Your First College Winter: The Cold Weather Essentials
If you grew up in California, Texas, or Florida, your first winter at school can be a shock! One week it’s sweater weather, and the next you’re walking to an 8 a.m. in wind that cuts right through your jeans.
Even if you’ve seen snow before, winter at college is different. You walk everywhere: to class, to the dining hall, across campus at midnight. You don’t have a car to warm up, and nobody is reminding you to grab a jacket. What’s in your closet matters more than it used to.
You don’t need a whole new wardrobe, just a few good pieces that layer well. Here are a few of our favorite suggestions.
Learn to Layer
The way to stay warm is layering, not one giant coat. Campus buildings are overheated, it’s freezing outside, and you’ll be going back and forth all day.
Start with a good knit. If you buy one sweater, make it J.Crew’s Perfect cashmere crewneck. It’s warm without the bulk and works for class, dinner, or a night out. For every day, the Heritage Cotton quarter-zip and a soft-washed wool V-neck are easy to wear. If you want a little more shape, the Cashmere Blouson-Sleeve Sweater looks put together without much effort.
For a casual layer, Uniqlo’s Sweat Half-Zip Pullover goes over a tee or under a jacket, and it costs a fraction of everything else here.
Choose Outerwear for Your Climate
Your jacket does the most work, so pick it based on where you’re going to school.
For cold, dry days, J.Crew’s Soho car coat in plaid double-faced cotton is polished enough for an internship interview and easy to throw over a sweater. Uniqlo’s Padded Shirt Jacket is the one you’ll reach for most in fall and early winter, and it’s light enough to keep on indoors.
If your new campus is wet, the Rains unisex rain jacket is waterproof and still looks clean. The J.Crew limited-edition 1989 Anorak is a slightly retro pick for windy days.
Invest in Real Boots
Sneakers don’t hold up in slush, and wet socks on the way to a 9 a.m. will ruin your whole morning. If you buy one thing from this list, make it boots.
The Heritage 6″ Roughneck leather boots are built to last for years, and they get better as you break them in. For something cozier, the Zara x UGG Classic Micro Boot is the easiest pull-on for a quick trip to the dining hall. J.Crew’s knee-high leather riding boots are the dressier option, and they still keep you warm.
Spray leather boots with a waterproofing protector before the first snow, not after.
A Few Things Nobody Tells You
Dress for the walk, not the classroom. Lecture halls run warm, so wear layers you can take off.
Check the wind chill, not just the temperature. Thirty degrees with wind feels a lot colder than thirty degrees without it.
Shop before the first freeze. Once the weather turns, boots and coats sell out in the common sizes.
Don’t forget gloves and a hat. They’re small, cheap, and the first things you’ll wish you had.
Shop Cold Weather Essentials
Everything above is in our curated Cold Weather Essentials collection. Start with boots and one great sweater, and build from there. Your first winter doesn’t have to be miserable.
