Winter Wardrobe (Seattle: purchase, living, shop)

[burgerbun]

I moved to Seattle this summer from a very warm place that hardly gets any cold weather. As such, I don't really have a winter wardrobe.

Now that the cooler weather seems to be settling in for the season, I need to do some serious clothes shopping.

So give me some ideas. What are your must-haves for surviving winter in the great wet northwest?

[Andy]

Just layer up and have a good rain jacket. Good shoes that can handle the rain are a plus too. If you are unfamiliar with layering up, it just means adding another layer of clothing until you are comfortable. I dress similarly as I do in summer, except I may have longjohns and wool socks on underneath and a long sleeve shirt and a fleece over the top of a t-shirt.

[vandygirl]

Originally Posted by burgerbun

I moved to Seattle this summer from a very warm place that hardly gets any cold weather. As such, I don't really have a winter wardrobe.

Now that the cooler weather seems to be settling in for the season, I need to do some serious clothes shopping.

So give me some ideas. What are your must-haves for surviving winter in the great wet northwest?

A knit cap that covers your head well from the rain, a raincoat that is preferably fleece lined, a thick coat that you would wear on Mammoth Mountain because temperatures can drop to the 20s here during the winter, a couple pairs of long socks, rain resistant boots or shoes and a good pair of gloves. Coming from Southern California you might want to ad long johns to that list. You guys get very cold up here. Whatever you would take on a trip to Tahoe, that's what you would want to have in the back of your closet here.

Notice that I did not say "umbrella." It rains so much during winter that you will get tired of carrying an umbrella around. Locals don't use them here. Only tourists carry umbrellas in moderate rain in Seattle. Umbrellas come out here in big storms so an extra large one makes sense, not a little tiny cute California umbrella.

[burgerbun]

I'm actually from FL and not SoCA, but these are good suggestions. Keep them coming!

[SitoUK]

I've been walking to work all winter, one mile each way, and I can only recommend the layer approach as well. Just make sure your top-layer is water- and wind proof. I actually do quite like to carry an umbrella, simply because when it's raining hard and you're walking for a mile your trousers get soaking wet which is not a nice feeling In winter I mostly wear gore Tex shoes and a rain jacket but I don't wear waterproof trousers (too much hassle to change into something presentable once I am in the office), so the umbrella comes in handy.

For next winter I'll also purchase some 'traction device' for my shoes, something like Yaktrax. Last winter I was literally sliding down Denny Hill when we had snow and ice, I don't even want to know how many people broke a leg slipping on the sidewalk during those few icy days...

[pcbgirl99]

i've been where you are! i moved from FL to seattle (back in fl, though) and i froze my butt off in august!
layer, layer, layer. get a lined raincoat. and waterproof boots/shoes. scarves and hats. wool socks.
i am not kidding. you will get used to it, but your first year you will freeze. oh, and don't swim in the water. my husband did that once. for about 2 minutes. it's not like the warm bathwater here in FL. lol

[Vinylly]

Originally Posted by vandygirl

A knit cap that covers your head well from the rain, a raincoat that is preferably fleece lined, a thick coat that you would wear on Mammoth Mountain because temperatures can drop to the 20s here during the winter, a couple pairs of long socks, rain resistant boots or shoes and a good pair of gloves. Coming from Southern California you might want to ad long johns to that list. You guys get very cold up here. Whatever you would take on a trip to Tahoe, that's what you would want to have in the back of your closet here.

Notice that I did not say "umbrella." It rains so much during winter that you will get tired of carrying an umbrella around. Locals don't use them here. Only tourists carry umbrellas in moderate rain in Seattle. Umbrellas come out here in big storms so an extra large one makes sense, not a little tiny cute California umbrella.

You got the umbrella bit right. Real Seattlite's don't carry umbrellas. It's only the 'sissy' tourist's that do. Of course, living near Broadway, I see people coming out in the middle of winter with their shorts on, so I would say we are pretty 'macho' when it comes to weather. This means, to be a REAL Seattlite, forget a winter wardrobe, just come as you are, rain or shine. However, if you like to ski, then you might want to add to your wardrobe.

[burgerbun]

Ha, as much as I'd like to keep wearing my summery skirts and dresses and sandals, I was freezing my butt off yesterday! Time for a change.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[yerbolat]

I moved from Nashville, TN
2 first winters, I used my wool coats when it was cold, but last winter I was fine with a rain coat and a light sweater underneath. Jeans should be fine.
Some people wear flip-flops all year round
I think, the most important piece of clothing in Seattle is a windproof and rainproof hooded jacket. I never understood non-windproof hoodies.

[pyliu87]

Hi everyone,

I just moved here from Wisconsin about 2 months ago, so I haven't seen what winter weather is like here in Seattle. I usually walk to work in SLU from Belltown (a little less than a mile), and I've only walked through one rainy day. One thing I noticed when I walked through the rain was that my pants were soaked. I have a water resistant jacket, and I layer so my upper body is fine, but my lower body gets wet.

So my question is, what do you do to keep your pants dry?

Thanks!