<p>We live in the Bay Area and my D is going to school in Boston. Should we try and figure out what she will need before the first rain-snow storm hits, or let her figure it out once she's there? I assume she'll get good advice from fellow students who are more savvy about what kind of boots and coats work best, but I have no idea what a reasonable budget is or what kinds of stores are accessible besides the high end stores. I guess I'm trying to stave off the phone call where she tells me she bought such and such and I say "how much????" since I don't really know what's reasonable or necessary for New England winters. Uggs, for instance?</p>
<p>IMO Uggs are required gear. Warm coat/jacket, scarf, hat, mittens/gloves. Probably makes sense to get them there – better selection than we have out west – and she can see what the locals go for. Although I might get the Uggs right away – order if you need to, since they go fast when the weather turns bad.</p>
<p>Thanks IMHopeful- Uggs will hold up in the rain and snow?</p>
<p>I’ve heard Uggs are fine in cold DRY weather. They also seem to be more the fashion for girls/women. Others types of winter boots are better during the inevitable cold, wet weather. We visited Boston/Cambridge in July (when they were still having plenty of rain on the east coast) and near/on the Harvard campus, saw lots of girls with brightly colored rainboots. Sorel (Canadian brand, available in the US) offer many styles to keep feet dry and cozy in the coldest weather.</p>
<p>PS I grew up in the PNW and ski, in addition to living three winters in upstate NY.</p>
<p>She will need a coat to bring with her because even in September it may start getting cold. She can beef up her wardrobe from there once she gets there. I have found when I am in FL and I try to buy sweatshirts they are very light and nothing like what you get in Michigan, so she may be better off winter clothes shopping in a colder climated area anyway. But she definitely can’t go to school with nothing but a tshirt and windbreaker or she’ll freeze the first time she wakes up for class and it’s cold, she may not have time to go out RIGHT THEN and get some better clothes.</p>
<p>Uggs are VERY trendy but I would not recommend them in the wet, they are suede. rubber boots or other similar waterproof designs are much better-- there are cute ones of those too if she looks, don’t worry. I got frostbitten feet every year in high school because I refused to wear waterproof shoes, it’s just NOT worth it not to have a good pair of WATERPROOF boots.</p>
<p>The heavy-duty fleece pullovers will run about $65-$125 depending on brand. Probably the university bookstore will carry some with the school logo on it. But those fleece jackets will get her through the milder stuff and possibly longer if she wears layers. I second the no UGGs - suede doesn’t particularly like getting wet. Most hiking/camping type stores will carry a good selection of appropriate stylish waterproof winter footwear which will probably run anywhere from $50 - $85. My pricing could be off - these things last so long that I don’t think I’ve bought new boots in about 6 years.</p>
<p>Brands like “North Face” “Columbia” “L.L. Bean” are very popular here! Also L.L. Bean guarantees everything! I have shipped back winter jackets with broken zippers and had them replaced for nothing. If they no longer made that particular model, a similiar priced jacket & your color choice was replaced for nothing! I really can’t say enough good things about L.L. Bean!</p>
<p>As FindAPlace said, Uggs are fine in dry cold weather, but they will never last in a Boston winter. </p>
<p>Rain boots are a good reccomendation - functional for rain/sleet/snow etc, and pretty popular (at my just-south-of-Boston campus at least). Stores like REI will have great quality winter jackets, as well as heavy-duty fleece jackets that she’ll need. A good pair of gloves would probably be a wise investment, but not something she’ll need for a couple of months.
Lots of layers - tanks, tees, long sleeves, fleece etc. And socks!</p>
<p>The standard wisdom from this forum has always been to just let the kids buy it at their College. As long as she packs a hoodie she’ll be fine until she figures out what she wants.</p>
<p>Does D normally wear flip flops (thong sandals)? Wearing such footwear causes the foot to flatten and then a boot can feel tight and uncomfortable. You can order some good wet weather hikers/trainers/athletic shoes from Lands End or LL Bean and see if they fit – if they feel too snug, trade them in for the same size in a wider width. </p>
<p>Maryland Square is a company that specializes in women’s shoes in wider sizes. </p>
<p>This really is important. You’d be surprised at how many girls try to get through wet and really cold weather in thong footwear because they can’t stand the tightness of shoes. They end up sick a lot. </p>
<p>Consider sending her some bucks to buy a sweatshirt and fleece from her college shop.<br>
Gloves are also a must have but she may not really believe that until January. (You can Christmas/Hannukah/Solstice shop for hats and gloves and wool socks. They’ll get a much bigger smile in December than in September).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I realized that I am obsessing a bit about this stuff, partly because she’s leaving home in 2 weeks to go 3,000 miles away and this is something for me to focus on instead of how much I’ll miss her. That said, she does wear pretty much either flip flops or Uggs year round, so the width thing is something to consider. I’ve heard wellies are good but try finding them in San Francisco this time of year! Maybe I’ll just have to let her figure it out for herself when she gets there and sees what other kids do. I could always obsess about something else instead!</p>
