1st Winter in Iowa: What to Wear? (Des Moines, Davenport: for sale, where to buy)

[Jay100]

Any advice on what to wear? I'm mainly interested in casual outerwear like jackets and shoes. How many? Where to buy? When to buy?

Thanks!

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by Jay100

shoes. How many?
Thanks!

Usually in Iowa we would wear two.


Most people do not have special shoes for the winter unless you work or spend a lot of time outside. Boots are good for shoveling snow though.

Get yourself some gloves. A decent parka will help too. A nice light jacket will help during spring/fall. You might be able to get some good deals on this kind of stuff this time of the year.

[zz4guy]

Get some sweaters. Except for July and August you will need one if you are outside past sunset. They're also nice in spring and fall because they are warm enough to keep you warm outside but not so bulky you need to take them off inside.

And for the winter months a hat and gloves are mandatory. Most shoes are warm enough but you will get snow in them if you have to brush snow off your car or walk thru a path that isn't shoveled.

[jmgg]

Very important to have anywhere in the upper snow states is a pair of insulated boots, a heavy parka with hood, winter head wear, and good winter gloves. You don't have to have all this garb on all the time. Just keep it in your car because you never know when you're going to need it. The other winter survivor gear to keep in your car is a blanket, flashlight and a cord to charge your cellphone. You might want to throw in some candy bars. I try to have these included but somehow they end up missing all the time.

Iowa's winters can get nasty with occasional blizzards. In SD where the wind really blows and there's less cover, at some point in your life you're going to wish you had with you everything I listed. Guaranteed.

[iowegian]

If you are going to be outside for any significant amount of time, I suggest dressing in layers. If it's really cold, a shirt, a sweatshirt, and a coat will work nicely, and then you can take the coat off if it warms up. Or you can take the sweatshirt off if you go into a warm building. This is also a good way to go if you would like to wear a dressier coat than the not particularly fashionable (but very functional) water-repellent parka, as the layers supplement a thinner coat and keep you warm.

I would advise having a good pair of snow boots for shoveling, as well as (as others have said) a stocking cap or headband and gloves.

If you are wearing tennis shoes, make sure they don't have mesh/cloth tops or low heels, or you will definitely have wet feet. I know from personal experience that this is terrible.

The best time to buy winter clothing is actually the end of winter when everything goes on clearance, but since you won't have that luxury, just keep an eye out this fall for sales. The stores won't begin carrying too much winter gear until October at the earliest.

[Jay100]

Thanks for the info. WHERE are some good places to buy in Des Moines and Iowa City?

[El Rhino]

G&L is pretty good in Des Moines. Independently owned and operated leaning more towards workwear (Carhartt, Dickies, etc) but you will find some good winter gear there.

Scheel's in Jordan Creek would be good for more activewear type stuff - North Face, Patagonia, etc. I remember getting a good deal on a North Face jacket last year at this time there.

Younkers in any mall would probably be worth checking out as well.

[Busch71]

Originally Posted by Jay100

Thanks for the info. WHERE are some good places to buy in Des Moines and Iowa City?

Just a couple miles from Iowa City there's a Scheel's store at Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville. You can also find good winter gear for reasonableprices in stores like Tractor Supply, Theisen's, Wal-Mart, etc.

[Jay100]

Where can I find a jacket like this one?

[zz4guy]

Southpark mall in Davenport.