Winter Survival Guide for New York City (or anywhere ridiculously cold) from the perspective of an Aussie
Our first Winter living in New York/Brooklyn is nearly coming to an end. I feel like I could be jinxing myself by even saying that, but it’s the 21st of February as I begin this post and one of the few days of the month it’s been -5*C in the morning.
I’m standing on the platform at one of our local subway/train stations and it’s not an underground station - many aren’t in Brooklyn and beyond Manhattan. It’s pretty cold, but I’m warm from the walk down here, and I routinely put my scarf in my right pocket and my beanie in my left. I wipe my watery eyes with a pre-packed tissue, I unzip my Sleeping Bag Puffer and prepare for the squish of a packed Q-train. As I walked to the station this morning I found myself thinking “it’s not that bad” and I wondered if I really have mastered the dreaded New York Winter or if I had finally lost my mind after nearly 4 months in the cold.
Well, I do think I’ve mastered it. By being prepared. Expecting the worst, so that when it does snow unexpectedly or you nose does suddenly gush liquid down your entire chin, you’re ready. Ready with your vibram-soled Scandinavian boots or your pocket full of tissues. Whatever you need, have it at the ready.
Getting sick
You’re going to get sick, especially if you’re catching the subway every day. I only got sick once this Winter, but it was fairly brutal and lasted 3 weeks in December. The cough and sniffles may continue for a few weeks after this and the dry air from all the heating doesn’t help either. I did get my flu shot - that’s a given - get this in October. Just remember to not push yourself too hard, as it’s much worse being sick when you can’t feel your nose than it is if you could.
Expect to see many people commuting and working sick. Keep some Dr Bronner’s organic lavender hand sanitizer at your desk/in your bag.
Snow
The first snow, as everyone will tell you, is magical. The second snow, as I say, is also magical. If you’ve never lived anywhere that snows, it’s cool. But the first day it snowed here, for some reason (I think it was in November and no-one expected it), I was wearing Nike Air Max sneakers… and they are not good on the ice. Footwear is everything for snow - see Attire. The snow in Manhattan is pretty and because this year it was so sporadic (no blizzards), it was usually gone the next day. A colleague also told me something about the footpaths (sidewalks) being warm due to the subway/electricity wiring being underground, making the snow melt instantly? I have not fact-checked that.
Regardless, the footpaths are slippery AF. You’ll see them salted, the roads too, before you’d ever expect snow. Because sometimes (like this year) it snows early. The salt genuinely helps make things less slippery, but pro-tip - watch where you’re walking. Basic science knowledge tells you that if the temperature is below 0 and someone’s spilled their Dunkin’ Donuts coffee on 5th Ave, it’s going to turn icy and no amount of salt can prevent that. Sometimes what looks like a puddle of mud (remember that band?) is a super slippery sheet of ice.
I was also told that the snow is pretty for a few days, nice and white, but then turns muddy or even grey from the dirt and grime of the city. Even in Brooklyn, this was maybe 20% true. As it didn’t snow consistently for more than a few days, I cannot truly confirm this fact, but along the edges of the footpath where snow seemed to cling for longer, it did go a bit yucky.
The most picturesque things I saw were the wiry tree branches of Prospect Park lightly coated in white like a reverse shadow along the top edges. They looked almost like cardboard cut-outs or the backdrop of a Netflix holiday movie starring Vanessa Hudgens (she’s found her niche, hasn’t she?). The second is the freshly fallen plush snow with only a few footsteps in it, and the squeaky crunchy sound it makes when you walk on it.
So, the snow is alright. We got off lightly this year. The wind is what’ll got me.
Attire
This isn’t going to be about how to look amazing in Winter. Function over form is the goal when it comes to dressing in NYC Winter. Unless you’re swanning around SoHo waiting for a street style photographer to capture your #ootd, you need to remember that no one in New York gives a shit what you’re wearing when it’s cold. Most of the time New Yorkers don’t notice anyone around them. Tunnel vision and a hell of a lot of power walking is the standard.
