bramsole

We are having a girls trip to N.Y. City in the month of February. Some want to bring their furs, I personally hate to lug a heavy coat around, and don't have a fur anyway. We don't use wool coats in the south that much and I do understand the art of layering. Are there any hints on how to dress or brands of lightweight warm coats that can being worn all day without being completely worn out by the weight of the coat? We will be doing typical tourist stuff and will be in and out all day. Thanks, B.

nytraveler

There are 2 problems with furs -

1) they are huge and a big pain to lug around
2) a lot of people take exception to them (and you may get informative comments)- they are rarely work in NYC

There is no substitute for a long, warm coat in Feb. You may be lucky and get highs of 45 or you can get highs of 30 and lots of snow. A raincoat with liner would be useless.

bramsole

nytraveler, you have been so kind to help me with shoes. Thanks you so much for that. We just don't understand about long coats. Do you mean Lands End, Orvis type?
I watched the Today Show and one can't really tell what those girls are wearing. I was thinking raincoat with a liner, that has been shot down now.
Could you be a little more specific please. My coat will have to be ordered online. Thank you again, B.

HappyTrvlr

A North face all weather coat.
Skip the furs. THey are at risk in public coatrooms and not very PC..

yk

A lightweight to medium weight down jacket is the best - and with zippers, not buttons. Many of them are somewhat water repellent. Very warm, light, very versatile, and dirt resistant too. I live in Boston and I have a slim-fitting, black down jacket from Eddie Bauer which I wear for temps in the low 30sF to high 40sF. Since it's black and fitting (not those bulky Michelin man style), I wear it to shows and operas, and fancy restaurants. At the same time, I don't have to worry about it getting dirty when I take a bus or subway. With down jackets, I almost never, ever, wear a long wool coat anymore (not warm enough and not as practical).

mclaurie

I have to disagree with that. If they have warm furs, I'd say bring them. If not in NYC in Feb., then where/when do you wear them I ask??? The only thing that comes close to being as warm is a lightweight down coat (puffer coat or jacket) but they can be quite pricey esp. if you have no use for one at home. Dressing in layers is always a good idea given it can be very hot indoors with heating and freezing outside.

nytraveler

When it's not too cold - over 30 - I wear a winter weight leather jacket (mid thigh) with thinsulate lining and find that warm enough - but I like cold weather. When it gets very cold I have a heavy (very heavy) black cashmere coat that reaches halfway between knees and ankles and has a high stand up collar that I wrap a scarf around. this is good for as cold as it gets - as in 10 with wind and snow.

I don;t wear puffy down coats at all - think they look awful - but a lot of people do. Much better is cashmere or wool - or shearing if that's your style. the problem is that a coat like this will be in the range of $700 to $800 if you shop caefully and you may not want to spend that just for a vacation. I beleive that the down parka type coats from LL Bean and those places are very warm - but to me just too short and your legs freeze. But, again, I;m outside all winter - and we thingk nothing of taking an hour's walk after brunch if it's not too bitterly cold.

hawksbill

As a male, I seldom jump in on "what should I wear" threads started by females. Parenthetically, when was the last time you saw one started by a male?

However... despite the fact that I own more Prada than the average American male, and maybe even more than the average New York male, I don't mess around in February. I wear the male equivalent of this nice warm coat:

http://www.landsend.com/pp/DownLongC...213588_59.html

If you're getting one for New York use, get it in black. Black goes a long way up here.

bramsole

Y'all all have great replies. Thank you so much. I am really in a delima. I checked out hawksbill's suggestions and they look very nice. I love cold weather and am so hot natured. When we ski, we all have pants and jackets and we usually get very warm.
Another issue I have is the coat on a plane. It is only for a short while, maybe 3-6 hours of travel time, but they are so inconvient.
I think I need to look for a mid-thigh sort of jacket and layer up. I can't imagine wearing a coat that goes from 25* to minus 5 and not being very, very warm. Thanks, y'all, I need to do more research. B.

yk

For NYC in Feb, you'll do fine with a long-sleeve T-shirt, a warm sweater, then the outer jacket. Of course, you'll need wool hat, wool scarf, gloves, thick socks, and shoes with a thick sole (to insulate your feet from the cold pavement). All museums & restaurants have coat checks so you don't have to worry about carrying the coats/gloves/scarves when you're indoors.

