How do people dress in New York in December?
If you're traveling to New York City in December, dress in warm layers for the cold weather. Wear jeans, a sweater or hoodie over a light base layer, a winter hat such as a beanie, a winter coat, and comfortable, warm walking shoes like high-top sneakers or boots.
Yes, you can wear sneakers in NYC in the winter, but check the weather forecast before going out. If it calls for rain, you'll likely want some gumboots or waterproof, high boots at the very least.
- Winter Coat. A winter coat or jacket is essential to pack. Anything will wool or down will keep you nice and warm. ...
- Long Pants. Long pants or trousers are a must. Think jeans and wool pants to stay warm. ...
- Waterproof Boots. There will be a number of rainy days and a few snow days in February.
The daily mean temperature in January, the area's coldest month, is 32.6 °F (0.3 °C); however, temperatures to 10 °F (−12 °C) or less can occur several times each winter while on the other hand mild spells to 50°F (10 °C) or more occur several days each winter month as well.
Here in NYC, it's against the letter of the law for a woman to be on the street wearing “body hugging clothing.” So no yoga pants, no spandex, no Lycra, no booty shorts, no co*cktail dresses…
If you're planning a fall or winter trip to NYC, I highly recommend bringing a pair of Ugg boots. You'll see a ton of locals wearing them and your feet will thank you!
1: Down Jacket or Any Warm Coat
If you tend to feel cold or from a place with no or a short winter, we recommend bringing two winter coats, a thicker parka-style down jacket, and one thin down coat for layering. The winter in New York is moody, meaning it could be freezing today and suddenly becoming warm tomorrow.
- DO be polite. ...
- DO walk quickly. ...
- DON'T stop in the middle of the sidewalk (or anywhere else people are walking) ...
- DON'T take pictures of anyone without asking. ...
- DON'T stare. ...
- DO watch where you're going. ...
- DO order clearly and quickly. ...
- DON'T make eye contact with the crazies.
You should have warm thermal socks and wear waterproof boots or shoes that cover your ankles. Make sure the shoes you are wearing are comfortable because you will be walking much more than you normally do if you live in a place where you drive a car. Most women in NY wear knee-high boots this time of year.
...
Low Heels or Block Heels
- A low block heel (this style works for date night and important business meetings)
- Low-heeled strappy sandals (more comfy than a higher heel, with the same SJP vibes)
- A block-heel sandal (a wardrobe staple, and you can wear day or night)
What should I pack for a winter weekend in NYC?
- Warm Sweaters. Cozy sweaters are essential! ...
- Winter Coat. Bring a winter coat with a hood!!! ...
- Pants. For pants, I would stick to black jeans and leggings. ...
- Water Resistant Boots. ...
- Boots/Sneakers. ...
- Beanie, Gloves, and Scarf. ...
- Wool Socks. ...
- Hand Warmers.
There can be snow in late November, December, and January, however most days will not be snowing. Still, you want to dress warmly as the wind chill can make it feel colder than it is! You'll need to pack a warm jacket for winter in New York City. It gets cold and you should dress appropriately.
February is usually the snowiest month in New York City with snowfalls occurring on 3-4 days, with 2 of these days recording 1 inch (2.5 cm) or more and 1 day recording 3 inches (7.6 cm) or more.
New York City's first snowfall of winter usually arrives in December, while in rare years an early snowfall shows up in November. In one exceptional autumn, on October 29, 2011, a record-setting snowstorm blanketed Central Park in 2.9 inches of fresh snow.
Typically, January is the coolest month while the wettest is April and the driest October. New York's weather can vary each day and even each hour however the seasons offer a pretty good guide on the conditions you can expect.
New Yorkers dress for comfort, but always add a nice touch or two. Balance relaxed clothing with more structured pieces, keep on eye on the weather, and layer strategically. Try a crisp button-down under a baggy boyfriend sweater, or wear a structured sweatshirt with slouchy trousers and a softly-tailored cocoon coat.
A shoulder purse is a great option as well. A crossbody purse is even better though! With a crossbody, everything is easily accessible, your metro card, money, and your phone. If you are a shoulder bag type person, a tote is a good option too.
Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, and Dumbo are the risky NYC neighborhoods to steer clear from. There are a few select neighborhoods in New York City that you should avoid if you want to stay safe.
Keep it Simple
As long as you're choosing the right fit, you can't go wrong with a t-shirt and jeans combo. Throw on an oversized, structured coat and apply a bright lip color to transform your basics into an effortlessly chic ensemble. You'll want to look your best when you travel!
White Pant Rule: No white (pants, shoes, or belts ---nothing white from the waist down) before Easter, and no white after Labor Day. I wore white jeans after Labor Day last year!
Does Manhattan have a dress code?
There is no written rule for a specific NYC dress code for all the rooftop bars around town. Each place has its own vibe and attire regarding the rooftops NYC clothing. The most common bar attire is however smart casual or casual.
Yes, backpacks are very very common here, but we are very accustomed to being surrounded by throngs of people and knowing how to aviod thefts from backpacks. NYC has the lowest crime rates of any large city, but that doesn't mean you should be too lackadasical. Pickpocketing and scam artists are the most common crimes.
Sure, you'll see some parkas or leather bomber jackets cruising around the five boroughs, but no matter what, the puffer jacket is New Yorkers' pick time and time again.
