What To Buy When Moving To A Cold Climate

I moved to New York City at arguably the worst possible time for a Floridian, at the start of December just before the weather started to dip below the freezing mark. I’d lived in a cold climate before, but when I’d settled in Florida a few years earlier I was fairly certain it was for good and said sayonara to most of my winter gear. Whoops.

Not only did I have to completely re-stock my closet for snow and ice and sleet, but I had to do it a lot differently since this time I’d be getting around without a car in the depths of winter. Ugh.

Here’s the thing about moving to a cold climate: people will scare the shit out of you about it. They’ll act like it’s the apocalypse and you’re going to need a stock pile of freeze-dried food, a 900 fill power down comforter and an axe just to survive. Don’t let them freak you out. The only thing you really need is the axe. I’m kidding.

While it’s true there are a few things you’ll really want to have for your first cold winter, I’m a realist and not a millionaire and have stocked my closet and home strategically. I divided this list into two parts: the absolute must-haves for those items that are truly going to be hard to get by without, and the nice-to-haves for when you’ve got a little more leeway in your budget and timeline.

If you’re on a budget, buy your first set of winter gear for functionality rather than fashion, and stick to basics like black and grey that are easy to match with everything. You can easily spend upwards of $1,000 on a fancy winter coat (I KNOW, WTF), but a basic one will get you through your first winter just fine as long as it’s warm. Thrift stores can also be a gold mine for winter staples like sweaters.

The Absolute Must-Haves

A Warm Puffer Coat

Will you look like the Michelin man? Kind of. Will you be warm? You bet, and that’s all you’ll really care about when it’s 8 degrees out. Given the choice between looking stylish and being warm, I’ll choose warmth every time.

My first winter I had no clue what to buy and needed something fast, so I opted for this puffer coat by Jessica Simpson that was under $125.

It’s versatile enough to go with most outfits, and although it’s poly-filled and not down it’s actually quite warm with a sweater and scarf. All in all, a good basic winter coat.

This year I had a much better idea of what I needed and added a few more pieces to my coat collection.

I needed something shorter and easier to move around in for things like walking the dog and hiking while still being warm, so I sprung for the Altier Tri-Climate jacket from The North Face. It’s on the spendy side, but I LOVE THIS JACKET.

It’s two layers that can either be worn separately or snapped together—a down inner layer that’s warm but pretty lightweight, and an outer layer that’s waterproof and great at blocking wind. I got it earlier this month and I’ve already worn it a ton.

The other new addition is this super warm long coat from Land’s End.

It was a gift from my mother-in-law who wears the same one when she travels to Alaska for work. It’s longer than shown in the picture; it comes down to about mid-calf, and it’s super duper warm. I know this is going to be the coat I live in when it’s the middle of January and below freezing for weeks at a time.

Between these heavier coats and a few lighter ones I’ve acquired along the way, I’m pretty well set for the oncoming cold. If you’re going to go with just one of these three, I recommend one of the longer two simply because the added length really makes a difference. When you’re getting slapped in the face with sleet, you want as little of your body exposed to the wind and moisture as possible.

Waterproof Boots

Second only to a warm coat is a pair of waterproof boots.

They don’t have to pretty. In fact, most of the really good ones are pretty darn ugly. You just absolutely need footwear that will keep your feet from getting wet. There’s nothing on this planet more miserable than slogging around with socks that are sopping wet from freezing water.

My first winter I literally ordered a pair of rubber rain boots from Walmart and wore them with thick wool socks when it was slushy out. I don’t recommend this because as I learned, rubber is terrible at trapping warmth, but they at least kept my feet dry.

I’m still deciding which pair to get for this year that will be dry AND warm. The sales guy at REI told me this LL Bean pair are a staple for winter boots and they’re my frontrunners so far.

Fleece-Lined Leggings Or Tights

I’m still not thick-skinned enough to wear a single layer on my legs when it’s below freezing, though I hear that’s what the true badasses do. Until I get there, I usually wear a pair of fleece-lined leggings or tights under whatever outer layer I’ve got on. It’s not the most comfortable thing in the world, but between that, your warm coat and a few winter accessories, you’re sure to stay comfortable even in the cold.

I have these fleece-lined leggings from Target, which are nice and toasty, but size UP if you get them. I guess I was having a skinny day when I ordered them because I got the S/M, but I wish I would have gotten the L/XL for some added wiggle room.

They’re also great for layering under dresses when it’s not unbearably cold out.

Gloves

Gloves are an easy thing to pass on thinking you don’t need them and will just use your pockets, but they make a world of difference when it gets below 30 degrees out. I wore a goofy pair of ski gloves like these all winter long my first year here (like I said, functionality).

