't find anybody, go to the checkout and ask for them to send help.  Start talking a little more loudly (it escalates the request) and if you have to ask a third time, tell them you are unhappy and want to talk to the manager.  Don't make it personal or too emotional -- that is not respected here.  Actually, this is good general advice for the culture here.  You need to be assertive and strong, without being emotional.  It's a battle of wills -- hang in there and you'll eventually get pretty good assistance.  

You will get customer assistance... IF you can find her, IF she's not on break, IF this is her department, IF... 

3)  Clothes:  know your size, as defined in Europe.  You might be targeting leather in Italy, wool shirts/jackets in the UK, and hopefully a nice dirndl/lederhosen for Oktoberfest here in Germany.  Rather than having to try on a dozen different items to find your size, be prepared so you can focus on style.  Different web sites show conversion charts, but they don't all agree.  This is what I carry with me on my Blackberry for reference (check out Wikipedia and OnlineConversion for more):

Underwear
The most common, and critical, emergency purchase.  Just be prepared for underwear on hangers rather than in packaging, and lots of skin tight options (boxers are available, but not as common).   

Store employee to me: "Old men get underwear in a package. You should get it on a hanger." Well....OK. Thanks.

US size 34 = European size 5 to 6
             36 = 6 to 7

T-Shirts
Large = 102
XL    = 107

Pants
Overall pretty straightforward, because it is absolute measurement in centimeters rather than inches (multiply by 2.54)

34 inch waist = 86 cm
36 inch waist = 91 cm

30 inch inseam = 76 cm
32 inch inseam = 81 cm

Dress Shirts
17 1/2 = 44 to 45

Men's Suit / Coat / Sweater
U.S. 38 = 46 to 48
       40 = 48 to 50 ("large")
       42 = 50 to 52 ("large-XL")
       44 = 52 to 54 ("XL")

       Warning:  For "short" and "tall" versions, these numbers might not work.
                        I am usually somewhere between 48-52 (Germany) but got a leather jacket that is XX.
                        I think it has slightly shorter arms, so I'm guessing that they just halved the typical size
                        to indicate that it is a XX but with shorter arms (?)
Socks
10 1/2 = 41
11       = 42

Shoes
10 1/2 = 44 to 45
11       = 45 to 46

In shoes, as in clothes, European bodies are just skinnier (Americans "fatter").  I have to specifically request the wide brands of shoes or I will rip the sides out in no time.

4)  Good strategy:  Stay within Europe's/Germany's strengths.  Don't buy Levi's jeans over here.  You'll pay double for something you can get in the U.S..   This is true for any brand widely available in America.  Instead, look for things like:    

• Local/regional products.  I have found a Swiss brand of dress shirts that I love.  Eterna.  They're a little pricey, but you can find them on sale and the fit is fantastic.  Plus Swiss quality.  Nice.  I also have had good experience at THE men's store in Munich, Hirmer.  Good suits, decent prices, and the assistants really add value (knew the suit that would fit me best -- turned out to be right).  Ask the store assistant for recommendations on local/regional products that they would recommend.
• Things that the culture values.  Think Alps.  Germany is a real outdoor culture, and has hiking and skiing products that reflect it.  I love the backpacks from Deuter, and trekking wear from Mammut (another Swiss company), and Maier ski wear.  The Alpine sport section at Schuster is great -- you'll never again see so many kinds of hiking shoes.
• Things that are unique to the culture.  In this case, maybe not clothes but culinaria.  Frau A and I just got individual feuerzangenbowle holders from the FireCupCompany and LOVE 'em.  Also, consider a small raclette/grill...
  ... However, I draw the line a patently ridiculous attempts to bleed tourists of money.  For example, haggis-flavoured potato chips.  Really - there is demand for such a product?  Skip such novelty items.

Frau A and I will try to post some more German shopping tips, as well as conversions for women's sizes - leave a comment if you're looking for a specific recommendation in Munich.  Good luck!

Choosing a Camera...does it fit in my purse?

