Going to Tampa for the holidays: help me pack!

shiny

For the holidays, we are visiting my very best, most fashionable friend and her family who live in Tampa. Fly in late on Xmas Eve, to stay about a week. Will be going out to celebrate our anniversary while we are there.

I am always clueless about what to pack for FL in the winter. I have the business travel down, that's easy, since conference rooms are always frigid regardless of the month.

Short sleeves? Long sleeves? Suggestions?

8 years ago

Dressing

7 replies

Latest reply was from Beewee

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Have you looked at the weather report for that time frame?

8 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I don't trust the weather report this far out. Last time we were in FL for the holidays it was cold!

8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

EXACTLY. That's why you have to wait to pack!

8 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I live in Tampa. This year it’s been warm. Highs in the 70s this week, over 80 a week ago. Some nights it’s been below 60, but not usually. If you look at my posts about my Florida fall collection, you will find plenty of whining about how warm it is, as well as good ideas from several regulars who are familiar with warm weather dressing.

What year were you last here? In 2010, it got below freezing—colder than the town in Germany we had just moved from! But that was late Jan, the coldest time of year here, and it was warm enough for shirtsleeves a week before and not too long after. We haven’t had anything anywhere near that since then. I’d be surprised if it gets below 50 that week, for the overnight low. Highs will be in the 60s, is my bet.

8 years ago

April

Veteran

Hi Shiny! Having once lived just north of Tampa for a couple of years, I will say that yes, it can be unexpectedly cold. So I have no advice except to keep your eyes on the sky while you're there -- I once saw a flamingo in flight over Tampa, and it was one of the most startlingly beautiful things I've ever seen.

8 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Fashiontern, I've been to Tampa quite frequently though usually in the Spring or Summer. Don't remember what year it was but it was many years ago we went to Miami for the holidays. We left Boston in the middle of a blizzard and there was a cold front stuck over Miami for our entire visit.

I was thinking I'd pack jeans (the LOFT sateen leggings -- they are light weight) and short sleeve tees. Then follow the weather and decide what I need for footwear as we get closer (warm enough for sandals or do I want my toes covered). If it's going to be cooler I can toss in some long sleeve or 3/4 sleeve tops. I will have a puffer coat with me anyway, since I'll need it to travel. However if it's in the high 70s/80s then I may need to re-think that plan and add in some summer items (for me that means dresses). Guess it's a good thing I still have easy access to my summer dresses...

8 years ago

Beewee

Active Member

I just read an article in the paper yesterday that said if this happens and that happens then we could expect to have some pretty frigid temps during the month of December here in Florida. Granted, I live about 3 hours north of Tampa and frigid is a relative term down this way.
But you know, even when we have freezing night time temperatures it generally warms up to shirt sleeve weather during the day with the sun blazing away. Layers always work for those "wrap and peel" days.
I do think I would wait a bit for more accurate forecasting to nail down your wardrobe.

8 years ago

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