<p>I "vote" for a multi-purpose jacket, too. We live near Boston, and despite being quite spoiled so far this season, it can get cold here. My D hates to wear jackets, but thinking ahead to next year, we just this past weekend went up to LLBean (there is a new store an hour away from us) and bought her their "3-1" jacket for a Christmas present. It is mostly a rain parka, but has a removable fleece lining so it can be a winter jacket, too. The nice thing is - it doesn't look like a rain parka (I think vinyl), but like a regular jacket. It comes in lots of different colors for both men and women, and was very reasonably priced.</p>
<p>Pack light. Get it later -- or now if the sales are good. Whatever you do, make sure your kid has more than one pair of shoes that fit well and have a lot of wear still in them. The peer thing may be not to wear boots (your kid won't know either way until he gets there, which is a reason not to buy a lot of stuff now unless it is really inexpensive for the quality), but wet shoes in the cold are horrible. That's why he needs at least two pairs of shoes -- so one can dry out. [That probably seems like an obvious suggestion, but you would be amazed at what some of D's classmates have taken (or not taken) on field trips, to camp, etc.]</p>
<p>Also, a lot of it is learning to dress. No cotton in wet, cold conditions. Layering. Wearing something on his head. Wrapping a fleece or wool scarf in an X across the chest under a fleece or sweater is amazingly warming.</p>
<p>The idea of a college aged kid wearing earmuffs in NYC has me rolling onthe floor...really they'll usually just wear a knit cap,or pull up the hood on their hoodie sweatshirt..or both.S likes those cheap knit gloves you get for a dollar or two a pair near the checkout in big box stores..he can by lots of them and lose lots of them.They do for most any winter weather in NYC except snowball fights or shovelling Mom's walkway.
Of course, now hes traded in all winter wear for shorts and tees in South Carolina.</p>
<p>What kids wear here are sort of a hybrid hat/earmuff. Just a fleece band that goes around the head, covering the ears, but allowing the girl's ponytail to stick out & look fashionable. Really, our winters have been so mild that I only wear a hat when skiing. And I couldn't give a hoot about looking fashionable. Hats really aren't needed as much as I remember years ago.</p>
<p>I've lived in NYC all of my life and ever since I was old enough to purchase my own clothes, I have never owned a pair of thermals, I don't know when the last time I purchased a pair of boots and some timerlands are so heavy on your feet that I gave mine away.</p>
<p>That being said, another vote for waiting with the exception of getting really good quality items on sale for a really good price. Garland pretty much summed the college wardrobe thing up with the exception of dress clothes which thumper did cover well. I agree with Patient about the Northface Denali fleece. It's a staple in my D's wardrobe in Hanover as she uses it with sweaters and sweatshirts, and here in NYC she just tosses it on an goes (today is really warm in NYC).</p>
<p>Don't worry, once your kid gets the lay of the land he can always pick up something at Century 21, SYms, Filienes, Macys, the gap and everywhere in between (many places right now have 50% off sales on coats. The Gap is having a crazy sale!! I picked my D up a puffer vest and 2 coats on sale and the whole thing came out to $105).</p>
<p>*I don't see what's so bad about a nice sweater. I have one my girlfriend picked up from structure, and it looks mighty fine with a collared shirt.</p>
<p>Is 23 really that old? C'mon...tell me I'm not uncool...*</p>
<p>I have to say- I liked these sweaters-
ofcourse I like Hawaiian shirts too.
not cool?</p>
<p>I'll join the chorus saying don't buy too much now, even if it seems like a great buy. This was my thought last year when I found out my Southern California girl was going to college in Wisconsin. I bought a down coat on sale here in January, and some other essentials such as a pair of boots. She has not worn any of them. Well...that's not quite true. She wore the coat and boots once, when she went to the store to buy something she liked better. :) She did, however, make it through late November in Wisconsin wearing mainly her most beloved lightweight jacket from home with a lot of sweaters.</p>
<p>Bethie...the climate in NYC is a bit milder than the climate in Greenland :) Related...yes, Columbia outerwear is terrific. Both of my kids own Columbia ski parkas..that they wear when skiing. Neither kid would be caught dead walking down the street in a Columbia parka. </p>
<p>To the OP...let your future NYC college student pick out his own outerwear. I know he may not want to do that now...oh well. Don't waste your money. Even on sale, you could be spending money for clothes your kid will NEVER use. That saves you nothing.</p>
<p>UCLAri, don't worry, we all know you're cool...</p>
<p>I think the poster was concerned with him attempting to launder said sweater. That could be catastrophic. However, I assume you learned to do your own laundry while stranded in Japan for a year, so you're allowed as many sweaters as you want. ;)</p>
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I'd choose one with soles with good traction as well-shoveled sidewalks can be a bit slippery at times.
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<p>Marite--you made me smile. Every year in Cambridge, there would be at least one morning when I would walk out of Currier House on my way to a class and....boom....feet out from under me and smack on my butt on the sidewalk. I have this image of one of the outside workers laughing at me every time it happened! Dumb California blond, I am sure they were thinking.</p>
<p>Sybbie--heck, I live in northern California and I have thermals and wear them! But I agree my kids refuse to wear them--even in the snow. And then of course they whine about how cold it is while I am toasty warm!</p>
<p>Patient, my front path has a bit of a slope, and I've ended up on my butt a few times, too! Any more incidents and I'm putting ropes on either side of the path! :(</p>