(Note: this article is supposed to be a summary of the decision process and complexities for buying a new camera.  But then I asked Herr J to "look it over" and, well, you see what happened...  Apologies to anyone who does not have an engineering PhD or permanent pocket protector!)

There are some pretty interesting technological developments today in digital cameras: mirrorless interchangeable-lens designs (the Panasonic / Olympus micro four-thirds standard, and APS-C models from Sony and Samsung), translucent mirrors in DSLRs, and even Phase One's over the top 30 megapixel medium format imaging sensor... now being replaced by an 80 megapixel version!  (For around $44,000 you could buy a car instead.)

 Alternative sensor techologies have been developed too, but are not making significant headway yet.  Fuji has a "reconfigurable" sensor, and Foveon a multi-layer sensor.  Ricoh went further out into left field, and has the GRX system which is a compact camera shell that uses interchangable units combining sensor and lens together! (pretty smart, out of the box thinking!)

Plus, there are increasingly good plain old point-and-shoot models.  The new Olympus XZ-1 has the "fastest" lens ever on a compact digital camera (at 28mm is f1.8!) and the Canon SX30IS has the largest focal range of any fixed lens camera ever made (35x, from 24-840mm!).  As always, there are a slew of proven APS-C and full-frame DSLRs that are the bread and butter of pros worldwide.

There are even innovations in accessories, such as a 3-D lens (for use on 3-D televisions!), wireless hot shoe attachments that send photos to any bluetooth device, and alien-looking lights for macro photography.  But in the end it all boils down to your camera/system working in your lifestyle & budget.

I'm a Nikon person... I love, love, LOVE my D700. It can't be beat for it's color rendition and low-light capabilities.  I'm not the only one -- one husband made a D700 birthday cake for his wife! And it's red velvet, too!!!

http://www.kenrockwell.com and http://www.woohome.com/food-drink/a-wifes-birthday-cake-nikon-d700/1984

I know many will call it heresy, but I also love my Panasonic LX3. Though the Nikon does fit in my larger purses even with a decently large lens, I just can't lug it around all the time. The LX3, however, is tiny (but built like a tank) and takes really great pictures, especially in low light.  (In fact, the LX3 actually changed the market in this regard.  All major players were forced to make a competing model in order to stay relevant: Canon S90/S95, Nikon P7000, Olympus XZ-1, and Panasonic's upgrade, the LX5). I also love my LX3 because of the awesome 10 Bar underwater housing that Herr J and my friends in TX gave me for my last birthday. Best Present Ever! It's a great set up for diving - I'd considered keeping my old D40 as an underwater camera, but the housings for those start around $2,000 and require different fronts for different lenses!!!  The 10 Bar and LX3 combo is so great that I've recently bought another (slightly used) LX3 to replace it when the camera wears out. I started diving with a Sony Cybershot circa 2001, and sadly the camera stopped working long before the housing. We did have a good 10 years together, but it just won't hold more than 15 or 30 minutes of charge anymore.

Herr J is in the market for a new camera, though he's been "in the market" as long as I've known him! It's a pretty big step when investing in a camera system. Whereas I'm already committed to a lifetime of Nikon (except for fixed lens compact cameras), he's still able to make a radical choice and go with newer systems and standards.  Is it better to invest in new models & lens mounts -- with the risk that they don't have longevity, or just stick with today's DSLRs?

Or perhaps one chooses a system based on available high-quality lenses and just gets a cheap body to start.  For example, I have some "good glass" that will last decades and I can reuse on any future camera bodies that have the same Nikon interchangeable lens mount, e.g., if I ever have/want to replace my D700.

What about the portability factor, like with my LX3 vs D700 -- should Herr J get a compact AND a large sensor camera, or just one mirrorless in-between size?  And what about the cost of getting an underwater housing for the camera as part of the total investment?  Housings can cost more than the cameras themselves!  (He loved our vacation photos with the LX3 + 10 Bar housing.)

We've had some good debates about the camera market, and enjoy playing around with different models in the local electronics store.  The current hot topic is "who buys into the micro four-thirds system?"  Ostensibly, micro four-thirds is "better quality than a compact, smaller than a DSLR".  It's an interesting concept and I'm curious to know if it ends up being a long-term market segment or just a brief stop on the way to something new. Obviously it appeals to early adopters who want the latest technology... and those who want better image quality than fixed lens compact cameras. But that's the irony...once you put a lens on it, it's not truly "small" anymore.

