<p>I live in Florida and never had to worry about buying winter clothes before, but I'm going to school in Rochester in the fall, and I know it starts getting cold around the beginning of October over there. So my question is when do stores start selling winter clothes? Hopefully soon...I move in August 25th, and I doubt I'll have much time to shop around for clothes once classes start. Also, what kind of jacket would you guys recommend? And what type of gloves are the warmest?</p>
<p>I live in NJ and actually saw a department store with winter jackets out today. In most stores though, new summer items are still being put on the shelves. Toward the end of July, they tend to begin marking down summer things, and by early August, the fall clothes start to be introduced. </p>
<p>If you go to a specialty store though, like one that sells skiing/snowboarding/camping equipment, cold weather clothing is usually sold year round. </p>
<p>I would HIGHLY recommend that you also get a good pair of snow boots. Upstate NY gets a ton of snow and you’re really going to need those boots for walking to and from class. Also think about getting a pair of rain boots so you don’t have to destroy your every day shoes on rainy days.</p>
<p>North Face jackets are very warm, but they are also VERY expensive. I’ve had a Calvin Klein jacket for 2 winters now and it has kept me nice and warm. I don’t believe it was that expensive.</p>
<p>My favorite brand for cold weather clothing is Spyder. Their clothes are meant for skiing and snowboarding, but that also means that they are very very warm. Their gloves are by far the nicest that I have ever owned. Here is the link <a href=“http://www.spyder.com/Womens-Gloves/Womens-Stretch-Fleece-Glove-3869.html?color=052[/url]”>http://www.spyder.com/Womens-Gloves/Womens-Stretch-Fleece-Glove-3869.html?color=052</a> What’s great about them is that they’re not those stiff puffy gloves that are impossible to move your fingers in. They’re fabulous for every day use and hold up a lot better then cheapo cotton gloves (mind you, they are not 100% waterproof, but your hands won’t get soaked if you pick up a few snowballs). Spyder is a bit pricey, but you are going to be using your winter jacket A LOT so I suggest you invest in a good one.</p>
<p>Leather jackets (if weather treated) coupled with an under-layer of a light, soft jacket tends to work great because not only does this combo seem to be warmer than the sum of it’s parts, it also has convenient layers so when you get to class you can take the larger jacket off but keep the lighter one on (If it’s a notoriously cold lab).</p>
<p>As for gloves, I’m not too sure. I don’t wear them (Despite my hands always being cold, I think I’m getting some next year) although if you have a lot of touch based devices (Ipod/ touch screen phone etc) you may want to get some cotton gloves and make hobo gloves (best if you know how to sew because you can finish the fingers so they don’t unravel).</p>
<p>I’m from NY, and its always cold here, it only started getting warm this week, so this post gave me the lolz.</p>
<p>Anyway, I know a lot about winter wear and such, so if you want something that is hip and very warm you should get a North Face down feather jacket (you know, those puffy ones) or a Spyder jacket like someone else said. Those are the two most popular types of jackets, and they are also the “coolest” round NY.</p>
<p>I personally have a Spyder jacket, it is not a puffy one, but its just as warm, a lot of kids are getting the thinner down jackets nowadays</p>
<p>i live in canada…</p>
<p>i wear the same running shoes as summer, same jeans. I still wear t-shirts, although I’ll wear long sleeves and the odd sweater as well. The only thing that’s drastically different is I wear a jacket (a heavy flight jacket) and a toque (if it’s cold enough).</p>
<p>I live in Tucson and its very hot most of the time and soo im moving to flagstaff for college and i was wondering the same thing with winter clothes.</p>
<p>I want to take
-2 pairs of snow boots
-1 pair of rain boots
-maybe 2 jackets
-and lots of sweatshirts( even in summer its chilly there)</p>
<p>good to know i’m not the only one wondering about this stuff. </p>
<p>also, do uggs make good snow boots?</p>
<p>NO!!! Do not use Uggs as snow boots. Uggs are meant to be worn when it’s cold, but not wet, outside. I promise you that if you wear them in the snow, your feet will be soaked within 5 minutes and your shoes will be ruined. Stick with snow boots =)</p>
<p>haha ok! thanks for warning me. can you recommend any good snow boots? do timberland boots count as snow boots? thanks for helping me out with totally unfamiliar territory, everyone :)</p>
<p>I got a pair of Kamik boots in Canada and I absolutely love them. Some other brands that I know are good are Columbia, The North Face, Patagoina, and Sorel. Timberland boots are more of a work boot than a cold weather boot. </p>
<p>Your best bet for finding a great boot is to go to a camping/outdoor store. You need a shoe that is pretty light, as it’s already going to be difficult to get around in deep snow. And for the same reason, make sure that it is comfortable. If you have to decide between a cute boot that really isn’t comfortable, and a hideous one that feels great, go for the comfortable one. They’re going to get covered in slush and road salt anyway.</p>
<p>get a peacoat.</p>
<p>Personally, I prefer to wear a bunch of thin-ish layers rather than a few thick layers. Occasionally, it’ll be about 10 degrees outside and 80 degrees inside. Layers are very nice in these instances.</p>
<p>I second the recommendation for Sorels. Oh, and make sure they’re comfy (waterproof, fully lined yet light enough that you can bend your ankles, etc).</p>
<p>Anything wool is good, since it can absorb quite a bit of moisture and still be warm; there’s a reason the Navy favors peacoats.</p>
<p>A good place for cheap winter stuff: <a href=“http://sierratradingpost.com/[/url]”>http://sierratradingpost.com/</a></p>
<p>I also like the peacoat, myself. The wool ones are actually really warm with a sweater underneath, and if you get them with a hood you should be set. I’ve never owned a Northface or Spyder jacket though, so they might be warmer, I couldn’t tell you. I prefer leather gloves too because I have a permanent case of the dropsies, and anything thicker is a disaster for me. Also, nicely waterproof for snowball fights!</p>
