Even if you aren't planning on traveling from Seattle to the North Pole, it is still important that you consider what clothing to choose for your cold weather outings. Here's an article about cold weather clothing from a NASA researcher who has been working way down south.
What sort of clothing is needed to stay warm and safe in Antarctica?
The National Science Foundation ensures that every person going to the South Pole has what he or she requires. Everyone reports to the Clothing Distribution Center (CDC) in Christchurch, New Zealand and gets a full set of Extremely Cold Weather (ECW) clothing. Since I am writing this after being in Antarctica for more than a month, I can say that the stuff they lend out (I'll have to return it as I go back through New Zealand) is very good.
There are several different items of clothing that you must use if you are going to be in sub-zero temperatures.
First, you will need a many-pocketed, down-filled, hooded parka. This jacket-like garment invented by the Inuit of the Arctic, who needed clothing that would protect them from wind chill while hunting and kayaking. The hood zips all the way up to your nose, and there is an inner liner at the waist that one can cinch up to prevent snow from getting underneath. Carhartt (which is a name-brand) parkas are issued to tradesmen in Antarctica.
The CDC also issues polar-fleece jackets and pants. These go in between an outer, windproof layer and a moisture-wicking inner layer. Next are bibbed wind pants – much like snow pants for skiing. It’s wise to have a couple of different weights of long underwear – one that is thick and warm and one that is summer-weight.
Proper headgear is important in cold temperatures. A balaclava is a hood that protects most of the head and neck. It’s better than a scarf to protect the neck, since it doesn't come off or get tangled up. Some caps have earflaps that can fold up if you don't need them
There are a wide variety of gloves/mittens to wear in the cold. You can use a Thermax-lined glove for extra warmth inside either insulated gloves or mittens.
You will also need several pairs of very thick wool socks. Wool is much better than cotton because cotton tends to freeze too easily. The CDC recommends that you wear one set of thick wool socks instead of multiple thinner socks. The layering method can reduce circulation and actually make you colder.
For warmer weather, un-insulated jackets with proper inner layers can keep you warm enough.
A typical day in Antarctica
My typical daily attire consists of a set of long winter underwear, either blue jeans or the field trousers, and one of my t-shirts or flannel shirts. Most of my shirts are short sleeve, while my two long-winter underwear tops are long-sleeved, but having the long-sleeved undergarment sticking out is pretty common here.
I wear the issued wool socks and my hiking boots, over that I wear a parka, and if it's windy, I'll throw on a cap to keep my ears warm. The barn where we're working can get cold inside, in which case I will put on a polar-fleece top, but I haven't needed it much under the parka. On my hands, I wear the insulated gloves. Inside, most people wear clothing that is very typical to what one would find in the states during winter. There seems to be an active tendency to not wear the ECW clothing unless one really has to, even if it means being cold.
I've worn the snow bibs a few times when it's been very windy, but I prefer blue jeans or the field trousers. I've only rarely used my polar fleece pants and the expedition-weight long underwear.
If you really wanted to "bulk up" because you were expected the full fury of Antarctica, you could wear the following: both sets of long-winter underwear (Thermax on the inside), polar-fleece pants, bib, polar-fleece top, balaclava, parka, wool socks, boots, mitten liners, leather mittens, and gauntlet mittens. That setup would keep you warm through just about anything, but is basically unnecessary during the Antarctic summer.