First of all, they key is layers. Not too tight, since if it doesn't breathe, it suffocates and gets freezing. So, I had usually three layers on; closest to skin was merino-fabric, fleece in middle and outlayer which wont let any moist get in and which covers you fully. Woolen socks, scarf, leather gloves and hat. Shoes also from material which wont let any snow melt in and are atleast over your ancle high.
When it got closer to -40, fleece layer is good to change in a woolen one. Also the lower the temperature gets, you have to cover your face also; so a balaclava is handy. Most of there gear I got from my training place, because I had no clue what to wear. Also the climate is much dryer, so the cold feels different.
I had a knife on my belt almost all the time, because it came handy when you were making fire or cleaning snow from snowshoes. A flaslight the you could adjust to your forehead was also good to have, and some thermos bottle for water was handy. Sami people used to have a small bag of salt and pepper with them, among a kuksa. Having a kuksa is polite, since if you have coffee with someone you'd always have your own cup; no extra dish. Thus you really don't need to wash them that often.
It was fun to learn about Sami people in the side, since they made everything for a meaning; from the funny shoes to the poncho-styled jacket. Why they had salt and pepper with them? If you got hungry, you could simpy fish and prepare it then and there. Sami people are really toughtfull, smart people. And if they had to kill a reindeer, they used every single part of it, inclueding brains. Have you ever heard of brainrieska?
So really practical people. And even tought times have changed, modern Lapland still followes the rule "If it's useful, it's not stupid". I mean I could go without looking myself from the mirror for even a week long, easily. What you look like wont matter. The more "fashionable" you are, if you have good gear on. It never has to do anything with the looks. Lapland is a good place to say that everything is not what it looks. Even the most city-type persons up there can handle long times without electricity or internet, when down here if something goes off for two hours your whole world collapses.
So, back to the subject. Wear few layers, cover most of your body and have water -or in this case snow- proof outlayers and you're good.
