Also keep in mind that Indians also largely only wore leather. Leather is renowned for its great insulative properties. The other factor is wind exposure. It's

Also keep in mind that Indians also largely only wore leather. Leather is renowned for its great insulative properties. The other factor is wind exposure. It's easier to stay tolerant of cold when there's no wind. When that wind picks up and starts stripping you of your heat layer, you'll feel it much more even at slightly warmer temps. I grew up in a part of the country that almost never gets cold and moved to chicago. First two years were rough. Got a (black dyed motorcycle style) leather jacket and learned to dress in less, but tighter layers. Haven't had a problem since. Too many poofy layers is more air that needs to be heated and kept heated by your body. Only times I have an issue is when skin is directly exposed. Even a thin cotton shawl is enough to keep the bodyheat layer more protected. As I got more used to the winters, I also found it more comfortable to keep the temperatures lower indoors. I get nauseous when I'm outside and it's freezing and I step into a store or building that is heated above mid 70's. That constant warm up, cool down, warm up cycle of walking in and out of buildings in the city is more taxing than simply dealing with the cold. With that in mind, I found it more comfortable to walk into my apartment as long as it was mostly just warmer than outside rather than the usual indoor temps people are used to. 62 degree (Fahrenheit) indoor average temp is quite easily adjusted to as long as skin isn't exposed elsewhere on the body. Now I find I don't sleep as well if my pillow gets too warm. I have a pillow on my bed that I swap out with the other and when I do, I make sure it touches the wall so it's as cold as it can get when I swap them out again. I did this in my late 20s, early 30s... so I don't think it would be a case of not being able to do this if you were older, training yourself to acclimate to colder temperatures.