Could someone who lives in North Dakota give me specifics regarding what kind of clothing you wear to handle the cold there?

I live in Wisconsin. It’s cold. I rarely wear a coat.

What type of info are you interested in? I’m thinking from your details you are interested in feeling warm, even if it’s below zero???Yes?

If so, Northface is probably where you’ll want to shop for a coat/parka.

This is how the Inuits, who live often above N. lat. 70˚F, dress.

Inuit garb

Yep @gailcalled That’s what my sister looks like all winter, too. She wears a parka that covers her entire tiny frame, wears furry lined boots, hats, scarves and mittens. When we stand together something doesn’t look quite right…me in my sweater and jeans, her in her Alaska gear. ;)

@guywithanaccountnow A lot of the guys I know where these triclimate jackets/coats from North Face or Columbia. We have fur lined Elmer Fudd hats for shoveling and snow blowing.

@SpatzieLover : Francis McDorman looked really lovely in hers in “Fargo.”

The Inuit wear two parkas; the first one skin side in and the second one skin side out.

Welcome to Fluther.

I’ve lived in Wisconsin, Michigan and New England for most of my life – the most enjoyable parts, so far.

The big thing to realize about dressing for the cold is that “multiple layers” will give you much more protection and warmth (and flexibility) than even a single much thicker parka or coat. (There are times when the wind and temperature combination may call for both multiple layers and the heavy down parka, and you should be prepared for those times, but most times… less is more.)

So definitely invest in good underclothing, for starters. In fact, if you’re going to be in the weather a lot, such as those who work on infrastructure and work outdoors all year long, you may want to include a layer of silks underneath cotton underclothes. (I’ve never gone that route, because I tend to limit my time outdoors in those conditions, but I’ve read that anyway.) Have a few sets of long-sleeve and long leg thermal underwear. When you need it, you’ll be glad to have it (and you can tell who isn’t wearing it; they’re the ones whose lips are blue).

After that, good flannel shirts and lined pants will keep you warm in all kinds of conditions. (I keep hearing that wool is great because it keeps you warm even when wet, and I know that’s true of mittens, but I’ve never found it to be true of sweaters – or maybe I just haven’t had “good” woolen sweaters.) Definitely get yourself some lined pants. You won’t believe how toasty they can keep you. In fact, a good set of Carharts’ overalls (lined or unlined) can protect you in all kinds of weather, and you can keep them rolled in a ball in the trunk of your car for when you need them.

Sweaters or thin fleeces make a good next layer, topped with a waterproof and windproof shell jacket.

As the weather warms (or gets wet) you can remove some layers and keep only the ones you need. A parka doesn’t give you that kind of flexibility.

For hands, definitely keep mittens available. Look for a set of “boiled mittens” (that’s not a joke; Maine lobster men wear them while pulling lobster traps out of the North Atlantic in the winter – that’s a good enough recommendation for me). In any case, mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves can, even though some good gloves are helpful for when you need some dexterity.

You absolutely need a suitable hat, boots and heavy socks, and a scarf or two wouldn’t hurt.

And blankets in the trunk of your car, “just in case”.

I used to live in North Dakota. If I was spending the day outside in the winter from the skin out:

Wool longjohns (tops and bottoms), light wool socks, Thinsulated socks, blue jeans, flannel shirt, heavy socks if you have room for a third pair in your boots, light Goretex snowsuit, insulated boots at least a half size bigger than you usually wear, light wool gloves, heavy thinsulated gloves or mittens, water resistant snow pants, a Thinsulated water resistant parka or jacket. And I kept a change of socks, longjohns and shirt and pants in the truck.

Also a stocking cap with a face mask and a good hood on the jacket or parka are a must.

Live in Wisconsin and grew up in Minnesota. The key to staying warm is staying dry. That means keeping snow out and keeping sweat from your skin. Important, you don’t want to sweat, so layer yourself based on the temperature/conditions and the amount of energy you plan on exerting
This article does a great job of explaining layering.
Finally, waterproof boots with SmartWool socks.

wool is best next to the skin because even if it is wet it will reatain heat. Cotton loses heat rapidly when wet. Some of the new synthetic clothes are good next to the skin also, particularly the ones designed to wick sweat and moisture away from the body.