What to Wear in New York City During Winter: 10 Essentials

New York is notorious for its brutal winters. Temperatures hover near freezing for months on end, snow turns into brown ice blocks, and the sun sets before 5pm. The weather is pretty bleak but thankfully, the city stays vibrant and full of things to do even though the weather feels otherwise.

I’ve lived through several New York winters and have slowly learned how to brave the winters. And a lot of it comes down to clothes! The quote, “There’s no such thing as bad weather – only the wrong clothes,” is, in fact, true.

Dressing in a cold city is particularly difficult because New Yorkers spend a lot of time outside, whether walking, biking, or running errands. Knowing how to dress to stay warm but not show up to brunch in a snowsuit is definitely a skill I’ve spent a while learning. Today I’m sharing 10 must-have essentials to dress for New York City winters and survive the cold.

How Cold Does It Get in New York City in the Winter?

Before we start let’s talk about how could it actually gets in New York City in the winter.

The average temperature in the winter is 40℉ (4°C), but the wind can make that feel much colder (New York’s grid pattern moves the wind like through a tunnel, and you can definitely feel those strong gusts). We start feeling winter weather around November, and it lasts until February or March.

It’s long and intense so let’s jump into the clothes you’ll need to stay warm.

1. Warm Coat

This is the #1 thing I’d recommend. It’s annoyingly expensive, but if you’re planning to spend a while in New York, a good winter coat is one of the best investments you can make for yourself. It makes a world of a difference and will keep your body so warm.

Choose a neutral color, and you can wear it for years to come. I recommend coats that are down-filled as those will always be the warmest.

The Aritzia Super Puff is probably the coat I see most New Yorkers wearing. It’s available in lots of different colors and lengths. I have the original Super Puff and wear it during the start and end of winter.

The Patagonia Silent Down Long Parka is basically a long duvet (which is all I want to wear when I’m outside during the winter). It’s so warm and amazing quality. I wear this one during the coldest months and it keeps me incredibly warm!

2. Wool Coat

There comes a point when you just get sick of the puffy coat, or you’re going somewhere fancy and are willing to compromise a little bit of warmth to look cute. A long wool coat is a must for the occasion.

& Other Stories makes beautiful coats that are really warm and durable. This navy blue one is a really classic and chic style.

3. Light Puffer Jacket

A lightweight puffer jacket is small but mighty! When we get surprisingly warm days, I’ll wear just this as my jacket. But more often, I’ll use it as a layer on bitterly cold days. I’ve never had to wear this under one of my thick down coats, but it’s a game changer under a wool coat on a really cold day. The jacket is thin and completely unnoticeable but so warm.

I have and love the Patagonia Down Sweater and am always surprised by how warm it is.

The Patagonia coat may sometimes look sporty but Uniqlo makes a great lightweight down puffer that’s really simple and streamlined.

They also make it in a vest version if you’re worried the sleeves might not fit under a jacket.

4. Base Layer

This is a page from the book of Scandinavian dressing but essentially, you wear a thin base layer of a fitted long sleeve shirt and leggings (kind of like second skin) underneath your outfit. A fitted layer insulates your body heat and keeps out cold and moisture.

I love the Heat Tech line Uniqlo makes and know lots of New Yorkers swear by this for their base layers.

This is the top and these are the bottoms.

5. Socks

Don’t forget about warm socks! Thin socks are not going to cut it for those cold New York winter days. Try to get some wool socks as they’ll be the warmest.

My tried and trues are these from Smart Wool, Danish Endurance, and Bombas.

6. Hat and Gloves

They’re kind of an annoying thing to keep track of, but I’m always glad I have them if I’m out for a while, especially if I’m biking.

Uniqlo makes a Heat Tech hat that gives your head that same level of warmth as your base layer!

An Alex Mill cashmere hat is so luxuriously soft and comes in great color options.

Moving onto gloves, these are really a must. The North Face E-Tip gloves are great touchscreen gloves, but Hestra mittens are amazing for warmth.

7. Warm Shoes

Most New Yorkers wear boots or sneakers on an average winter day. Living in a city and walking a lot, our requirements are a tall order: comfortable, warm, and fashionable too.

My favorite everyday boots are Marc Fisher sherpa-lined boots and these classic black leather Chelsea boots that are waterproof (I wore these almost every day for two winters).

Of course, no shoe is warmer than a cozy pair of Ugg boots which you’ll see a lot of in New York. This platform pair is my personal favorite.

For days without snow or rain, I love to wear high-top Converse sneakers or Vejas.

8. Snow Boots

Face it: if you’ll be living in New York for even one winter, you’ll need to get some snow boots. It seems like every year we get at least one big snowfall which is followed by days (or weeks) of frozen snow that turns into melted slush. You probably won’t wear these boots every day, but you’ll be really glad to have them on snowy days.

Most people in New York wear some version of these Sorel or Ugg boots.

9. Fleece Lined Leggings

I only discovered fleece-lined leggings several years ago but they’re brilliant. They’re great to wear at home, when traveling, or running errands without compromising warmth.

These are great options from Athleta and Lululemon!

10. Wool or Cashmere Sweaters

I’ve learned that fabric content is so important. Cotton and acrylic sweaters hardly keep in any warmth but wool and cashmere have much warmer fibers and insulate your body’s heat. These fabrics are also more durable and will last much longer than synthetic materials. If you’re sensitive to wool, try wearing a layer underneath or opt for cashmere which is a much softer fabric.

You can find great basic cashmere sweaters at Uniqlo and the famous $75 Naadam one.

I think this sweater would suit anyone and this is a darling classic cardigan.

And that wraps up our 10 essentials for surviving winter in New York City. I promise it’s so much more bearable when you help your body stay toasty warm!

Have you been to New York in the winter? What would you add to this list?