Warm clothing, where to buy

[LisaAJ]

Hi guys

Does anybody have any reasonably priced suggestions as to where to get warm clothing for winter in New York? We are only going for 5 days before heading to Orlando so I don't really want to spend hundreds per jacket if I don't have to! Especially considering there is 4 of us to clothe!

Our trip isn't until Dec but I am not sure if I'll have to but from O/S in which case I'll have to consider that their seasons (and therefore stock will be opposite to ours)

I've found some great options on Uniqlo but they don't ship to Australia. They do have a store opening in Melb but I can't imagine they will stock the same type of clothing given the different climates.

TIA

 

[Tashinwdw]

If you are not going until next December wait until our end of winter sales here which is what I did for our family last time except it was for summer. This time I am looking at ordering online at their end of season sales and getting it posted to our resorts. That way we wont have as much to take with us and it will also save us money. And the kids will all get parcels of goodies when we arrive.

I am sure others will have heaps of sites and suggestions on where to buy from. Forever 21 was mentioned here and I showed it to my two teen girls and they love it, I am sure I will be buying heaps from there.

 

[aussie shaz]

My cousin backpacks all over the world, to very weird and unusual places. I asked him how he fits in clothes for all the different places he visits, especially warm, big coats. Apparently he gets to a place and visits the local 'Vinnies' or 'Salvos' and gets a coat there. He then donates it to someone in need, maybe a homeless person etc, on his way home. I think it's a great idea.

 

[LisaAJ]

Thanks for your replies. Been checking out the sales (and will keep checking) but even on sake the jackets are $150. I may just bite the bullet and order from Uniqlo to be delivered to our hotel. Just don't want a freezing trip from
The airport or have the parcels go missing!!!

I considered the Op shops (do lots if op shopping here) but I really prefer to wash the clothes before we wear them and don't want to spend what little time we have in NY at the Laundromat!!

I think I light just have to suck it up :-/

 

[zanzibar138]

This is a very boring suggestion lol! But I usually just visit the clearance sections of Kathmandu, Mountain Designs etc. If you're not fussy about colours etc you can really get some bargains! Don't forget thermals too (for your legs as well as arms). If you really layer up with thermals, polar fleece etc, you can get away with a cheaper coat. The polar fleece etc you can get wear out of at home too, so it's worth spending money on. Don't forget your head and feet - nice warm beanies and socks are a must!

 

[Royal Consort]

I can't talk about warm clothing today at 45 degrees

 

[dabecs]

Lands End have great sales and ship to Aus - check them out at the end of USA winter for some great bargains...

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lands End have great sales and ship to Aus - check them out at the end of USA winter for some great bargains...

 

[Aliceacc]

I agree... keep checking Lands End. In fact, it's mid season here in the US-- their coats may very well be on sale.

Hit their site, and take a look at the Overstocks.

Right now they have winter outerware on sale: http://www.landsend.com/shop/-/N-jye?cm_re=HP-_-60off-ow-20140110

 

[LisaAJ]

Thanks everyone. Lands End seems to be a great option. Shipping isn't too bad and there is a couple if options there that the kids can use in our (not so cold!) winter as well as in NY.

Now to work out the sizes :-/

 

[LisaAJ]

The sizing is concerning me!! Hubby is normally an XL here but he is measuring a medium according to Land's edge?? Reluctant to buy in case it's wrong!!!! Might have to split the different!!

 

[Aust]

Just before Christmas I got some thermal tops from the Kathmandu website, they had a sale on and the tops were reduced to $10 from $40. I see sale ads for them in the paper quite regularly so would be worthwhile checking their website through the year.

And I got my winter coat a couple of weeks ago at the David Jones sale, half price.

 

[Sugarglider]

sierra trading post.com - although it is all outdoorsy stuff - not fancy "going to dinner" stuff

 

[LisaAJ]

Outdoorsy stuff would suit us much better as we are big campers

I ended up buying from Lands Edge but it did end up costing $300. That did include 4 jackets, 2 polar fleece and 4 pairs of gloves. Including international shipping I think that's pretty good. All the stuff I bought we can use here too as I decided to layer rather than get bulky jackets.

