Oh my word. I feel like such a Floridian when I complain about the cold. My apartment’s temperature has legitimately dropped a solid 15 degrees in basically a week. I lay my clothes out carefully on my bed and get dressed as fast as I can to limit the number of seconds my bare skin is exposed to the chill. Seriously.
Everyone always mentions that living near your subway line is super important. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal… until now. I finally understand!!! I’m glad I blindly decided to listen to “everyone” and choose an apartment building super close to a 4/5/6 stop. With temperatures dropping every day, the shorter I have to be outside the better!!
It’s definitely interesting being from Florida too with “seasons.” Yes, we had some cold-ish days, but they weren’t bad at all. And then I moved to DC, which is “north” in my opinion!!! It was cold enough for me. I remember being absolutely freezing on Halloween my freshman year, even though it was probably only 50 degrees! HA!! I totally (naively) thought that New York City couldn’t be that much colder than the district. It is. Much, much colder.
I’m also not planning on buying any more wintery clothes until next fall. It seems like absolutely everything is on sale right now, but I have decided that I probably have one too many sweaters already.
See? Plenty to keep me warm until the warmer months finally show up.
In the meantime, I’ve been resorting to my “winter uniform.”
It can get a little boring, and a little repetitive…. but here’s my trick. Mixing and matching the layers! Want to play? It’s like Color by Number, but I call it “Warmth by Layers.”
Shirts on the left | Sweaters on the right
(Most of my shirts and sweaters are from J. Crew. Occasionally I’ll find a great shirt someplace else like Loft or Target and even Old Navy.)
These are kind of my staple go-tos. I mix and match based on what I have planned for the day, what kind of mood I’m in, and what shoes I need to wear. It’s so simple that it’s a little bit embarrassing. The formula works and I’m sticking to it!
Use the widgets to shop for perfect shirts and sweaters for layering (and staying warm).
Do you do something similar like wearing the same variation of the same core outfit?
xoxo
I moved to Boston this fall after living in Texas almost my whole life. I definitely feel ya. Fleece lined leggings keep me sane!
That was pretty much my uniform this past week when I was in NYC! This Florida girl was chilly- and am now a believer in fleece lined leggings!
I live layering! 😀 I like the color of your sweaters!!
http://healthycollegelifestyle101.blogspot.it
Carly,
I absolutely love your blog. You've helped me to discover so many new designers, The Levo League, as well as a desire to blog myself.
Thank you,
Kristin Burnett
http://musicscienceandlife.wordpress.com
Really cute idea! I love all the patterned shirts! Anything to keep this Floridian WARM in England!!
It's cold here in London too – layering is my go-to all year long as our weather is so unpredictable!
In Germany it's very cold, too so I let me inspire by your looks ;D and I love your blog ♥
Tanja ♥
Yes, NYC is SO cold in the winter. I hope you have a long puffer coat too, the ones with the hoods are the best! I got so many winter clothes from J.Crew in the past few months, they're the best for layering.
-Jenn
A Pop of Style
Since moving to the south, my ability to stay warm and brave the cold has diminished greatly. It's to the point that where anything less than 60 degrees, requires winter attire.
Let's hope for a short winter season!
My two staple uniforms for winter, knee length dress-sweater-thick tights-knee boots-trench coat/ and for home life, button up-sweater-leggings-short knit skirt-uggs
My uniform has to incorporate layers since some parts of my workplace are freezing and others are around eighty degrees. I wear pants with a short sleeve shirt and some sort of over layer (cardigan, blazer, etc) with either a scarf or chunky necklace.
I was wandering around Manhattan last week and I wore my NorthFace raincoat OVER my normal coat with both hoods up. As long as my head/EARS were covered, I was happy, I didn't care that I looked like an idiot.
As someone who grew up in Boston and moved to DC, it's so funny to see you refer to DC as "north" because I so often refer to it as being "south"! I know exactly what you mean when it comes to winter outfits becoming a little redundant. I just try to switch it up as much as possible with skirts/dresses and thick, thick tights.
Sequintessential.com
I definitely have seasonal "uniforms," but I try to mix them up with fun accessories… scarves, hats, jewelry, bright colors, etc. I wear layers YEAR ROUND though.. you never know when you'll need to adjust your temp either way! 🙂
I used to live in NYC and walked to the 4/5/6 from first avenue every day. I resisted getting a puffer coat for so long because I think they are hideous. I was wearing a jcrew wool coat with thinsulate instead. I finally broke down and got a puffer because I was just freezing all the time. Changed. My. Life. You can walk around the city all day in one and it's light so you don't feel that uncomfortable stuffed sausage feeling under your arms with a shirt, sweater, and wool coat.
I used to live in NYC and walked to the 4/5/6 from first avenue every day. I resisted getting a puffer coat for so long because I think they are hideous. I was wearing a jcrew wool coat with thinsulate instead. I finally broke down and got a puffer because I was just freezing all the time. Changed. My. Life. You can walk around the city all day in one and it's light so you don't feel that uncomfortable stuffed sausage feeling under your arms with a shirt, sweater, and wool coat.
I'm surprised that you hang your sweaters – don't your knits get hanger points in the shoulders? Or, do you have some kind of magical hangers that don't mess up your knits? I keep my sweaters folded on hanging shelves in my closet, but the ones out of frequent rotation get a bit rumpled that way.
This has basically been my uniform for the last few weeks! I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I FREEZE in 40 degree weather. I have to layer or I'm too cold to function!
I live up where it is much colder- in Canada! I usually always wear the same shoes (hunters with the thick liner and thick socks) and a variation of winter coats. But I sometimes wear clothing that would be considered spring or summer wear under all that! I have a lot of fun mixing and matching gloves/mittens and toques/ hats and scarves. 🙂
I love your blog by the way. I came across it from your studying entry. I'm trying to get my self back into a system for school after the holidays. Thanks for the great tips!
– B
I'm always layering! Down here, it can get pretty chilly and I couldn't even imagine it getting any cooler!
xo, Maria
I'm a Floridian, too (Tampa area!) and I'm terrified to go North even though I know I'll end up there someday, like NYC or Boston… I don't think I'll ever have enough sweaters, coats, and scarves!
I just moved to Iowa – I'm a native Mississippi Belle, so this is like CRAZY cold. My friends deffinately laughed when they helped me unpack my boxes. I didn't think it could GET this cold! Love they layering ideas – it really sparked some imagination for my limited warm clothing choice. Thanks 🙂
I do the same thing with layers. I have probably twice that amount of sweaters too, the problem is, I live in Houston! I never get to wear them, I just LOVE winter clothes.
I just moved to the Midwest from Florida. Hooooly cow, it's COLD up here!! I thought my pea coat from last year would be great for this kind of weather…it's not. After 3 weeks (and many 30-35 degree days), I succumbed to the puffer coat. It's ugly, but I'm WARM now!
Although I do not have that many sweaters and button downs, but I have adapted a few of these combinations into my closet. It is so easy and yet so chic! I love it!
Sweaters, jeans and flats (or ankle boots) have been my staple pieces as of late (it doesn't get too chilly here in CA).
xx Allie
A Song to Pass the Time
Love these pairings! It's one of my favorite combos this time of year, too!
My sister and I rely on jeans, boots and oversized sweaters during the winter. Sometimes it's way too cold to look cute!
Best/only way to do it! Living on the Canadian East Coast, I completely feel your freezing-cold pain.