Can some PLEASE help me shop for a trip to New York in January

[IHeartNedFlanders]

I know it's going to be freezing. My current winter wardrobe is my summer wardrobe with a coat on. And a pair of socks.

I need to start shopping for a really warm pair of boots that are comfy to walk for miles in yet warm and have good grip. And that'll actually look ok. I also need a warm but stylish coat that isn't really bulky. Can anyone help if have any suggestions? My budget altogether is £150 so I know it's quite low but that's the absolute most I can stretch to. I usually buy my coats from the highstreet primark but I really don't want to spend my time there freezing my arse off or with really sore feet. I went to Paris earlier this year and took a pair of river island boots. Bu day 2 I was in agony and could barely put my foot on the floor as the balls of my feet were aching so much. It really put a damper on my trip as every step I took was agony.

Thanks for your help

[IHeartNedFlanders]

Oh and gloves!!! Are all gloves the same, I always just buy a pack of black ones for a quid from the market for will a decent pair make a lot of difference?

[Fekko]

I buy hiking boots and wear tights, hiking socks with silk liners. Ski gloves and silk liners too.

I wear layers of clothing and a long vest (deeps the draughts out) and a big scarf and wooly hat.

I hate the cold it love the snow!

[Catinthecorner]

Coat - I’d buy a ski jacket from TJ Maxx or somewhere like decathlon. It won’t be the most stylish you’ve ever been but you’ll be warm and on budget.

Gloves. Yes decent gloves make a huge difference. Mine cost about £30 but I live somewhere with literally feet of snow every winter. Have a look at the thermal ones. Also bring a hat and scarf

Layers. I think primark do a heattech type range now but I couldn’t comment on the quality of it.

Footwear is going to be difficult in your budget (I’m assuming £150 for everything). Buy a decent pair of ski socks (they’ll help keep you walk and support your feet) and the most comfortable boots you can afford to go with them.

[BeardyDog8371]

Layers of clothing is definitely the way to go.

Thermal vests and long sleeve tops, as well as thermal/thick leggings/tights under your trousers. However, I think that normal vests and leggings would suffice.

Regarding gloves, The North Face gloves are amazing. These are definitely worth investing in- roughly £20. I have Raynauds Syndrome which means that my extremeties are very very sensitive to the cold and these gloves are a lifesaver. I wore them in New York and saw others in them too.

[marmiteloversunite]

Marks and Spencer's have some of their heatech type tops in the sale at the moment. Didn't notice if they had leggings to. They are soft, warm and good for layering. You will need a good hat. Very cold winds in New York. Possibly a buff too.

[marmiteloversunite]

Look out for Aldi and Lidl ski sales for under layers too.

[whirlyswirly]

Every time I go on a city break I wish I'd packed trainers. After 4 days in Vienna I was practically crying at the thought of any more walking - we were doing more than 25000 steps a day. Even ugg boots hurt then.

Take a warm jacket, hat, scarf, gloves and a thermal vest. It snowed continuously when we went to New York at that time of year. Beautiful but freezing. Central Park was lovely 😊

[holdthewine]

The trouble is the weather is so unpredictable. We went for Christmas and New Year 2015 and it was mild and damp so we were boiling in our cold weather clothes! The previous year they’d had 18” of snow. So watch the forecast carefully, pack late and take layers is my advice. And enjoy!

[PNGirl]

Mandmdirect are great for occasions like this. I'd probably wear Uniqlo heattech toos under a parka type coat like this and then some chunky warm bikers like these Uggs

[AlternativeTentacle]

my advice would be to wear in whatever footwear you buy, and buy a half size bigger than you usually wear to take account of the additional socks.
And don't forget your ears; mine near fell off when I was in NYC in winter. Earmuffs are essential.

[IHeartNedFlanders]

Thanks everyone! I'll have a look at everything you have recommended. I've had a look at decathlon as I've heard they do some good quality stuff for a good price, would something like www.decathlon.co.uk/jkt-rainwarm500-3-in-1-f-khaki-id_8396869.html this be ok? Or not thick enough?

[IHeartNedFlanders]

So I think I'll need

• thick coat
  

-maybe a thin fleece for underneath?
-good hat/gloves
-long thermal vest
-maybe some thermal pants definitely not pulling when I'm there
-comfy boots with decent socks
-comfy trainers
-ear muffs

I know it sounds like I'm planning really early but there's only 3 more paydays until I go plus I'm actually away for 3 weeks before I fly to New York and land back in the U.K a crazy 13 hours before I have to be back at the airport to fly to New York so need to have everything packed and ready to go so I can shove it in my suitcase and head back out.
Plus I love making lists!