Here's the Panasonic LX3 compared to Panasonic's smallest mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the GF1. The GF1 has a "pancake" lens attached:

The GF1 is little taller and deeper (front to back) and might fit in large pockets -- very portable in any case.  But the LX3 has a 3x zoom capability, whereas the GF1 "pancake" has no zoom -- and most people will miss this.  Well... although the LX3 has a fixed lens, we can changes lenses on the GF1.  So, let's put a lens on the GF1 that is equivalent to the 3x zoom on the LX3.  In this case, we'll substitute Canon's G11-- a direct competitor of the LX3 and similar size (a bit bigger, actually).  Here's what we get:

Whoa.  We just added a good 2-3 inches to the depth of the camera with that lens.  It's not fitting in anyone's pocket, but still fits in purses/bags.  That's the price you pay for getting an improvement in image quality.  The GF1's sensor is 6x larger than the sensor in the LX3 or G11 -- it needs a bigger lens to cover the sensor, but puts out better photos.  Is this worth the decrease in portability?  Hmm....

On the flip side, "m4/3" cameras are somewhat smaller & lighter than a typical DSLR because of the lack of mirror & prism, a smaller sensor & matching lenses.   Here's the Olympus m4/3 camera vs. one of the smallest DSLRs on the market (also from Olympus).   

   
There is definitely a reduction in size -- both heigth and depth, plus weight.  However, with the current market offerings, the small DSLR costs the same or less and delivers higher performance (faster shooting, less noise at high ISO, and greater dynamic range.  Plus the DSLR has a viewfinder and much better external controls for those that manual control of the camera (rather than leaving it in Automatic mode)  We definitely lose performance with the m4/3, but did the reduction in size really give us more portability?  Remember, neither camera will fit in a pocket, so we have to transport it differently.  So where's the right place on the size/quality/price curve?

Lots to think about here.  But maybe it won't be decided on technical metrit.
I pointed out these issues to Herr J, but he laughed and then said, "But most importantly, will it fit in my man purse better?"

Ughhh....Uggs

I hate Uggs. They're on every starlet, sorority girl, and in winter with miniskirts in LA and now Dallas. They're just awful.

Facebook and MySpace are full of I Hate Uggs groups, and You Tube has many videos of people burning them. In some cases, guys burning their ex- (or soon to be ex-) girlfriends' Uggs. And then this guy who has put together an amusing Ugg Song video:

But there is a problem living where the temperature stays well below freezing for months at a time. No matter what shoes and socks I try, my feet are in freezing agony after about 10 minutes outside. I bought some gorgeous (waterproof) thick-soled, shearling-lined riding boots a few weeks ago, and they are wonderful....except that the cold still seeps in the feet. I get cold much less quickly, but still it happens.

I've been investigating potential solutions. Wearing my ski boots will not work, for obvious reasons of not being able to walk in them. Hiking boots also are great, but hard to wear daily. So I started thinking....everyone is wearing Uggs, maybe there's a functional reason. Maybe they are actually super warm and comfortable.

But I still couldn't get past the image, or my inner voice that guides me by pondering "What would Miley Cyrus do?" and then doing the opposite.

And my feet continued to freeze.

So, I decided to ask some Ugg wearers and find out if they were really warm. Finding someone who seemed normal and wore Uggs was tough, but I did meet one who is professional, normal, and just an all-around cool person over the holidays. When I said, "I have to ask if your Uggs are really warm," she laughed and said she knew exactly why I was asking. She hated the idea of them, and wears them so much that she has to buy new pairs to replace the worn out ones. And that they were ok "as long as you don't wear them with sparkly leggings."