Dress like a tire (a tire shop mascot, that is). Be one with the Michelin Man. Puffier the better. But not all puffs are created equal. Find something with down/feathers… preferably upcycled/sustainable/responsible. Polyester wadding is not going to withstand the negative temps. Check the product info for listings such as “ideal for -30*C”. For me, it was The Sleeping Bag Puffer from Everlane. Super long, nearly ankle length. A decent hood (essential) with elastic draw-cord to tighten it so that when you’re zipped up, it doesn’t blow off your head (wind). Deep pockets - I store one puffy fleece-lined North Face glove in each, which I slip my hands into while walking. I keep tissues in there, too. As mentioned before, I can fit a scarf in the right pocket and a beanie in the left. My favourite scarf this year has been the Uniqlo cashmere. It’s super warm, but super thin/lightweight, so it can fit in my pocket.
Speaking of Uniqlo, their HeatTech leggings are a must-have and I often wore them under jeans to keep my Sydney/Cali style, but with extra warmth.
For beanie, opt for something in a natural fibre such as wool or wool-blended with cashmere. Acrylic may look cool, but it’s going to give you an itchy, sweaty head. I did buy the Adidas X Ivy Park beanie and it’s super cute, but it’s nowhere near as warm as my Everlane cashmere beanie. When it comes to colour, everyone in New York wears a lot of black. I opted for a neutral mid-toned puffer, because I wanted it to be a safer colour for walking at night.
Shoes are THE most important part of dressing for Winter/snow. I opted to have a chic, slightly dressy option and a practical sporty option. If you truly have outfit issues at work, then by all means change shoes when you get there. I’m not that person. I wore my boots all day, regardless of my outfit. Make. It. Work, people. My first pair was from a Swedish brand - all leather, with wooly interior and reflective laces. Vibram soles. Never slipped once. Super cute with jeans, dresses - pretty much any outfit. It was the “dressy” option. For the coldest days and for weekends, it’s the sporty North Face boots, with their pull-on design, obnoxious logo front and bouncy, slightly raised soles. Superior traction and great arch support.
Whatever you do, don’t wear Ugg Boots outside - they are slippers. Invented in Australia, so trust me, I know.
It’s tempting, but they’re not meant to be worn outdoors, you’ll step in a puddle and they won’t be the same ever again.
Socks are important, too. Bombas sell many variations of wool socks and the mid-calf black ones have become my hero socks for days when cropped jeans feel so right, but wind-whiplash to bare ankles feels so wrong.
Beauty/Skincare
Lip-balm is a must, but when it’s windy be aware of dust sticking to it! The aforementioned tissues will be essential when your eyes water and the tears freeze on your cheek (exaggerating a little). The main difference for me having oily/normal combo skin in warmer climates, is the dryness. You don’t realise how dry your skin will become on your face and body. Opt for a body oil or intense moisturising balm - you’re gonna need it. I like the Glossier Body Hero.
For the face, I’ve started more layering of skincare products, including serum, moisturiser, sunscreen (yes - even in Winter!). I still use chemical exfoliants (AHA, BHA), but the trick is to not overdo it and that’s why you definitely need to keep wearing sunscreen after exfoliating with these.
My approach to makeup hasn’t changed much in Winter, aside from the fact that I’m so tired and cold in the mornings, I allow much less time to get ready. Do whatever you can manage and focus on skincare as a priority. Oh, and for brows, make sure they’re smudge-proof for when your beanie grazes them. You don’t want to end up looking lop-sided or devious.
Rain
If it doesn’t snow, it’ll rain. This February was extremely rainy and it’s totally fine if you’re prepared. Don’t be that boob who pays $5 for a crappy single-use umbrella from a street vendor or - fashion forbid - a plastic poncho! Before it got super cold, I bought a cute printed raincoat from Gorman because the exchange rate is awesome spending USD on Aussie products. Rain coats are perfect for October and (hopefully) March.
