STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Alegria · Kate Spade

Girls with real winters

Hedvig · Coach

It's usually really cold in NYC in January. I always wear a warm wool coat during the winter, and my comfy warm suede boots. Long-sleeve sweaters and a warm scarf and gloves are pretty much a necessity, too. HTH!

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

I was in the same boat about 5 years ago when I went to NY just after Christmas. I've lived all my life in the Bay Area, where it never gets below 30 degrees overnight.

I wore jeans with long johns underneath. I wore sneakers (I was in fashion hibernation at this point and not really into looking cute) with warm socks. On top I wore a regular long-sleeve tee with a chunky cardigan. A fleece hat, down gloves, and scarf wrapped from my neck to over nose completed the outfit. I get really warm when I'm walking, so I was too hot wearing a jacket.

At night I was always colder when going out to dinner, etc, so I wore a jacket instead of a chunky cardigan.

Alegria · Kate Spade

Jeans are ok? Do I have to worry about snow up to my knees? Falling in heels? Getting wet? Will Frye Campus work? Uggs? When I think of winter wear I think of a snowboarding outfit so I'm really at a loss. My brother wants to know if he as a male should wear Uggs, sneakers, or what??? He doesn't want to feel like a dork (he's 21) but also doesn't want frostbite on his toes!

Hermes

It really depends on what you'll be doing. They do shovel the streets and sidewalks, so it's not like you will be wading in snow. It could also be 70 degrees while you're there - it's most likely that it will be cold, but who knows what kind of front is moving through. As far as wearing heels, you should be fine with that too - depends on how much walking you're doing. Sephorablue with her strappy heels and peep yellow down jacket comes to mind...

Hermes

one more thing - jeans and uggs are fine if that's what you're comfortable in. I myself am not a fan of wearing shoes created for athletic activities for non-athletic activities.

Sandy · Kate Spade

When I know that I'm going to be walking around a lot outside in the winter (where I live in New England or in NYC), I generally wear a warm wool coat or a puffer jacket with at least two layers underneath (sweater and knit top, sometimes a thermal under that), a chunky-knit scarf, gloves, thermal leggings under jeans, and Uggs... if there is snow on the ground I tuck my jeans in, but if not I don't. I may not be the best-dressed person walking down the block, but I very well might be the warmest. I get cold very easily and it's hard for me to warm up again, but I guess how many layers you wear would depend on how cold you will likely be. Just keep in mind that even if the air doesn't seem cold when you step outside, it's the wind that's gonna get ya.

As far as your brother is concerned, my boyfriend has the same shoe concern for when we go to NY next month. At home, he'll usually wear regular shoes with wool socks and snow boots when they're called for, but he wants to step it up a notch. I'm buying him these Uggs later on today

They're just as warm as my Classic Talls are but more masculine. Personally, I would recommend that he not wear sneakers, only because they don't make for fun times in the snow.

Hedvig · Coach

shpgqueenet wrote:

Jeans are ok? Do I have to worry about snow up to my knees? Falling in heels? Getting wet? Will Frye Campus work? Uggs? When I think of winter wear I think of a snowboarding outfit so I'm really at a loss. My brother wants to know if he as a male should wear Uggs, sneakers, or what??? He doesn't want to feel like a dork (he's 21) but also doesn't want frostbite on his toes!

I wear jeans - but usually with tights underneath if it's cold. The sidewalks are usually dry if it hasn't just been snowing (then they can be slushy).

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

D wrote:

As far as wearing heels, you should be fine with that too - depends on how much walking you're doing. Sephorablue with her strappy heels and peep yellow down jacket comes to mind...

Ha! Just saw this. I would say Uggs are always a good bet, and campus boots would probably be good too, unless we're having a really warm spell (unlikely). I think the cold weather will seem even colder to you since you're used to SoCal! It's not impossible that you might get snow up to your knees--we usually get about one big blizzard every winter--but it's unlikely it would happen during the few days you're here, so just keep your eye on the weather reports in the days before you come. Honestly that will be the biggest determining factor--there's a big difference in how I dress for 10 or 20 degree weather and how I dress for 40 degree weather--mostly layers. Cuteness factor is directly proportional to the temperature reading. But layers are always a good idea.

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

it can be really cold here in jan. (and never has been near 70 degrees in nyc in january in the 30 yrs i've been in new england -- i wish) whenever i go to nyc in cold weather, i wear silk long underwear. they are a lifesaver. totally thin but warmer than anything and not bulky at all. i would plan on being totally freezing and bringing the long undewear (86 if it's warm). plan on wearing jeans out, with warm coats, boots (unless you're cabbing it and need to wear cute shoes), scarf, gloves.

i think uggs are ok for daytime, but depending on where you're going at night, you should probably bring something nicer for going out unless you're going to be doing super casual places like the east village, etc.

-- Edited by e_doli at 23:51, 2006-11-06

Hermes

e_doli wrote:

it can be really cold here in jan. (and never has been near 70 degrees in nyc in january in the 30 yrs i've been in new england -- i wish)

apparently, for the month of January (according to http://www.intellicast.com/Almanac/Northeast/January/):

New York, NY
Average High: 38 Record High: 72
Average Low: 26 Record Low: -6
Average Precipitation: 3.21 inches
Number of rain/snow days: 11

but who knows when that was... I'm just sayin...

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

i probably shouldn't admit to this on a fashion forum, but after a certain point in the winter i stop caring very much about cuteness! the horror, the horror. ;) that said, i have a very warm yet un-sleeping bag-like down coat that i wore non-stop last winter and i have some cute yet sturdy boots from tretorn (the ballena style) for wet days, and like regular boots for leather-friendly weather. i have never worn uggs so i don't know how they fare as far as wamth and traction are concerned, but i do see a lot of people wearing them in the winter.

you will definitely need a hat and gloves, long underwear is good, and layers. some places will be overheated and you'll roast, or you may be seated by a door and freeze every time someone goes in or out. i would stay away from slingbacks in the winter -- on windy days your feet will feel like icicles.

we do usually get one major snowstorm a winter here and they do well with cleaning up after regular snowfalls, so just check the weather report before you come.

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

Not sure what you consider a Cali coat. But I'm thinking that is not enough. You need warmth. And no heels, your feet will be freezing. I'd wear comfortable boots for walking around. Not only is it VERY cold here in the January. It's also windy. Bundle up!