How to Dress for NYC Winter

We have officially entered New York City’s cold months! The average high temperature in New York City during the month of December is 43 degrees with lows averaging 32. January and February get even colder! To enjoy New York City to its fullest, you need to be prepared to stand outside and brave the winter winds. Knowing what to wear will be a game changer. So here is what to wear and what to pack for New York City in the winter.

Under Layer

The theme of dressing for New York City winters is layers. The under layer may be the most important. What you need is a thin layer of “thermals” or “long underwear.” We are huge fans of Uniqlo Heattech as your bottom layer. They make thermal pants and tops that are meant to be worn under your pants and sweater. The Uniqlo Heattech looks cute enough that you can also wear the top on its own. SmartWoll and Arc’teryx are two other brands that make great thermal layers.

Pants

Most people will be completely fine with jeans as their pants. If you are someone who tends to always be cold, brands such as Athleta and Lulu Lemon  make fleece pants that add a little extra warmth, especially when paired with thermals. If you are planning on walking around in the snow, you might want to avoid wide leg pants as they tend to brush along the sidewalk and get extra damp. Damp is the enemy of being warm.

Tops

Over your thermal tops, you can really wear anything. For the winter, turtlenecks do tend to be really nice because they help to keep your neck warm. Cashmere and wool are two fabrics that are great to look for when seeking warmth.

Coats and Jackets

The most important thing when looking at coats and jackets for a New York City winter is to check to see if they are wind resistant and see if they are water resistant. New York City can get very windy. It is technically an island surrounded by water, so wind tends to whip from shores and gain speed between the buildings. A wind resistant layer will really help. When it rains or snows, the water resistant element will keep the water off your under layers and keep you nice and dry. Remember, damp and wet is the enemy of warmth.

Shoes and Socks

Keeping your feet warm might be one of the trickiest parts of dressing for a New York City winter. You will want nice and warm socks such as those made by SmartWool. They are expensive, but they are also worth it! Your feet will thank you! With the right socks, sneakers will work for you in almost any weather, but when it snows or rains, you will want water resistant boots. Timberlands is a nice budget friendly option.

Hat and Gloves

Many will tell you that the most important article of clothing for staying warm is a hat. Heat likes to escape out the top of your head, and a hat keeps it in. We personally enjoy hats that cover your ears as well as your head. Of course, things such as thermal headbands and earmuffs work well too!

Heated Clothing

If you want to turbo charge your warmth, check out heated clothing items such as a heated vest. While there are many companies that make heated clothing, Ororo tends to be industry standard. Again, it might be a little pricey but definitely worth it.

While you’re running around NYC feeling warm and toasty, take photos and put them on our giant billboard! You can appear on a billboard once an hour for 24 hour for as low as $150 a day!