One thing I do not recommend are gloves that are microfleece on the outside, unless you’re planning on wearing them under another pair of gloves. I got these ones from The North Face and they get wet the second they get snow on them. I feel like if it’s going to be cold enough to wear two pairs of gloves, you might as well just spend a little more for a single really good pair.

If you prefer something less bulky, opt for leather or pleather gloves lined with fleece or wool.

Beanie

The majority of warmth escapes from the top of your head, at least that’s what my fiancé is constantly saying. Whatever the case, you need at least one beanie even if you’re not a hat person. It makes a big difference to have a snug layer protecting your ears and head underneath your hood.

Coal Headwear makes some nice, inexpensive options that are good winter staples.

Scarves

If you haven’t yet discovered the wonder of scarves, what are you waiting for?! Not only do they keep your neck from getting hit by drafts and snow from slipping down your back, but they’re an inexpensive way to dress up some of the black/grey/neutral stuff you’re buying for the season.

To start, I suggest opting for one scarf in a practical, solid color and one more unique one in a fun print or pattern. I’ve linked some of my favorite current options below.

Hydrating Lotion and Lip Balm

When I moved to Colorado after college, I remember my hands and lips looking like I’d been working construction for 20 years every time winter would roll around. The same thing happened when I moved to New York.

Turns out the cold zaps moisture from your skin in a way that doesn’t happen in warmer climates, and if you’re not used to it you’ll really notice the difference. It can be painful!

Now, I swear by lathering up on lotion and lip balm multiple times a day to keep the chapping at bay. I have a bit of an obsession with Vaseline products, specifically their intensive care lotion. I also have a Carmex tube or jar in basically every purse and coat pocket.

Ice Scraper & Shovel If You’ll Be Driving

The first time I experienced snow as a car owner, I was miserably unprepared. I was driving down the street to work with about six inches of snow on my car until some nice neighbor flagged me down and scraped off my windshield.

Before the first freeze hits, do yourself a favor and grab an ice scraper and a snow shovel. You’ll need the scraper to de-ice your windshield when it freezes overnight and the shovel to dig out the snow from under your wheels before you drive so you don’t get stuck.

The Nice-To-Haves

Dressy Wool Coat

Your puffy, heavy coats are for everyday wear like going to work and running errands, but you’re most likely going to be attending at least one semi-formal or formal event each winter, whether it’s a holiday party or New Year’s Eve. For these occasions, it’s nice to have a dressier coat that you’ll feel polished in even if it’s not the warmest.

Wool coats aren’t the most practical when it’s very cold and snowy, so I suggest spending the bulk of your budget on your everyday staple coat and going the H&M or Zara route for a more fun coat you’ll only wear a few times a season.

Long Underwear

Truth be told, I still don’t own long underwear, so you can obviously survive without them. I’m putting them on this list because everyone and their grandma has told me to get a pair. Maybe we can experience the Long John Magic together.

Sweaters In A Variety Of Weights

One of the most fun parts of moving to a cold climate is building up an actual winter wardrobe. The first year, it’s less about looking cute and more about not busting your ass on a frozen sidewalk. After that, though, it’s kind of cool to see cute sweaters in stores and think ‘I can actually wear that!’

As you build your sweater collection, think about collecting a variety of weights and styles (lightweight to wear during fall and under layers, chunky knits for the cold months, button-down styles for layering, etc.)

I’m a major fan of Express sweaters. Every year they have a rotating collection of different colors and styles and there are always a bunch on sale. If there’s a style you’re eyeing, join their email list and wait a few days and you’ll almost always get a notification about a discount. I’ve linked a few of my Express favorites from this year below. Several of them are on sale as we speak!

Headband Ear Warmers

Even though I love my head being warm, I’m still not the biggest fan of hats. They make my already-limp hair stick to my head or become filled with static. I like to switch it up with these headband style ear warmers. Something about the Mary Swanson vibe really does it for me.

Dryer Sheets

Yes, they make your clothes nice and soft, but they’re also a magic hack to get rid of frizz in your hair. The trick works!

Carryall Bag

One thing that drives me nuts about winter is that you always have to have so much stuff with you. Hat. Gloves. Scarf. Cardigan. And most of the time you take all of it off the second you get inside somewhere!

Because of this (and about 5 pairs of lost gloves), I had to step up my bag game. Last season I used a cheapie carryall bag I grabbed at H&M, but I’m eyeing this Longchamp one for this winter.

The best piece of advice I can give you is not to stress too much about what to buy. With free 2-day shipping from websites like Amazon and Zappos, you can get almost anything you need delivered in no time. When in doubt, buy something inexpensive that’ll get you by until you can do some research and figure out what cold weather staples you want to invest in.

Happy shopping!

You can browse any of the items I’ve mentioned above right here:

 

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