[holdthewine]

Just take some light things too In case it is unseasonably warm, as it was with us. We were honestly in tee shirts with an umbrella! It didn’t drop below 10-20 degrees C over the whole Christmas and NYE period.

[HonestlySomePeople]

Don’t forget a thick scarf. The wind chill in winter over there is brutal.
Have a lovely trip
X

[Jermajesty]

As holdthewine says do keep an eye on the weather the closer you get. I was in NYC over new year a few years back and I was smoking outside in just a dress, it was so mild. I’d gone prepared for freezing temperatures etc..... and didn’t need any. So when you’re chucking in your layers put some normal long sleeve t-shirts, shirts etc in, in case you get in randomly mild year!

[IHeartNedFlanders]

Oh I really hope it is mild! I'd love to spend the week strolling around in a dress, tights, comfy boots and a light jacket rather then the thermal jacket , balaclava and ski's I'm imagining.

[KeiraTwiceKnightley]

Lots of layers. The central heating inside buildings is brutal. You can go from -20 outside - cold enough to feel the muscles in your cheeks struggle to work - to +30 in the buildingg in the blink of an eye.

Have you got a warm hat that covers ears?

[Bombardier25966]

The Decathlon coat looks good, they've probably got some decent thermals too.

I'd forget stylish. The locals will be focusing on practical, that's the way to go.

Take (or buy when you're there) a good body lotion too, lip balm etc. The first time I went in winter my skin was raw by the time I came home. Everywhere!

[semideponent]

Uniqlo for thermals and light down layers (gilet?) that will work under the clothes you have already. They're a good price and you'll get plenty of use out of them. It's good to be able to take off a layer or two on the subway.

A nice hat and gloves and some fur lined boots would great (not uggs, I hasten to add). Any chance you could drop heavy hints ahead of Christmas?

[OlennasWimple]

Swap a scarf for your ear muffs - you can pull it up around you if you need it, including over your face, but it takes up much less space

Uniqlo under layers are fab

Look in TK Maxx for ski stuff, and also for boots - check out the men's section as well, if your feet are a size 6+. They often have better boots with a decent grip on them

[JaneEyre70]

We went in November, the days were gorgeous and lovely with a lightweight jacket on but jesus at night, the wind was so cold we ended up stopping in the hotel!! It was so cold it literally took your breath away. I'd go for lots of layers, the shops/diners are too warm and you need light layers that are easy to take on and off. I found a thermal camisole was perfect as your arms don't get too hot, a light jersey top with a jumper over and I took my Regatta walking coat that was windproof. Look on Ebay for a good quality windproof and waterproof coat. And take a snood or scarf to wrap around your face.

[Glitteryfrog]

www.sorelfootwear.co.uk sorel boots?
I wonder if you'd be better buying a pair of boots and a coat as soon as you get there.
Even with the poor exchange rate stuff might still be cheaper?
Macy's offer 10% off if you flash your passport at a desk (google where).

[weatherheather]

We went in October last year and it went from very warm, light layers weather to bitterly, bitterly cold in a couple of days! I hadn't bought a warm enough coat and couldn't find a reasonably priced coat at all - ended up buying a few poncho/scarf type things to wrap around me! The locals didn't give a damn about looking smart/fashionable - it was warmth and comfort all the way!
Have an amazing time - I can't wait to go back!

[holdthewine]

Jermajesty it sounds as if we may have been there at the same time! Actually OP we were disappointed as we wanted it to be crisp and cold and like something from a movie. It wasn’t very Christmassy at all but we had a great time.

[IHeartNedFlanders]

Thanks again everyone, you've all be really helpful. I think I'm going to go for the coat I linked to from decathlon because it's 2 coats in one so if it's (fingers crossed!!) slightly more mild than I expected then I can remove the inside. Now I just have to decide what colour... I'm thinking the navy with pink lining.
I don't even know why I put in my OP about it having to look stylish, I'm the least stylish person in the world. Maybe I was hoping a trip to NYC would turn me into some kind of fashionista?

I'll drop lots of hints for a nice hat and glove set and definitely get some ear muffs. My ears have been in agony on cold days before so definitely want to keep them toasty. I'll have a look at everything everyone has mentioned/linked to.

To whoever said about buying a coat there, I did think of that but then was worried that I wouldn't be able find any suitable then I'd be the idiot who turned up to New York in the winter wearing a denim jacket