Emerson College was my dream school ever since I learned about it at a college fair my junior year of high school. When I finally applied, I anxiously waited for my rejection or acceptance letter in the mail. I asked myself, how in the hell am I going to survive the winters? I was born and raised in Costa Rica until I was seven, and the rest of my life I had been living in Miami. Never had I experienced snow, I was completely oblivious to how I was going to adapt my shorts, tank tops and sandals to winters so harsh my face pretty much was burnt off by the wind. Well, as soon as I learned I had admitted to Emerson I was ecstatic–the only catch though, was that I was a spring admit and I wouldn’t start until January. JANUARY? First off: I hated Miami enough to begin with and staying an extra six months was the most painful experience of my life, and secondly I was not going to have that nice fall to winter transition but I was going to go from high 80 degrees to low 20’s and even 10’s (10’s!!!).
Here I have compiled some things I learned the hard way on how to dress yourself if you’re from a very warm, and sunny place. By the way, tights are a definitive staple if you want to achieve these suggested looks!
Shorts, Skirts & Dresses:
Wear them! Don’t leave them at home like I did. Pair them with tights and sweater tights when the days get colder. I would suggest wearing your jean shorts sparingly since they are a summer staple and will look really strange with the season if they aren’t dark washed. Corduroy shorts are a magnificent staple and substitute, and not only are they “in” but they are warmer than jean material. If you’re frugal like me, you will recycle all the shorts you have in your closet and wear them until the end of time–even if it means wearing the same black shorts (with tights under) three times a week every week (oops).
Skirts pretty much are the most versatile in my opinion, you can wear them whenever, wherever and they will always look good no matter the weather or season. Same goes with dresses, even if it’s “too summery” it’ll look good when it is paired up with a cardigan or trench coat (and tights).
Jeans/Pants:
This is a no-brainer. Get thick jeans that will hold up in the winter when you’re layering and tucking them into your boots. Also consider wearing sweater tights under them for the worst days. Leather pants are a fall and winter must-have, so If you’re a daredevil you should definitely try this trend out. If not, also sticking to Corduroy pants are totally adorable, although they can be tricky to shop for I would also go for darker washes such as “rust” and dark blue.
Tank Tops, Bandeaus/triangle bras & Swim Tops
Tank tops are a super necessity. They are the easiest thing to layer and they always give you that extra warmth that may be needed when it’s chilly outside. When it comes to undergarments, it’s worth mentioning that wearing bandeau’s and those “American Apparel-esque” triangle bra’s are better and easier to put on when you have a million things on top. Also, this may sound a little silly, but wearing a swim suit top as a bra substitute is it comfortable under all that layering but also cute and subtle enough just in case it can be seen when you take off all those layers in class, in your dorm or apartment. I’ve done it before, and I never got strange looks so don’t be afraid to try it out!
Shoes
Forget about your sandals. I only brought three pairs (too much?) since it is warm in the beginning of August-September. I mostly use mine inside when I’m lounging around or to go do laundry and such. Hold onto your sandals until maybe the end of March when it’ll be warm enough to whip them out again. Stock on Moccasins, combat and faux fur-lined boots, sneakers and such. Coming from a warm place you probably own Toms, and they are a great shoe if you’re going to wear them with jeans or with tights. They aren’t very weather proof but they are cute enough to wear before the snow falls.
ESSENTIALS!
Don’t forget things that we normally wouldn’t use:
– Medicated Lip Balm (the wind will be your worst enemy)
– Moisturizer with SPF (the sun’s rays are powerful even when it’s overcast)
– Skin Relief Serum (If your face is prone to redness, this is an absolute must)
– Socks for your boots and to lounge in (you would be surprised how many people don’t pack enough)
– Hats and earmuffs (the wind is so cold that it WILL numb your face if you’re not covered properly)
– Coats and Scarfs (I mean, duh)