How to Dress for Winter in New York City
I get a lot of questions asking what to wear in NYC during the winter! Since I’m always talking about it on my Instagram stories, I didn’t realize I hadn’t actually written a post on this subject until now, so here I am! Unfortunately, I don’t have that many photos to share, so I’ll write quite a bit too in order to give you my best tips on how to survive a New York winter.
Oh, before I forget…To see more of my day to day life in NYC, check out my Instagram (@marthasachser), and follow my Youtube channel. For more NYC tips join my NYC tips Facebook group HERE! And if you are traveling to NYC, don’t forget to get my New York City Guide HERE!
WHERE TO BUY COATS AND MORE WINTER CLOTHES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IN NYC
Temperatures are usually okay until early December. From January to April, it feels like I’m living inside a really big fridge! Oh, and then there’s the cold’s best friend, the WIND! That’s why picking a good coat, preferably one that covers your neck in case you don’t like wearing scarfs, is important. If you have plans to live here, make sure to purchase a long one, they are not the prettiest ones but they make things a lot easier when the weather gets really bad!
Here are some good stores to buy winter coats in NYC:
Burlington, Century 21, Nordstrom Rack, Bloomingdale’s Outlet, TJ Maxx and Marshalls:
What do they all have in common? Prices! The six stores mentioned above are similar to your usual department store and offer several different brands… but for much more affordable prices! You’ll not always find the current fashion or even the size or color you’re looking for there, but it’s a great choice if you just want to save as much as possible on a good jacket. Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, DKNY, Guess, etc. are usually available. Nice and warm coats usually range from US$ 60 to US$ 100.
Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Saks, Nordstrom:
These are department stores that often have sales on specific pieces or on popular holidays. The cool thing about them is that they usually offer a wider array of current fashion and designer items. And, if you’re lucky, you might even get a special deal!
Uniqlo: This huge Japanese brand has a reputation of offering high-quality items and specializes in thermal clothes and light to heavy jackets. When it comes to thermal clothing, I strongly recommend Uniqlo’s long-sleeved shirts, they make a big difference and you can even choose the extra warmth option from US$19.90 to US$ 24.90, if they’re not on sale. How much are Uniqlo’s winter coats? From US$ 60 to US$ 200 on average.
I’ve never purchased a Uniqlo’s coat because they’re as many other brands unfortunately made with down (the under feathers of ducks and geese), and as you know, I don’t support that. Consider stopping by The North Face as well, especially the megastore at 5th Avenue, to buy more winter clothes.
WHICH COATS DO I WEAR?
In addition to light jackets, I also own two heavy coats. One of them is by Abercrombie & Fitch; I bought it impulsively on a freezing day as I walked down 5th Ave. Those of you who’ve been watching my vlogs probably saw that video. It cost me US$ 100 but it was worth every penny! My favorite coat, however, is the one by Noize. I am completely in love with this Canadian brand’s quality and cruelty-free philosophy (they don’t use down for example). It will keep you warm even in -20º F temperatures! I purchased my coat on Nordstrom Rack for a more affordable price than the one stated on the brand’s official website.
WHICH KIND OF CLOTHING IS INDISPENSABLE DURING THE WINTER IN NYC?
The way I see it, thermal pants or leggings are as crucial as a good coat, especially if you prefer shorter jackets. Since you’ll walk a lot in NYC, keeping your legs comfortable is essential. Hand warmers or foot warmers are also very useful on those super cold days when gloves alone aren’t enough. Make sure to protect your ears as well because it gets very windy in the winter. In addition to winter hats, you should also consider putting on earmuffs. If you’re desperate, you can always buy a few with Times Square street vendors, but good quality isn’t always guaranteed. Oh, thick-soled shoes or actual winter shoes are a must too! Get good gloves as well and ensure they’re warm and thick so they won’t let the cold in.
WHAT I USUALLY WEAR UNDERNEATH MY JACKET:
In my opinion and experience, if the coat is high quality, warm and preferably long, what you’re wearing underneath doesn’t really matter. If you’re still feeling cold, just add layers. That’s why investing in a good coat is so important.
If your coat isn’t long (like the one I’m wearing below), you’ll have to put on thermal pants (check out Uniqlo’s and North Face’s options), tights and leg warmers or high boots to protect your legs on colder days. The picture below was taken on a slightly warmer day. It was around 40º F so I unzipped my coat to show what I was wearing: thermal pants, a sweater and regular boots. And the heavy coat on top of it all.
