All around the US, temperatures are dropping and all around the US people are still walking around in shorts.  Come on people, be smart.  If you’re having an unusually warm day in your area, go for it, wear the shorts, but even on an unusually warm day, it will get cold at night.  When it’s cold, dress warm.  Not only are you at risk of catching a cold (or maybe even the swine flu) but you just look ridiculous.  Here are some tips to keep yourself in check.

First, the best way to keep yourself cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool is to invest in some technical outerwear.  Textile and fashion technology has gotten so advanced now.  You can buy what looks like a light sweater but actually keeps you warm on a cold night.  Some pieces will keep you more warm the colder it is outside.  Incredible.  North face is getting a little tired, but they make some pretty good technical articles of clothing.  For outerwear, look to sports brands (like Nike, Adidas, Reebok) for functional sweaters, pullovers and jackets.  A few years ago, Levi’s created a line a jeans that would feel cool to the touch when the weather is hot and would keep you warm in the winter months.  These things exist and they are super-cool.

Second, the old-school form of layering.  I’m not talking about fashionably layering, although that can be used in this situation, but just wearing a shirt, then a sweater then a jacket.  You can add or remove at will ad be warmer or colder.

If you’re not sure if it’s warm outside, put on a pair of jeans, I wear in jeans in the dead of summer and I’m still fine.  It’s not that uncomfortable and if you want to pursue any professional career in your life, you’re going to have to get used to wearing long pants in the summer anyways.

Flip-flops are also a no-go.  Just put on a pair of shoes.  People, if you’re wearing rainbows in the snow, you don’t look cool, you look like an asshole.

Just do yourself a favor and save everyone else the trouble of looking down on you and stay warm when it’s cold outside.  Moral of the story, do what makes sense.