What should I pack for Chicago weather? - YouLookFab Forum

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What should I pack for Chicago weather?

Narnia

I'm a California girl, born and bred, and know nothing about cold weather. I'm visiting Chicago this weekend, and the weather report says highs in the high 30's and lows in the 20's. I don't think I've ever seen those numbers followed by an F instead of a C.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with how to pack. I have a water proof down jacket that I plan to bring, and a warm scarf, gloves and hat, but that still doesn't seem like enough. I'm thinking layers on top of layers?

How do people cope with this kind of weather? Let alone still look fab while they do...

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Narnia

Echo

Veteran

Chicago is notoriously windy, and they just got pummelled with snow yesterday and today. You will definitely need boots and puffer coats are definitely called for if you will be outdoors or walking downtown. Ultimately, looking stylish in the weather Chicago is currently facing is difficult if you need to be outside for any length of time. You will need layers, snow-safe footwear, windproof and warm coats, gloves, scarves and hats (the kind that stay on in the wind). Wearing tights under pants gives an extra layer of warmth, as does silk long underwear. If you need to wear a dress, fleece lined tights are a must. But the drawback is then being too warm at your destination, so you need to weigh how long you will be outdoors versus how long you will be indoors. Have fun, but this is a challenging time to visit the Windy City!

DonnaF

Veteran

I hope you also have tall boots. DD, a lifelong Californian, is a college freshman in a Chicago suburb and is suffering this first winter since she's feeling the cold more than the locals. Yes, layers, even double layers of tights. Uniqlo Heattech is good underneath. Check on the wind, as the wind chill factor can make quite a difference and cut through stuff that is otherwise warm enough. DD is finding that the knit infinity scarf she got on Black Friday is no longer sufficient. I hope you don't have to spend too much time outdoors like waiting on a train platform.

I think the most frustrating thing is when you go from the cold outdoors into an overheated place (where you start sweating) and then have to go back outside.

Have a good time! DD is coming home this weekend for spring break.

Thistle

Veteran

I live north of Chicago, and while it is snowy and blustery, at least it isn't really cold! We regularly get -20F in this aprt of the world in winter

What Echo said is perfect. I wear a puffer coat, hat, scarf and "ski" gloves (waterproof puffer gloves, basically). I wear waterproof Sorels every day and carry my good shoes with me to change into indoors.

And yes, layer under your jacket. The more layers, the warmer you will be. I live here, so a nice shirt and sweater are enough layers with it being close to 30F for me. You might want an extra layer of silk long underwear.

The one thing Echo didn't mention was the salt. It is everywhere and on everything. I have some on my black pants today after lunch, so I must have gotten too close to a car on my way in.

In my world, being warm trumps looking fab, so I always settle for warmth first.

bj1111

Veteran

well it is blizzarding right now. hopefully the snow will be mostly gone or at least subdued. i bring a puffer with a hood, leather gloves, jeans and flat tall boots, like everyone who has already commented.

realistically, this is what i do in chicago, i cab it or ride public transit from location to location. so that means dress warm for standing up to 20 minutes for the bus or go "light" for the car-to-door dash. the only place i see you doing much walking is michigan avenue if you plan to do some shopping. in that case, there is always a store or cafe to duck into.

what activities are you planning for? perhaps you can save your best under-coat outfits for dinner or browsing at barneys and hermes.

Anonymous

The ladies nailed it . I just have a question. Is your down jacket long? If not, plan on bottom under layers too. Also, what are you doing for footwear: Bring shoes you can walk in snow or rain : Good traction and perhaps waterproof.

For that weather range, I wear a down jacket or wool coat, scarf, gloves, 2 top layers: Sweater and blouse, Blouse and blazer, etc, and jeans. Some warm socks always help..

Narnia

Awesome, thanks so much for the help.

So right now I'm looking at long underwear/tights under the pants, the best weather boots I've got (hopefully they'll be good enough), my mid-thigh length puffer, and layering it up on top (sweater and blouse, etc). Along with the hat, gloves scarf.

We're going to see a show, aside from that plans are kinda up in the air, but I'm guessing maybe the aquarium or museums. So I shouldn't be outside *too* much except to get where I'm going (cab/public transit). Are the trains above ground or subways?

Thanks so much for the help!

Lulu

Oh, you are in for a treat narnia i echo what everyone else said, and will only expand on thistle's mentioning of the salt. If you wear leather boots/shoes and they get wet from repetitively stepping in slush/puddles that contain salt (and trust me, this WILL happen if you plan on doing a lot of walking), you will end up with almost permanently scarred footwear. You can usually buff out the salt markings, but there will a demarcation. So waterproof footwear is best.

And it won't be the cold that gets to you as much as the wind does. Can be brutal when temps are lower, and it is always windy, so count on it!

Other than that, it will be an adventure as it is a wonderful city!

bj1111

Veteran

depending on where you are, the trains may be above or below ground. usually below ground in the downtown/gold coast except for the actual loop part and above ground outside the city center.

to the aquarium/museum campus (including the planetarium and field museum) is a bus, no el.

what show are you seeing?

MsMaven

Veteran

Lucky you--it will be in the 20s! I'm a thin-blooded Californian and my son and his family live in northern suburbs. We are often there at Christmas time when it gets to below zero--and that is F not C--and and you come in from outdoors and your clothes are still so cold that it takes several minutes for the layers to warm up.

Be careful and watch where you step. There is a lot of salt, but occasionally places get missed. I can tell you that sliding downhill on a driveway feeling out of control is an experience you want to miss.

Debora

Veteran

Narnia, I just got back a week ago from Chicago. I wore my thigh length puffer with tall boots the whole weekend. I tried to find fleece tights before I left, but they were gone from all the stores. Not even the Chicago Nordstrom's or Macy's had them. No worries, Angie's tip about wearing two pairs of hose did the trick,

What show will you be seeing? We saw I Love Lucy Live On Stage. Fun!

crutcher

Veteran

This may be too late but if you have time, grab a can of water repellant for shoes...and give your boots a quick treatment...Nothing is worse than wet feet...
Coming from a warm climate to a really cold one can make you more susceptible to the cold...
Enjoy being in a lovely, fun city...

Narnia

We're seeing Book of Mormon!

And thanks for the extra warning about the salt. I'll see if I can grab some water repellent.

Day Vies

Veteran

What Thistle said... Snow boots that can handle the salt! Wear a warmer than necessary coat like a down puffer so that you don't have to pack bulky clothing like sweaters. Bring a blanket like scarf which can either be worn fashionably around your neck or provide an extra layer of warmth against the elements. Have fun!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

What everyone else said, layers and boots, layers and boots! I would like to add that I can only wish that I'd never seen those cold temps....

Narnia

Soooo, going through my shoes. I don't have any legit snow boots. I do have some rubber galoshes. I could grab some really heavy/warm socks and wear those? Do you think those are my best bet?

Aside from that, all I have are some leather boots, but I don't think they are legitimately water proof, and I wouldn't want to ruin them.

Anonymous

I find that my regular boots can take a lot, if they are waterproofed with spray but granted, NYC is not as snowy as it used to be.What kind of boots are they? If they have some traction and you waterproof them, you should be ok, unless we are talking inches of snow, which in that case, I would bring the rubber boots.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

They do make super warm socks for Hunter boots, but I have never tried them, and I have to say that whenever I have tried wearing rubber boots in winter my feet have FROZEN. It's a miserable feeling. I think the leather would be better, quite honestly.

Narnia

Okay. Thanks for the advice! Now to pack!