HOW TO DRESS ON MILDER WEATHER DAYS IN NYC (FROM 40º F TO 50º F)
The complete outfit for a day with milder temperatures: a sweater, regular thermal leggings (I bought the ones I’m wearing below in Calzedonia, three of them for US$ 90), regular boots or shoes and a long but light coat. If it’s windy, I’ll add a scarf or a heavier coat. See? It’s the coat that matters and, if it’s really, really cold, thermal clothes.
MORE WINTER OUTFITS FOR MILDER WEATHER DAYS (FROM 40º F TO 50º F)
The two pictures at the top show my medium-sized jacket and what I was wearing underneath it: a heavier sweater, thermal pants, thick socks and boots that DON’T keep your feet warm in the snow. I swear my feet almost fell off that day haha. But that’s an example of how you could dress, just put on a pair of actual winter boots if you’re going to walk on snow for a long period of time!
In the two pictures at the bottom I was wearing a warm coat (the light-grey one) most of the time and only took it off to take pictures. In such cases, I would stay in my blazer, thermal leggings and high-knee boots.
WHAT TO WEAR ON EXTREMELY COLD DAYS (FROM 14º F TO 40º F) AND HOW TO GET READY FOR THE WINTER IN NYC:
All outfit ideas above are valid for colder days too, you’ll just need to add some thermal layers, which is what I do. So, in addition to the regular clothes I wear to take pictures, I’ll wear a thermal top underneath my shirt and a pair of thermal leggings (or two of them if it’s really freezing haha). That’s usually enough for me. Men might prefer to travel in jeans, so I recommend wearing thermal leggings underneath them, once the pants alone won’t be enough to keep you warm.
I always make sure I’m comfortable. Most indoor spaces have heating systems, so you won’t be cold inside of them. The less layers you’re wearing, the better, so invest in a good coat you can take off easily whenever you need (like the one in the picture below).
Please note that the winter in NYC is different from other parts of the world. The wind is cruel, so have some money to purchase warmer clothes if you’re not used to this kind of weather.
Hands and feet: I always recommend the famous hand and foot warmers, which you can get in any drugstore. Just put them inside your gloves, pockets and shoes and they’ll come in handy if you ever need to stay outside for a long time. They’re pretty cheap too, ranging from US$ 1 to US$ 3 each, and totally worth the money.
Footwear: You can get by with regular shoes, preferably thick-soled to keep the cold out. On snowy days, however, I recommend sticking to non-slip and waterproof models (there are sprays you can buy to make some types of shoes waterproof, but I’ve never tried them myself!) or actual snowshoes and boots. I’ve been living in the US for over 8 years and confess I don’t really wear snow boots because they take up too much space in my closet and aren’t that useful to me, since it doesn’t snow so much here. Instead, I usually wear UGG-like boots, which are pretty warm, or even sneakers or knee-high boots, since they protect my legs well.
In the picture below, for example, I’m wearing: thermal pants + high boots (with foot warmers) + long heavy coat + light sweater underneath + winter cap + gloves. If necessary, add more thermal layers. Once I hate getting hot indoors, I usually bet on a heavier coat and just take it off so that I’m only wearing a sweater.
WHERE TO BUY WINTER ACCESSORIES (WINTER HATS/GLOVES/SCARFS/THERMAL CLOTHING) IN NYC?
Accessories like gloves, scarves and winter hats are almost everywhere. They are always available in fast fashion stores (Forever 21, H&M, etc.), department stores (Macy’s, Century 21, Burlington, etc.) and street markets, especially around Times Square. They cost from US$ 5 to US$ 20 each, depending on the quality and the place where you’re buying them.
HOW TO DRESS BABIES FOR WINTER IN NYC:
There are several baby fashion items in fast fashion stores, but if you’re looking for a wider array of options, check out Buy Buy Baby and Macy’s. Their options are usually quite nice! Learn more about layette stores and traveling to NYC with kids on my NYC FOR KIDS GUIDE!
ON MILD WEATHER DAYS (ABOVE 50º F)
Although it’s kind of rare, NYC is sometimes rewarded with more pleasant days in early winter or spring, so you may even get to take your autumn or spring shoes out of the closet. The pictures below are an example of that: I’m wearing the same clothes I would on a regular winter day (with no layers) and a different shoe so that my feet can get a little bit of sunlight, since they’ll only see it again in May haha! I bought the coat in a Zara store.
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