nytraveler

There's one other problem with fur in NY C - many places won;t check furs - and you're left to carry them around with you. Very few of my friends have furs - and those usually old (pre-awakening). I have one friend who loves her minks and wears them all winter - and fairly often gets nasty comments (and I don;t blame them).

Elainee

It is very, very cold on NYC now. Feb might be worse. Miserable strong wind as well. Dress warm or you will not have a good time. I love my down coat, would not wear anything else. Plus hat, gloves, scarf.

bramsole

Thanks once again everyone. Your time is greatly appreciated. As of today, after reading all the wonderful replies, the decision has been made to find something that just covers my fanny, and is slimming, and black. Lightweight, but warm. Even thought my four cats and dogs are white and black, I'll take the chance.

After being in the 30's today in Alabama, I was started out in full gear, except for the hat, and by the time the temp. hit 34, I was in a shirt, pants and dashing, minus gloves, scarf and coat in and out of the car and stores.

Now, the wind was not fiercly blowing, but I comfortable, well, happy I wasn't sitting in the restaurant all bundled up. I ended up fanning with my menu. Knowing I can check the coat and carry spare shoes in a large bag has made me a lot happier about all of this.

I have only been to N,Y. in the spring and fall. We were in the blizzard in Pa. last winter and the southern fools that we were, we were outside sledding and making snowcream. Now I am talking about a 60 plus girl. We will find the fun and if we get cold, we can go shop and get something else.

Thanks once again, coat and shoes, I can lay that issue to rest. B.

AndrewDSmith

Oddly, I just blogged about this before coming to this forum. I think all this focus on coats misses the point. No kind of coat, by itself, will be enough to keep you warm here in February (barring freakishly warm weather). You need layers. Here's the post that explains some of my thinking:
http://www.metropolitanwalks.com/blo...r-in-new-york/

hawksbill

I'm gonna agree with nytraveler, and not AndrewDSmith. Definitely do not wear long underwear. You won't need it when you're outside, and when you're inside, you'll feel really overheated. I also agree with TC about eschewing the layering approach in general. I hate creating a big commotion at the coat check while I dissassemble or reassemble a lot of layers.

My big ol' Lands End Commuter Coat keeps me warm in any weather, no matter what I wear under it, and I don't find it to be unbearably bulky. If I get too hot, I unzip it part of the way. When I get to my destination, I can remove it quickly and leave it at the coat check without having to worry about it. It's not fancy enough to wear to an outdoor event with important business associates, but it's understated enough for me to check it at even the most elegant restaurants without feeling like a total slob.

alley

I don't see that anyone has mentioned fleece.

It's all I wear in the fall/winter/spring in New England. Very warm but very light and very breathable. Keeps me warm in the bitter cold but not too hot when I step inside.

I would go to a website like llbean or eddiebauer or rei or landsend and find yourself a nice fleece jacket or vest. You can then put a medium weight coat or lined raincoat over it.

And for me, equally important are fleece hat, gloves and scarf.

enjoy your trip!

Bowsprit

I'm in the City off and on all winter and February weather is very unpredictable. It won't ever be balmy in February though, and the wind is something to reckon with.

I agree with TC: Get a classic, very warm, wool blend or cashmere belted BLACK coat that comes at least to your knees to wear over your 'normal everyday clothes'. Also, bring a hat (I dislike hats but always bring one and never wear it), scarf, gloves and you'll be comfortable walking about outside and after checking your coat when in museums, restaurants, and shops.

You can buy a genuine fake pashmina every 30 yards in the city; don't spend a lot of money before you arrive in NYC buying a scarf as you can get them for $5.00 each on the street. Don't bother wearing silk underwear, fleece layers, or lined wool pants; you'll melt away each time you enter a building. Wear comfortable walking shoes or short boots and you'll rock. If you bring a short coat, leave the jeans at home. They're just not warm enough. Now jeans with a longish black cashemere coat and wool scarf are great. If you're also wearing cool black boots you'll look like a local.

Fur coats are just awful. Aside from the barbarism and unsophistication associated with them, I've yet to see a fur coat that makes any woman look tall and thin.

starrs

I thought of this thread when I was watching the Today show this morning. Donald Trump was wearing a long black wool coat, the host (I think Natalie Morales) was wearing a puffy down coat and the two Apprentice finalists were freezing in not-warm-enough-clothing for the outside shoot.

Donald looked great. The others? Not so much.

I do love fleece accessories

ggreen

bramsole, you sound like you "run hot" like I do. I have to dress in layers pretty much from October thru April or otherwise overheat every time I'm indoors! (I stopped buying pullover sweaters long ago for that reason: on again off again on again off again...) I carry a hat, never wear it - but two nights ago it got cold enough that I pulled it on.

30's in Alabama? Wow, I had no idea it could drop that low down there! I'd imagine the biggest differences between 30's here and there are (1) the cold really gets into the ground here over weeks when the mercury doesn't rise, and it's a "damp cold" being on the east coast, so it gets into your bones; and (2) the wind can be brutal!

The night I was "forced" to put on my hat, it was the wind that did it. The temps here have been in upper-20s/lower-30s all week, but I'm fine if there's little or no wind. That night, I was wearing typical attire for me: corduroy pants, short sleeved top, cashmere cardigan. Once the wind picked up, when it gusted you'd think I had nothing but bare skin under that wool coat! But I wasn't strolling the length of Manhattan or anything, so I was okay. (A little like your dashing in and out of stores!)

If you think the wind's bite will be of concern to you, I would recommend looking at windproof options (of which a wool coat is not). The slimmer-type down coats and the Land's End one that hawksbill recommends are options. If you're as much like me as I'm assuming , you won't want a vest-type layer because it heats the core (which is already hot) and doesn't help the extremities (which need the extra warmth outdoors)!

And you thought you were done with this thread.

Bowsprit

The good news is that coats are on sale all over the place in the northeast.

Elainee

The last cheap "pashima" I bought on the street is pretty but NOT warm. Only for decoration.

Zoom

Hello there. I was in NYC for a touristy long weekend last Feb and it was FREEZING. And I'm from CT - so supposedly used to the cold. I had a heavy black wool cape/hat/gloves/scarf - the whole shebang. I wasn't warm enough. Only the people with 3/4 length down or wool toggle coats looked warm. It was almost freakishly cold, but you should be aware that walking down 5th ave. in Feb is not like how you would feel running in and out of stores from your car in AL. So....go for warmth - you will be glad you did!!

Bowsprit

And my pashmina is functional and decorative. It's very warm and heavy. I bought it in China Town though, so not on the street.