As I said, I live in Boston, and all my down jackets only go just below my hips. I don't own any long down jackets (I have long wool jackets). On cold days, I wear a pair of warm tights underneath my jeans. You can easily get a pair of silk long underwear for your legs and then you don't need to worry about getting a knee-length coat/jacket.

nytraveler

Many of the LL Bean and similar are overkill for regular winter wear. I know my brother has a hevy duty one - but he uses it just for shoveling snow when we have a big storm - every 4 or 5 years. Otherwise it sits in the cedar closet since it is too hot/heavy.

If you plan on being mostly indoors - and we don't get any arctic weather - you can probably do with a jacket versus a coat. But whatever you do - do NOT wear long underwear. When you go indoors many places are overheated (stores, museums, theaters, restaurants) - and you can;t race to the ladies room and take off the underwear. You will stifle indoors if you wear it - it's really for skiing - when you are outside the whole day.

I find the most important things are a warm hat and long scarf - so your head stays warm and you can wrap the scarf around your face when it's windy - esp if snowy and windy. A frozen nose is no fun.

ggreen

yk pretty much sums up what I was going to say! I never wear a coat below my knees - I can't stand how bogged down I feel - but do wear lined wool slacks and/or silk long underwear when the weather gets into the 20's and below. And always a wool scarf long enough to wrap securely around my neck! The Gap often will have good, reasonably priced ones.

As for the down jacket, we got my mother this Eddie Bauer vest and she wore it every single day last winter where she lives in MA (no exaggeration!). I don't like puffy jackets but hers is very slim and attractive.
http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/pr...sembleId=37560

suite7

check the weather 10 days out. it could be freezing...it could be the mid-winter thaw. those who feel comfortable wearing a fur should. Those who don't, shouldn't. As simple as that.

Ackislander

suite 7 nails it!

girlonthego

I used to work in NY and always wore a long wool coat in the winter. I guess a shorter coat, maybe mid thigh would do with pants.
My mom always had furs and wore them to NY, but that was a while ago. Just dress in layers and bring the hat and gloves!!

gail

Since you are going in Feb, wait until Jan for sales on outerwear - register on Lands End and LL Bean websites and you will receive more emails than you want with % off/fre shipping/sale notification. Lands End has a part of their website where they list sale items - and you can always find some sort of appropriate outwear there.

As far as the plane - that is a pain. Stuff it in the overhead bin and then try not to forget it when you leave. Also, you can just take it off and sit on it on the plane.

hawksbill - I love your post about men not starting threads about what to wear. There are several reasons for this. 1. They don't care and if not saved from themselves by their associated females, many might do things like wear shorts to summer weddings. 2. They ask women "what do I wear" and then their women ask here or just know; 3. Men have it much easier - not as many options (plus their clothing actually is sold by inch measurements so sizing label actually means something).

Elkaz

I live in NYC and hate long coats. That being said I wear a Lands End jacket all winter. If you go to the Lands End website. They are giving a discount at the moment. I DO get the emails and at this moment there is nothing better than the website itself, everything has expired! Pick something that is rated warmer or warmest. I would keep watching the site, it may offer free shipping again, as it gets closer to Christmas--but of course availabiity will go down!

TC

I am usually one to agree with the layering concept, but NYC is my one exception. Too much going in and out. I want to be warm as toast while walking outside (and it can get seriously cold when the wind whips through those skyscraper corridors) and be able to shed the insulation easily when I go inside. I take a long, black wool & faux fur stroller. I have a warm hat, gloves and scarf. Once inside, those simple items can be checked and I am comfortable for museum, dining or theater.

travelbuff

zi'd say bring/wear your warmest coat and when you get here, if it's not quite warm enough pick up a coat here. Why buy one that you don't really need at home, and in Feb the stores will be having lots of sales, so you can pick up something nice for a better price than what you will see online now.

On furs, lots of people do where then here in the VERY cold weather, I have to admit I have 2.

Hope this helps and have a great time while you are here.

starrs

I wear a long black wool coat. I call it my NJ coat, because I bought it to wear to corproate meetings in NJ. I almost didn't take it in March because it is so heavy to carry on the plane. I am so glad I had it. I'm from the south too and cold is colder to me in NYC with all the wind whipping around the buildings and down the streets. To me, it's like being in a wind tunnel. I was toasty warm on the bitterly cold days. I also packed a leather jacket I wear most of the time at home and a thick fleece tunic sweatshirt that I've had for years (bought at a Colorado ski resort). The weather eventually warmed up so much it was almost springlike but for those really cold days the long coat was perfect.

A great suggestion upthread to wait for the end of the season coat sales. My big coat came from Macy's. And I agree, if you have fur, NYC is the place to wear it (and I'm not a fan of fur).