<p>I’m moving to Chicago for college and come winter I think I’ll be dead if I don’t have proper protection from the cold and the wind (cold wind). I’m trying to decide what kind of a jacket to get. Either one of:</p>
<p>The advantage of 1. is that it’s sure to keep me real warm and toasty however horrid the weather gets. It will also protect me from the wind / rain / snow etc. etc. The only problem is that it might get a bit uncomfortable during the three other seasons of the year! With the 3-in-1 jacket I can simply remove the outer layer when it’s not that cold. But the down side is obvious.</p>
<p>Dude, I think you are worrying way too much! I am a Chicago native, and I get by year-round with a pea coat. I just add a sweater underneath if things get quite cold.</p>
<p>The North Face one looks snazzier, in my opinion. =)</p>
<p>My son has a pea coat for deep winter, and a suede jacket for the rest.</p>
<p>If you are not used to real winter, you may not be aware that what you wear on the parts of your body that are <em>not</em> covered by your coat can make all the difference between cozy comfort and misery.</p>
<p>Besides the natural fibers (silk, wool and cotton) - socks and thermal underwear are also available in microfibers that wick moisture, dry quickly and retain heat. </p>
<p>Fleece or flannel lined jeans can also be nice. </p>
<p>Purchase a thinsulate lined hat - it breaks the wind and is warm. Be sure to also have a scarf (I like fleece) and lined gloves or a glove-mitten combination if you are prone to cold hands. </p>
<p>Shoes or boots are also very important - waterproof is good.</p>
<p>Get a pea coat, they will never, ever go out of fashion. Don't get North Face unless you want people to think you're from Connecticut. Hat, gloves, and coat should all be black/grey - scarf can be a darker color like maroon or forest green but anything else and you run the risk of looking goofy. You want to look good, right? </p>
<p>I was fine in jeans, sneakers, t-shirt, long-sleeve, pea coat, hat, gloves and scarf. If I was just going to the dining hall or whatever I would just put on a hoodie. I brought boots and never wore them once, I was perfectly fine walking around in crew socks and thin Onitsukas because they shovel the walks any time there's snow.</p>
<p>my daughter wears a full length puffy down coat and she loves it. I think that a down jacket will be perfect. As stated earlier, get a warm hat and gloves(perhaps down mittens). They make all the difference.</p>
<p>"no offense but the style of chicago kids r sumtimes lacking"</p>
<p>To be fair, there are also many people who dress smartly and are concerned with looking good; we have the city location, the intellectual atmosphere and the heavy grad student presence to thank for that!</p>