While not as cold as January and February, you should prepare for the cold! On average three days a month in December, the temperature will reach below 20F (-8 C). While it's cold, if you're hoping for a white Christmas, it's unlikely. Since the average low temperature is 32F (0C), it often is not cold enough for snow.
- Wear more layers. ...
- These down booties have been a lifesaver since my feet run cold. ...
- Electric blanket to heat up our bed before sleep.
- Let the sunlight in during the day. ...
- Hang insulating shades or blackout curtains on windows to reduce heat loss.
- Pizza. NYC background: Pizza can be traced back to Naples, Italy, but the distinctly American version we know and love was born in New York City. ...
- Bagel. ...
- Cheesecake. ...
- General Tso's Chicken. ...
- Egg Cream. ...
- Pastrami and Corned Beef. ...
- Street Meat. ...
- Cronut.
First off, it's never a good idea to go through Central Park at night. While Central Park is an idyllic tourist attraction during the day, it is technically supposed to be closed late at night and in the early hours of the morning. The vast majority of cases of crime and violence in the park occur at night.
The toughest times to travel in and out of Manhattan are between 8-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. If you can, try to avoid rush hour or consider some alternate routes. Some of the roughest routes will take you to the Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge, or the Lincoln Tunnel.
Start with a foundation layer such as a tank or tee. Add a light weight sweater, denim jacket, blazer, sweatshirt, wind breaker, or trench coat. For bottoms go with leggings, long pants, or capris.
New Yorkers dress for comfort but always add a nice touch or two. Balance relaxed clothing with more structured pieces and layer strategically. A baggy boyfriend t-shirt with some distressed mom jeans and a pair of loafers, is a perfect example of what to wear when you're exploring in the daytime.
Are the sidewalks in New York heated?
Ubiquitous in luxury ski resorts out West, heated sidewalks are a rarity in New York City. Just 14 applications were filed for heated sidewalks in the last decade, according to the New York City Department of Transportation.
Fifth Avenue has been the epicenter of shopping elegance in New York for some time. Located between 39th and 60th Streets, Fifth Avenue is a must for any fashion-focused tourist.
fifth avenue
The most famous street for shopping in New York is Fifth Avenue between 49th Street and 60th Street. It's home to luxury brands' eye-catching stores.
In fact, for many visitors to New York, winter is the best time to visit since you'll find many things to do and prices are lower. And the crowds – at least after the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays – are smaller than in the warmer months, which means less waiting at major attractions and restaurants.
New York is one of just a few cities you can visit any time of year and it will be an experience you will never forget. Each season brings its own blend of amazing benefits to the table, but we have to say Winter (especially around Christmas) is the most magical time to visit NYC. And it is so much quieter!
You'll want to wear thick comfy sweaters, jeans and lots of layers for a a winter time visit to New York City. City slickers love a head-to-toe outfit in black, so black denim, a cozy sweater, and black puffer with blank ankle boots will have you fitting right in!
Both formal and informal clothing is accepted. From casual t-shirts, jeans and flip-flops to a co*cktail dress or tuxedo, the spectrum of audience style is so broad that there is no specific dress code.
While the only formal dress code at York (within the bounds of decency) is that in the County Stand gentlemen are required to wear a jacket, collared shirt and tie, many racegoers like to dress up and step out in style for a day at York Racecourse.
New Yorkers dress for comfort, but always add a nice touch or two. Balance relaxed clothing with more structured pieces, keep on eye on the weather, and layer strategically. Try a crisp button-down under a baggy boyfriend sweater, or wear a structured sweatshirt with slouchy trousers and a softly-tailored cocoon coat.
Winter in New York
Winters in New York are especially cold. During January and February, minimum temperatures can reach below zero with a maximum of 35.6°F (2°C).
How do people survive cold in New York?
- Wear more layers. ...
- These down booties have been a lifesaver since my feet run cold. ...
- Electric blanket to heat up our bed before sleep.
- Let the sunlight in during the day. ...
- Hang insulating shades or blackout curtains on windows to reduce heat loss.
You should have warm thermal socks and wear waterproof boots or shoes that cover your ankles. Make sure the shoes you are wearing are comfortable because you will be walking much more than you normally do if you live in a place where you drive a car. Most women in NY wear knee-high boots this time of year.
The cold season lasts for 3.3 months, from December 3 to March 12, with an average daily high temperature below 48°F. The coldest month of the year in New York City is January, with an average low of 29°F and high of 40°F.
Typically, it starts to snow in New York in December and the snow season stops in early March. January and February are the two most likely months to have snow in New York. December and March are not big snow months, but you should be prepared to deal with snow during these two months as well.
The Adirondacks are the coldest part of New York State, almost always below freezing in the winter. High temperatures are generally 20°F. Nights are can be frigid, often hovering around 0°F. Most of Central New York, the Mid-Hudson Valley, and the Catskills have temperatures that are milder, with highs between 30-35°F.
As you might well have guessed, the cheapest months of the year to travel to NYC are from January through March. It's in these 3 months that the costs of both a flight and hotel are on average the lowest for the whole year.
How long to spend in NYC? 5 days in NYC is actually the perfect amount if it's your first visit. You can spend 3 days in New York City, but it's cutting it close–and you'll need to come back again. If you have only one day in New York City, you can still see Manhattan!
The honest answer is no, but it's better than nothing and we'll take what we can get. Spending 4 days in New York City is a great introduction to the Big Apple, but as I mentioned earlier it's not enough time to absorb everything, so go easy on yourself because you'll see a lot of things but you won't see everything.