SAD
I’m not saying I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, but I will say the Winter gets me down sometimes. Especially when it’s gloomy and I feel like I haven’t seen the sun for 5 days. Daylight Savings kicks in in March, but throughout December and January, it gets dark by about 4:30pm. It’s still dark when you wake up. It can take its toll on you. The best thing I found to help is when it is sunny - go outside! If you’re in an office/workspace with a window and you see the sun shining, try to go outside for lunch or if you packed your lunch, go for a short walk around the block after you’ve eaten. It’ll make you feel like you’ve seen nature, too. The tall buildings in Manhattan can sometimes feel like the walls are closing in. It doesn’t bother me too much, but I’m fortunate enough to escape to the wide open spaces of Brooklyn every day.
The geographer in me also wants to talk about weather. The irony is, when it’s coldest/windiest it’s usually the sunniest. On the cloudy days, it’s warmer. Push yourself to go outside on the colder days and you’ll likely spot some sunshine if there’s no clouds. It’ll be colder because there’s no cloud cover keeping the heat in, but seeing some blue sky on your lunch break really does cheer you up (I literally just did this today).
Finally, try to go outside as much as possible on the weekends, even if it’s cold - after walking for about 15 minutes, you’ll warm up and be glad to be outside.
Office Life
Leading on from SAD… Heading into an office each day can be fine, but the biggest issue is heating. Heating in all buildings in New York is mandatory between some time in October to about March. Most people prefer it super warm. I do not. You can, of course, turn all your radiators off, but in office buildings/restaurants/cafes it’s likely going to be toasty in there. If, like me, you get claustrophobic when the air is too hot, you might want to consider dressing more trans-seasonal for the office and relying on your coat to keep you warm outside. As mentioned, I rarely wear anything long-sleeved or layers under my puffer when I’m outside. I’ll get too hot. So, I take a jacket/cardigan/jumper with me each day that matches my outfit, but pack it in my bag and only wear it in the office. A new routine needs to be established here. Also, it’s a good idea to keep one in your desk drawer at work in case you forget.
Humidifiers and daylight desk-lamps are also handy to combat the winter blues.
Weekends/Social
Try to find an activity to keep you active and get you outside on weekends. Mine has been a 9:30am Saturday pilates class. Yes, it’s me, your friendly neighbourhood person who usually hates fitness classes. But I found one I like and I’ve made it part of my Winter routine. Class Pass cancellation fees force me to continually show up regardless of the weather, and the second part to my Saturdays has become a 25-min walk up to the Farmer’s Market to buy the basics for the week. I’m pre-warmed up from the class and motivated to get this bread. Or that bread. Oooh or some wasabi pickles, kimchi and pastries!
Try to schedule things to do during the week so that you have something to look forward to on the weekend. Book tickets to a dine-in movie session or plan to visit a museum. Museums are perfect for Winter and there’s so many in New York/Brooklyn to enjoy.
Things to start doing:
Being prepared: tissues, scarf, beanie, gloves, good boots, good puffer
Allow more travel time. It’s going to take you longer to walk to the station or wherever you need to go, because of rain/snow/ice/wind/cold. Just because it’s Winter, you can’t show up late and get away with it.
Things to stop doing:
Caring what you look like when you go outside (you can still look cute when you’re inside, I promise).
Staying inside more because it’s cold. You’ll just end up feeling sad, trust me. It’s the easy option but Winter here is technically longer than 3 months. It’s not healthy to be a hermit and your friends will miss you.
The worst case scenario:
You’ll ruin some nice shoes.
You’ll slip in the snow/ice. Puffier the puff, paler the bruise - amirite?
In summary, New York Winter wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. I know we got off lightly this year - hello global warming/climate change. But I think if there was a blizzard, I would have survived.
Now I patiently await Daylight Savings, high temps over 12*C and seeing my legs again.