I love watching videos where people attempt to save my dismal fashion sense. They always have insights that I would never consider as I sit on the couch in my sweatpants and the sweatshirt I stole from my mom (vintage, right?). That being said, I find that when it comes to discussing what to wear to weather the freezing cold, a lot of the tips fall short. Be it because they live in warm areas or because they are prioritizing style, they aren’t quite what someone who lives in Upstate New York for all of the winter seasons can use. With that, I’ve compiled my best recommendations for this hellscape.
If you’re going to wear a skirt or a dress, wear multiple layers of tights. You should be wearing tights anyway, but two or even three pairs will be a lifesaver. Yeah, your legs don’t get as cold as the rest of your body so I’m sure you think you’ll be fine but every little bit of warmth counts, plus you really don’t want to ruin your legs by forcing them to brave the whipping winds.
Get yourself a good pair of mittens/gloves. I wear a pair that my sister refers to as my oven mitts, which is fair, but at least my fingers don’t freeze when I clean off my car. Try to find thick ones that won’t let your fingers get wet when the snow and ice start to melt, like those thin colorful ones that our parents used to buy.
Invest in a warm pair of boots with good treads. I’m not saying these can’t be fashionable, I think that should be encouraged as well, but the focus should be on not losing toes and staying on your feet. There are a lot of options out there these days and it’s definitely worth taking the time to find what best suits you and your needs.
Wear layers, including multiple coats when necessary. Sometimes the wind and temperature are too much to go out in just one jacket, so put an additional sweatshirt, jacket or fluffy coat of some sort underneath. Sometimes it will be unfashionable, like pulling your sweatshirt hood up over your hat and burying your face in your jacket, but you can always wear a sweater, leather jacket and then winter coat, which may look decent depending on the winter coat.
So, good luck on your finals, enjoy your holiday and don’t freeze.