<p>I’ve never worn snow boots since I was a kid, and I’ve lived in upstate New York all my life. In general, if you’re going to wear them, go with something with a deep tread so you can get traction in slush (just like tires), and something that goes a little higher on the ankles to keep the snow out of your shoes. Also, comfort is important too. Now that rain boots seem to be fashionable, it’s also fine to bring a pair in a fun color/pattern, though if you’re not too afraid to get your feet a little damp, bringing a beat up pair of sneakers for inclement weather works just fine. </p>
<p>annavela - You shouldn’t need two pairs of snow boots, and only bring two jackets if they’re for different temperatures. It’s good to have a light jacket to wear when it’s chilly but not cold enough to go all out with a full puffy down jacket, but you should only need one jacket for when it’s really cold. You can’t go wrong with sweatshirts, though. You may even find that you need to bring one to classes in August because some rooms are over air-conditioned, and even in cold weather it’s good to layer one underneath your jacket for more options in personal temperature regulation.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider are scarves, because if you have a jacket that doesn’t zip up that far, you will notice that your neck is cold, and if you intend to do any sort of choir/theater, this is not good for your voice at all. Hats can also be good to have on really cold days if you’re not afraid to mess up your hair, or your coat doesn’t have a hood. New York winters can be tough because it’s a very biting cold compared to the mid -west, so you’ll really start feeling it anywhere that isn’t covered (and then you’ll go numb). In general, I find my ears are the most painful when I’m really cold, so I really like to keep them covered if at all possible. </p>
<p>Finally, though this isn’t winter wear, per se, make sure you bring some lotion. New York winters will really dry your skin out, and this can be itchy. If you have really dry skin too, like me, if you’re not careful your knuckles may start to crack and bleed, so you should moisturize your hands regularly if you don’t already.</p>
<p>I agree with scarves, I adored mine during the more bitter parts of winter as I could pull it up over my nose while waiting on the bus if the wind picked up.</p>
<p>What about sleepwear? On our visit to Marquette, we noticed that there was no air conditioning in the dorms. I imagine there are heaters during the winter. Anyone live in a dorm in a northern school, where there is no AC? Do you sleep in shorts, or will you have to sleep in at least sweat pants because it’s so cold?</p>
<p>Mentegut, I have heating, but since it dries my room out, I sometimes turn it down and sleep with long underwear under my PJ bottoms/sweats. I like the ones from L.L.Bean, though you can get more intense ones from places like REI. Layering also works (both for you and your bedding) since trapped air = warmth.</p>
<p>Bring chapstick too. The cold weather can really take a beating on your lips. Dry, chapped, disgusting lips = painful.</p>
<p>Many northern schools don’t have AC, but all have heat.</p>
<p>You can get away wearing shorts, but it’s probably best to wear long pants and a short sleeved shirt. Bring a couple of oversized, old, warm hoodies to wear to bed- it can get pretty chilly at night, especially if you’re the type who always has a window open, like me. 
You can get away wearing anything in the summer, but keep in mind some places can be 80 during the day and 40 at night, so be prepared for that. Sometimes I even wear a hoodie to bed during the summer (I live in RI), so you might want to as well, especially if you’re not used to the cold.</p>
<p>The sleepwear really depends on the dorm. My dorm had no air conditioning and usually was overheated. I actually had many nights in the dead of winter in Ithaca when I had my window all the way open with my fan going and I was still too warm. During the summer, I needed cooler clothes to sleep in.</p>
<p>A few different blankets with different levels of warmth is key, I think. Sheets for the warm nights, a really warm comforter for the cold nights, and a fleece throw or something for layering blankets or for just wrapping yourself in while doing homework. I was never cold in my dorm overnight if I closed my window though. Other dorms weren’t heated as warmly though.</p>
<p>Basically, your basic sleepwear in different levels of warmth will probably work. I think the blankets are more important.</p>
<p>Or you could get a Snuggie. xDxDxD</p>
<p>Ahh. The parodies of that are some of the best I’ve seen.</p>
<p>Remember: you have not experienced a true northern winter until you’ve slipped on ice and had at least a few people laugh at you. Most likely it will happen more than once especially if you’re not used to it.</p>
<p>As for clothes, I have a Columbia jacket that can be split into 2 parts, a light, water-proof outer shell and a thin yet very warm fleece. When it’s really cold out I wear both and maybe a hoodie or sweater underneath (since it can be cold in some buildings). When it gets warmer out I can use them seperately as needed. I never wear snow boots unless I’m going sledding or somewhere where I know I’ll be walking in a foot of snow. I just wear the same pants and shoes I wear the rest of the year (and maybe some extra long socks on those extra cold days). Make sure you have a hat that covers your ears, that is essential. The gloves I have are very thin since I mostly keep my hands in my coat pockets anyway. I have a scarf but rarely use it, I just zip my coat up and keep my head down instead.</p>
<p>AC is not standard up north (though it can still get pretty hot here). You have to be careful with the heating in dorms and other campus buildings because you have very little control over it. You’ll get heat in your dorm room when your college says you get heat, and there may be a few weeks beforehand that you’ll walk around with a blanket around your shoulders. My dorm could still be cold even when the heat was on though. Also, different buildings around campus can vary widely in their temperature. Some may have AC, others won’t. Some will be blistering hot in the middle of January, and some will barely feel heated at all. Layering is key here.</p>