Must-have clothing items for Northern England?

[halfpintmama]

Hello! We’re relocating from the southern United States to Northern England in the next couple of months. The climate is obviously very different and I have no idea what we absolutely must have in the sense of clothes/shoes for the day to day in England. We are coming from a very warm climate ☀️ 🌵 and are so not use to cold and wet. Jackets, boots, etc are obvious needs, but what kind? What am I looking for?

Very Cold weather clothes are a must. What might take you by surprise is the amount of days that are mild and damp. Cold but not freezing, or sunny but with a cold wind that makes the temperature drop. You need lots of long sleeved tops or light jumpers/cardigans.

Slippers for inside are a must for me.

Oh and socks! Lots of socks!

And a whippet.(sorry op, just a little joke)
Like said up thread, it depends, city or country. I wear boots of some description from late September to April. A waterproof and warm coat, jumpers (sweaters), a warm hat and gloves and scarf. A really good moisturiser, blistex lip balm, and hand cream. Uniqlo online do a range called heat tech, excellent for the aforesaid layering. Wellies.
Where abouts? It's quite a big place.

These cover all weather conditions

I live in a Northern town, do the school run on foot. For general use I have a good quality rain mac. I don't tend to find I need a thicker coat, just layer up extra jumper, hat, scarf, gloves if it's cold.

I think clothing depends on lifestyle. Good news is we have shops open 7 days a week in most towns plus the internet for online shopping.

When are you arriving. I'd wait until you are here and you'll soon work out what you need. So much depends on your personal style and lifestyle. And your personal style will change, Americans have a more casual style than many Brits. And you'll have much more choice of weather appropriate clothes here than you will in the southern states.

It's nowhere near as cold as the north of the States so trainers or closed toe shoes, cotton trousers or jeans with either a t-shirt, shirt, sweatshirt or jumper will do for casual clothes for most of the year. You will need a light coat for the summer and a heavier coat for the winter but how practical those coats are will depend on your lifestyle. I wear my raincoat only a few times each year and wear smarter fashion coats most of the time.

Most of the comments above are jokes. We communicate approximately 75 % of the time in jokes, 20 % in hard stares and/or passive aggressive comments and only 5 % in straightforward explicit information. HTH.

When people say you need a big coat, make sure it is a proper coat that zips all the way up to your chin.
I know a southern softie who has moved up north. They didn’t have a big coat so bought a big faux fur one but didn’t realise just how cold it can be up here! The cold will get in any gap!

I also like to have one of those lightweight rain macs that fold up into a little bag to keep in my handbag during rainy season.

Layers are your friend here, especially the more uncertain weather months where it can go from freezing on the morning to boiling by lunch. A little vest top under a loser T-shirt, with a jumper on top is a good idea.

If you're going to Liverpool you'll need a good set of rollers

It will depend where in the north you are moving to. The Lake district is different to Newcastle.

You need layers e.g. cami tops, knits, big coat and a waterproof.
It's also worth having a pair of welly boots.

Thank you for all of the responses! I’m dying laughing at some of these. Cold weather gear is a must... especially considering I’ve lived in sunny Hawaii, mild California, and HOT HOT Texas for the last 17 years. It’s been a while since I’ve spent significant time in the cold, damp mountains of North Carolina. Feel like we’re doing a 180 on climates and it’s daunting. Don’t think I’ll be able to survive by layering jumpers alone. Will need time to adjust but fortunately I live for those rare cold, rainy days in Texas...I’ve got a decent collection started but don’t think it will be enough for those cold England days 🤣 Will most likely take the advice of someone from above and buy major items when we get there... probably will fine better items suited for local climate at a better price.

We will be in Harrogate, plan to stay more in town than in the country, but are a very outdoorsy family. Love to camp/hike, DH and I both run, DD (11) plays club soccer... errr, football (that’s going to be a hard one for me 🤣), DS (7) plays baseball, both swim competitively. So need clothes for both urban and rural life I think. I love clothes and love to shop so this is kind of a win-win.

I’m not joking about the lack of coats in NE England. The OP might think people are mad but you can’t deny the are often coatless in all weathers.

Coats are for southern softies

Just whatever you’d wear in New England or Canada. It’s not that cold here. Might be between about 35 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit in next few months.

In my Northern town, standard issue uniform for women in their 20s and 30s currently would be skinny jeans with either vans/converse or nice leather boots, a fine knit jumper or T-shirt and a leather jacket or parka with a fancy scarf. And an umbrella. Despite the cold weather, where I’m from we’re all fashion over function. No Regatta waterproofs and hiking boots here. I’ve even worn a mini skirt in the rain and wind on many an occasion and no coat on nights out, as others would testify to.

I have waterproofs etc but would only wear them on an actual hike.

The North is very different depending on where you are. My friend is in the Peak District and lives in fleeces, waterproof anoraks, jeans and wellies. Manchester is very “Hipster”, Liverpool is extremely fashion conscious but you see many a girl out on a Saturday day time in her rollers, pyjamas and Uggs...anything goes in Blackpool. It all depends on where you are.

Harrogate is gorgeous and full of lovely shops, you’ll be very happy!

Hawaii
California
Texas
North Carolina
Harrogate

One of these things is not like the others, one of these things is not quite the same...

Harrogate and York are lovely for shopping too! Get Great Yorkshire Show in your diary too, that's a good day out.

Lol I am way to “uppity” (as my friends call me) to be seen around town in uggs, pajamas, and rollers. Can’t even believe that’s a “trend.” Even in casual America I would not go out in that.

@nerrsnerr 😂

Ooh Harrogate is lovely but very middle class.

More fashion than comfort.

The North of England gets a bit chilly in winter, but it’s really not like living in the North American snowbelt.

You will need at least one warm waterproof coat, plus a warm hat, gloves and warm, practical shoes. You can pack your shorts away in October, because you won’t be needing them again until April.

Moving from the Southern US, particularly if you live in the South West, you need to prepare for rain. Lots and lots and lots of rain. For day after day after day after day.

You will be fine in Harrogate, it has a mild temperate micro climate created by the ovens of Betty's Tearooms.

It’s not a “trend” per say, they are going about their “Saturday” business whilst simultaneously preparing for a night out.

In Harrogate it’s quite laid back, outdoorsy wear. Have a look at Boden, Fat Face and Joules websites for inspiration.

Harrogate and surrounding area is lovely, but really the weather in Yorkshire is not THAT different from the south of England - don't forget the UK is not that big so we don't have massive differences, maybe a few degrees lower at times in the north, wetter in the west, drier in the east etc.

Imagine what you’d wear on a spring or autumn day in Seattle. Jeans, boots, jacket because it will rain - that’s what you’re after!

Oh ... Harrogate ... see, that's Northern softies territory. White Stuff, Boden, etc etc.

Even the outdoorsy stuff in Harrogate seems high end fashion to me.

Venture further north to Newcastle's Bigg Market on a Friday night after you've settled in and prepare yourself for a culture shock (leave yer coat at home)