At the ice rink, several thin, warm layers work best. Choose a base layer, a warm knit, a short coat, trousers with enough room to move, gloves and a hat. Avoid long, loose-hanging scarves and wide coats that get in the way, and choose trousers that do not get soaked if you fall. If you are going for a drink afterwards, choose a warm layer that also works well indoors. Below you can read how to approach it, with outfits for women and men.
Skating in the city: what kind of outing it is
In December, temporary ice rinks appear in many cities, on squares, near museums or next to Christmas markets. A visit to the ice rink is often combined with food or drink. Choose clothes that keep you warm, give enough room to move and also feel comfortable indoors.
Layer 1: a thin, breathable base
Start with a thin layer directly on your skin that wicks away moisture. Skating is exercise. You will sweat lightly, and a clammy layer makes you cold quickly once you stop. Choose a base layer that stays pleasant when you warm up. For men, a polo with quarter zip such as the Edmund in dark anthracite melange, made of lyocell, is a smart choice: zip open when you get warm, closed when you take a break.
Layer 2: a warm knit
The middle layer provides extra insulation. Wool and cashmere are suitable materials for such a warm middle layer. The Augusta in cream, an open-knit polo made of 90.2% wool and 9.8% cashmere, is soft and warm and still looks just as lovely at a table after skating. Wear it over a thin base layer, so the open structure stays warm. A cable-knit polo such as the Liorah in navy is a warm alternative with relief. Read more about the material on our cashmere page.
For men, an open polo in merino wool such as the Trenton in black is ideal. Merino wool keeps you warm, breathes well and stays fresh for longer naturally, even after an hour on the ice.
Layer 3: a short coat
Choose a coat that falls to the hip or slightly lower. A long coat gets in the way when skating and can end up under your skates if you fall. A quilted coat or short wool jacket works well. Water-repellent is a plus, because the ice is wet and a fall happens quickly.
The trousers
Your legs move a lot and your knees bend constantly. Trousers with stretch are therefore pleasant. Jeans with some elastane, such as the Adelaide in blue, a high-waist contour-fit jean with 2% elastane, sit comfortably. Do know that jeans get wet in a fall and then feel cold. Thermal leggings underneath help. Leave wide trouser legs at home: they can catch in the skates.
Accessories: gloves yes, long scarf no
- Gloves: indispensable. They keep you warm and protect your hands if you fall. At many ice rinks they are recommended or even required.
- Hat or ear warmers: cold ears quickly make an evening on the ice less pleasant.
- Scarf: choose a short scarf or a snood that you tuck under your coat. A long, loose-hanging scarf can get caught or make someone else trip.
- Socks: one pair of thick, well-fitting wool socks. Two pairs over each other make the skate too tight and your feet colder.
Outfits for the ice rink
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Base layer | Thin fine-knit shirt | Lyocell polo with quarter zip |
| Warm layer | Cream polo in wool and cashmere | Black merino polo |
| Trousers | Blue jeans with stretch, thermal leggings underneath | Dark jeans or stretch trousers |
| Coat | Short quilted coat | Wool jacket or short down jacket |
| Extras | Gloves, hat, short scarf | Gloves, hat, snood |
From the ice rink to a table
After skating you often go indoors somewhere. Take off your coat, shake out your hair, and with a lovely knit you sit down at a table looking polished straight away. So choose a warm layer that you also like to wear indoors. A cream or navy knit looks very different in a restaurant from a fleece sweater. If you like, take a pair of smart shoes in a bag to replace the skating socks and sneakers.
Colour on the ice
Cream, navy and black are easy to combine in a winter outfit. If you want to be easy to spot for your group or your children, choose a hat or scarf in a warm accent colour such as bordeaux or camel, and keep the rest neutral. Light clothing can get wet in a fall and pick up marks from the ice. Dark shades are more forgiving on that point.
To the ice rink with children
If you go with children, you often stand more at the side or hold small hands. That means less movement and more standing still, so dress yourself slightly warmer than when you are skating laps yourself. An extra layer in your bag can be handy. And children: always gloves, a hat and preferably a helmet.
Afterwards: care
When you get home, let wet clothes dry first at room temperature, lying flat, not on the radiator. Wool and cashmere recover by themselves if you let them air. If they have really got wet, wash them by hand or on a wool programme. You will find more warm knitwear in our knitwear for women and knitwear for men.
Shop the look
Augusta: open-knit wool and cashmere polo, cream
Liorah: cable-knit polo, navy
Adelaide: high-waist contour-fit jeans, blue
Edmund: polo with quarter zip in lyocell, dark anthracite melange
Trenton: open merino wool polo, black
Frequently asked questions
What do you wear when skating for the first time?
Several thin, warm layers, trousers with stretch, a short coat, gloves and a hat. Choose clothes that do not get in the way and can handle a fall.
Are jeans suitable for the ice rink?
Jeans with stretch are comfortable, but get cold when wet. Thermal leggings underneath help. Leave wide legs at home.
Should you wear gloves at the ice rink?
Yes, this is strongly advised. They keep you warm and protect your hands if you fall. At some ice rinks they are required.