Quite a funny comment, as she didn't know I had been struggling with the sparkly leggings issue the prior week. I'd read about Plush's fleece-lined leggings and was thinking about getting some when in the US (though they're out of stock almost everywhere!). Then I was in the Schlecker (think CVS or Walgreen's) during the break of my German class, and saw fleece-lined leggings for only €5!!! The only problem was the rhinestones bedazzling both legs up to just above the knee. So awful, yet so soft and warm. And nothing costs only 5€ in Germany.  I decided to let function beat out fashion, and wore them (with as tall boots as possible to cover up most of the sparkles). With long underwear under them, they are super warm and comfy, I'm ashamed to admit.

So, after much internal debating and trying on, I bought some Uggs over Christmas. They're the zip-up ones, so a little thicker and more fitted than the originals. And they are SO comfy and warm! I still feel totally self-conscious and there is some residual self-loathing, but most importantly, my feet are warm and not in pain. (I do have some gorgeous brown suede boots that are warm, but their warmth is derived from the fact that the 4-inch platform heels keep my feet far from the ground....not great for walking for an hour...)

Herr J promises not to call me "Anna Montana" anymore, but for one night only, I went full Miley Cyrus for his amusement on New Year's Eve. It was cold, dark, and I took perverse pleasure in wearing my rhinestone-legged leggings with Uggs. It was surprisingly warm....between the leggings, Uggs, my Christmas Columbia fleece, and the earmuffs, the only cold part was my hands. We have to work on gloves now.... I guess the good thing about living somewhere with winter is that you have to buy a whole new wardrobe. My winter clothes from Texas were mostly thin boots, open-toed suede pumps, and sleeveless cashmere sweaters and dresses. That's pretty much summer attire here...

Enjoy!

If you're ready to brave a potential eye burning, check out Tori Spelling and her husband illustrating how not to wear Uggs...I really can't say which one of them is worse.

Man Purses Driving Luxury Brands' Growth?

So, Herr J apparently is on the forefront of a trend...at least for American men...his fashionable Asian and European counterparts have been onto the male accessories bandwagon for quite some time now.  But still, I'll call him a trendsetter among his peers.

It shouldn't be much of a surprise that the women's segment of the fashion market is fairly saturated. Spending will continue to grow as the Chinese and other economies grow and consume more overall, but that can't grow exponentially forever. The real opportunity for growth is in creating a new consumer group - men.

The headlines are starting to pop up.... Forget the It bag: Male satchels boosts Burberry's sales by 27% and Coach is actively targeting the growing mens sector...

...men, the future of the world economy is in your hands - start spending!

Yup, I like my man purse

I had a suspision that this might happen:  Frau A got me a man purse for Christmas.  She explained,  "You thought you wanted one, and I knew it would take you forever to take the plunge yourself."  She was right, of course.  The concept of a man purse seemed to be functionally a perfect item for me, but there were too many style options to select one.  It required an expert to avoid disaster.  (Note:  after seeing her operate in Sephora in New York City, I now fully appreciate how years of training allow women to survive and flourish in what is effectively the most perfect testosterone vacuum ever created by science and choose from endless arrays of products.)

I was pretty sure a black one would go with a business suit and casual clothes, and that I would prefer something with minimal flair/decorations/etc.  I "tried on" a few in stores, but was never really sure.  Frau A was there for the man purse expeditions, and thought one of them was right for me -- turned out to be a good choice.  Here it is:

For me, function is more important than fashion, and on this level it's great.  The bag is structured like a satchel (similar to Indiana Jones and Jack Bauer, of course), with just a flap to close rather than a zipper.  I like fast access to the stuff inside.  Maybe I need an extra gun clip and a whip too.

Internally, a separator creates two areas.  The area closest to the body has small, soft pockets for things like a cell phone/iPod, plus a zippered pocket where I keep my wallet (feels more secure).  It also has a long key leash that makes it easy to find keys right away.

The area that lies away from the body has no internal pockets, and is perfect for a paperback, compact camera, gloves, and even a tote-sized umbrella.  It would fit an iPad no problem, and could temporarily carry a laptop too (except the largest ones).

I like the look too.  Nice, thick black leather with just a small adornment on the front.  The leather is starting to break in already, and feels strong but soft.  It's great to get something that I'll use every day.  Thanks, Santa.