<p>I would suggest that^ ! What we parents tell you is probably very region specific. In our area, the HS kids will wear just a t-shirt and a sweatshirt until the temps are near freezing. My daughter went to college in Illinois and she said she could always tell who the California kids were on the first nippy day because they would put on their winter coats, while the other kids would just ignore the cold or layer up.</p>
<p>I think a pair of lace up walking/hiking boots are a great thing to own and work in many weathers. DD has worn then in NYC.</p>
<p>By all means, colorful rain boots, Ugg knock-offs are okay, and winter boots.</p>
<p>You can buy them before she gets there or in Boston, whichever is more fun. Probably many of these things are not readily available in CA, but discount internet sites are great.</p>
<p>LL Bean, Lands End, Eddie Bauer- check the catalogs. We live in Rochester, NY and D will be going to college in Cleveland, and both places have terrible winters. Get your D a pair of those colorful rainboots- check out Target’s website as they even have a plaid pair featured in Real Simple this month. Uggs are great, but they MUST be treated with the water repellant (twice if possible) before the winter weather hits. They aren’t much good in wet or melting snow- check out the lace or zip-up boots on the LL Bean website if she has to do a lot of walking. Zappos. com has all of the new Uggs and the prices are the best you will find, plus the shipping & returns are a snap. My D just got a pair of the high Uggs in this year’s grey color as an early 18th BD present (she’ll be away at school)
A light weight and a heavier fleece jacket should be able to take your D until Christmas, but a good, down jacket is required to combat those icy winds that come up the Charles River. Don’t forget gloves, mittens, scarves and hats- let her check the web sites and pick her favorites- “hat head” isn’t given a thought when the temp is 10 degrees and the winds are blowing at 30mph!!</p>
<p>when D went to school on the East coast from Oregon I found that even though she had ski clothes they were not warm enough for an East coast winter. When I visited for Parents weekend in Oct. we went shopping for a warmer coat, hat, etc. If I had not visited and she could not go shopping I would have bought some things on line and send them to her.</p>
<p>I’d get her a Northface jacket, a good pair of rain boots like Hunter’s, which all the girls seem to have on the E. Coast, and give her a budget to figure out the rest once she gets there and sees what her peers are wearing.</p>
<p>There used to be a Northface outlet store in Palo Alto, no idea if it’s still there. Northface can often be had for a big discount on ebay. Hunters easily bought online, maybe ebay, too.</p>
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<p>This was our experience also, oregon101. My advice would be to wait till you get to Boston to buy the cold weather gear. Besides styles, we couldn’t get warm enough stuff here in SoCal for a New England winter. H made D buy a winter jacket while he was visiting the campus in October. She wore her flip flops to school into December. :eek:</p>
<p>We are from the bay area as well and i have a D in nyc and another leaving in two weeks</p>
<p>Rainboots- target has great boots online and those with rainboot liners will get your D through the fall and srping, for those rainy and sloshy days. I sent D with them and she wsa the envy of the dorm with her rainboots. And the liners were great when it got colder.</p>
<p>I found some great kids low winter snow boots at Sports basement, half the price of adults and the simple little waterproof lined boots were great</p>
<p>Northface- surprisingling warm (doesn’t have to be northface, but that kind of coat) I was able to get away with kids larges for years for my girls</p>
<p>Tights- under jeans work wonders</p>
<p>Long sleeved tshirts</p>
<p>my d didn’t want heavy sweaters, she found layering was better</p>
<p>Scarves- pashima works fine</p>
<p>Peacoat- for those dry cold days</p>
<p>Raincoat- HandM has some cute hooded coats that are waterproof that are perfect for the in between weather- spring and fall</p>
<p>I suggest sending her with a pair of gloves, a scarf, a fleece jacket, a pair of rainboots, a pair of tights, a pair of heavy socks, a hat (my Ds did beret style wool as opposed to a ski cap), and plan on layers.</p>
<p>Most of the jackets we wear in SF did fine in NYC, so loing as you could put on a sweater, had a scarf, etc. Warm hands and feet are what is important!!</p>
<p>Oh and I got my D a pair of slip on after show boots- light, water proof, that she would slip on when going acorss campus to dinner or the library. Found cheepies at target or someplace like that</p>
<p>you dpn’t need expense boots for just getting around- warm socks and such did my d just fine</p>
<p>I grew up in upstate ny so I know cold, and so long and you layer, and have accesorries, you will be fine.</p>
<p>What my D didn['t have enough of was the lighter jackets for fall and spring. Fouind one at Wetseal, light wool</p>
<p>I took my D and her friend out to lunch when I visited her at her east coast school. Her socal friend wore sandals, it was Feb! All the girls wore peacoats from Forever 21, I bought my D one when I visited. My D also wants a North Face Denali, which she will probably wear most of the winter, my S wears his into Dec and he goes to school in a place that gets 200-300 in. of snow a year and starts snowing in Oct. He doesn’t wear his snow boots but wears a pair of waterproof hiking shoes in the winter.</p>
<p>I would not worry. If it’s cold, she can borrow something until she can get to the store or order something online. I would not buy anything until she knows what she wants and what is popular at her school.</p>
<p>My kids will wear scarf’s and gloves but not hats. My D didn’t think that it got that cold at her east coast school but we are from MI. She wouldn’t wear a hat in MI either but I do. It’s also not that far between classes and the classrooms are hot so my kids don’t want to bundle up too much.</p>