If your hometown winters don’t necessitate navigating a slush-infested hellscape (in the greatest city in the world), this guide is for you!

Picture this: it’s February, and you—a first-year from somewhere much closer to the equator—are experiencing your first NYC winter. You came to school with plenty of warm weather fits, and now you feel plenty prepared in your jeans, hoodie, and Converse. WRONG!! You froze to the steps outside of Earl. Passing students mistook you for an avant-garde student art installation. 

Are you fearful this will be your future? Not to worry—Bwog’s warm climate contingent has compiled plenty of tips for crafting a winter wardrobe from scratch (or close to it).

General Tips

Tragically, the semesters are not scheduled to accommodate seasonal fashion—you’ll undoubtedly want your jackets and sweaters before you make it home for Thanksgiving or Winter Break, and, though it may be freezing in January, you similarly won’t want to go the whole spring semester without access to warm-weather looks. Assuming your hometown isn’t a short drive from campus, you’ll likely need to pack with the entire semester—and sometimes the entire year—in mind. 

What’s more, if you’re coming from a much warmer climate than New York, you may be looking at starting fresh with a winter wardrobe. If that’s the case, it’s worth it to consider holding off (though not for too long) on buying bulkier clothes like sweaters and coats until you’ve actually moved in to avoid packing hassles—you have plenty to transport already. 

That said, Bwoggers who self-identify as “cold climate girlies” suggest buying your winter wardrobe and any snow gear as soon as possible after you do move in—many stores will put their winter coats and similar items on major discounts in the summer and early fall, so it’s best to make your purchases before the cold weather actually sets in. 

On the topic of storage, your multi-season wardrobe needs will likely require some creative solutions. While you’ll undoubtedly need a good supply of cold-weather clothes, there will also be large swaths of each semester where they won’t get a ton of use, and vice-versa for your warmer weather attire. While Columbia generally provides some clothing storage space in your room—typically a wardrobe for hanging clothes and a chest of drawers—you’ll likely want to find somewhere else to store your off-season clothes to prevent them from taking up too much space. Bwog recommends vacuum seal bags, which can be kept under your bed or in your wardrobe, won’t damage the clothes, and are pretty affordable at Target and similar stores.

Bwog also recommends looking into summertime storage units if you plan to head home for the season. While they’re definitely an investment, not only will they help you avoid packing hassles for clothes you won’t really need back home, but they can be a great solution for storing any excess dorm materials—like mattress covers, mini-fridges, and more—that you won’t be using over the summer. 

A Rough Packing List

• A good winter coat. These tend to be one of your bigger wardrobe investments, so do your research ahead of time! 
• Plenty of materials for layering. Undershirts of any variety—or even close-fitting t-shirts—can be an efficient way to conserve warmth without sacrificing the look. On a day when the weather’s fluctuating, they can be worn under a warm jacket for an easy transition, and on ultra-cold days, they can make a great base layer under sweaters and coats. The same goes for undergarments on your legs, like tights or leggings! Seriously, don’t forget tights. While you might be plenty bundled up top, leaving your dorm on a freezing day can be an unfortunate shock without adequate layers on your legs.
• Solid, warm, water-resistant boots. Trust us, all of your careful layering goes to waste the second your canvas tennis shoes get soaked in melting snow. 
• Hats and gloves!!! Having a warm head and warm hands can be a game-changer on a cold day. Gloves with removable fingertips or screen compatibility are a plus, since they’ll help reduce the number of times you have to remove them.
• For the extra cold, a scarf or balaclava. These can make a huge difference by providing more coverage for your face and neck than a standard hat and coat.
• For the coldest, hat and hand-warmers. Just. Keep. Your. Head. And. Hands. Warm.

Final Shopping Tips 

• Thrift, thrift, thrift!! Many winter wardrobe items, especially winter coats, can get pricey quickly. Thrift stores across the city (and there are many) can be a great source for solid at a much more cost-effective rate, especially earlier in the fall. Bwog recommends L Train Vintage, which has locations across Brooklyn, for a decent selection of affordable outerwear.

Header image via Paulina Rodriguez