Now I just need to get some thermals (or do I??) at a reasonable price. Will keep my eye on Kathmandu. Went in today and even on clearance it was really expensive!!

Thanks everyone

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I lived in England for a few years and almost never wore thermals. I think you will be okay without them.
The problem with thermals is that they aren't easy to strip off the minute you walk into a warm shop, hotel or restaurant. Thermals are great for ski trips or camping outdoors, but not so great for places where you will be spending equal amounts of time indoors.
The best thing you can do is take removable layers. A scarf is always good because it's quick and easy to remove, as is a warm hat/beanie.
Warm natural fibres such as merino are also excellent (although perhaps more of a luxury than a necessity). You can get some quite lightweight merino jumpers for wearing under your jackets that do a great job of keeping warmth, bit not moisture, against your skin.

The other thing is shoes with a good grip incase the streets are icy. I still remember a winter trip to Detroit where I was walking around streets covered in slushy ice and I was wearing runners with worn down soles. Just like a scene from a movie, my legs went flying out from under me and I landed flat on my back. In retrospect, I'm sure it looked pretty humorous, but at the time it was painful. Luckily there was only bruising and no broken bones.

 

[zanzibar138]

I disagree about the thermals. I suppose it really depends on what sort of weather you're used to and how sensitive you are to the cold. I even wear my thermals in Melbourne over winter! I can't imagine how uncomfortable I would have been on our Europe trip without them. My parents still live in Perth, and Mum often had 2 layers of thermals, plus a polar fleece, plus a small jacket, plus a big jacket, and thermals with fleece lined jeans and long woollen socks on her legs!

Having said that, I don't know how cold it gets in New York in December. Maybe it won't be as cold as I'm thinking

 

[gogo65]

I agree it depends on how you cope with the cold. We only wear thermals when skiing in Canada, otherwise we just layer normal clothes. Good polar fleece under a jacket works well, we bought jackets from Kathmandu that have polar fleece(of varying thicknesses) that zip in and out, which are great.
I lived in new York a loooong time ago and never had thermals in all my trips to Europe never taken thermals, the problem is inside buildings are hot so you get unbearably uncomfortable with thermals on.
In saying that in 2015 we will be doing the arctic and 2016 the Antarctic and I will be taking my thermals
If your like my best friend who wears 20 layers in sydney in winter then maybe you will need thermals

 

[miss.potatohead]

Having just spent Christmas in NYC during the polar vortex and half of the past year in upstate New York, I know how important it is to be warm!

For me, it's about layering. Jeans with a normal pair of black leggings underneath are fine, or thermals if desired. Top layer I usually wore a tshirt or long sleeve shirt, a hoodie or jumper, and one of those puffy jackets from Uniqlo. I also had a heavier winter coat but I often felt too hot and if you're only going to be there for a few days I wouldn't think it's worth the expense.

IMO the most important things to wear are gloves, scarf and a beanie, especially if it's snowing or the wind chill is high. Good footwear is also important as your feet will feel the cold - I wore Doc Martens but I think it was the 'explorer' socks that kept my feet warm the most!

 

[LisaAJ]

Thanks everyone. I am starting to think we might just wing it. I'm sure we can buy thermals when we get there. My daughter and I have leggings that we can wear under our pants. I might just get some in bigger sizes for my husband and son!
I'll also keep my eye out for specials on thermals. If it's as cold next year as it is right now, I think we'll need it. Although I'm not sure the polar vortex is a good indicator!

 

[Brissymum]

I ended up buying from Lands Edge but it did end up costing $300. That did include 4 jackets, 2 polar fleece and 4 pairs of gloves. Including international shipping I think that's pretty good. All the stuff I bought we can use here too as I decided to layer rather than get bulky jackets.

Now I just need to get some thermals (or do I??) at a reasonable price. Will keep my eye on Kathmandu. Went in today and even on clearance it was really expensive!!

Thanks everyone

I would love to know what you think of your jackets when they arrives....We are planning on going to yellowstone in December, and need snow stuff too. Never heard of lands end before, so I'm curious about the quality. Thanks