Winter Clothing in Pittsburgh (sale, home, buying)

[TruMalu24]

Hi,

I'm about to move to Pittsburgh in January. I am coming from the south, never lived in a cold place in my life. I have no idea how to handle real cold weather day in-day out, unless I am skiing!

Please tell me what kind of things I should be buying to handle the cold weather every day. It actually needs to be very basic. I only realized recently I would need a scarf (never tied one in my life) and some thin gloves I guess.

I'm a 25 yr old male, will be working in downtown. So I really need suggestions on both coat & tie, and casual wear for winters.
Price isn't too much of a hang-up.

Thank you soo much!

[airwair]

I'm from Tennessee and lived in Pittsburgh for 6 months last winter. I am planning on moving back sometime next year. It's too warm down here for the holidays.

I would typically wear layered shirts (a long sleeved and a sweater, perhaps) and a wool coat, complete with a scarf, hat, and normal gloves. I used the T to get to work in Station Square and was generally always comfortable. I would really only wear thicker socks if it was snowing/raining/slushing, which it did quite a bit. The only time I was uncomfortable was when it dropped to 15 degrees one night and I wasn't aware. I had to flag down one of my neighbors to give me a ride home! Brr.

Even coming from the south, I didn't find it overly cold. I didn't have to go buy an eskimo suit or anything.

[PeterRabbit]

A winter coat/jacket and a pair of gloves.

[raubre]

Still people where shorts and no jacket in frigid weather (yes they are strange.)

[Tinare]

Layering is the best advice, and keep your hands, feet and head warm and dry -- good boots, socks, gloves, and a hat are your friends if you are stuck outside for long on a really frigid day.

[Mugatu]

For normal day-to-day living, there's really no need to go overboard and buy an eskimo's wardrobe or anything. I moved up here from Florida and only bought a hat, gloves and boots in addition to one medium-thickness coat I already owned. On the really cold days, like below zero mornings, I just layer up with a sweater underneath the coat. I've never worn a scarf in my life.

[fleetiebelle]

I've never worn a scarf in my life.

Scarves are really helpful, though. Most people just wear them for decoration, but you can use them to block any draft in your coat from the buttons or zipper, or you wrap it around your neck, mouth, and ears on really cold days.

[Hopes]

Outerwear & Footwear
Hat
Gloves
Scarf
Boots (waterproof, insulated--you might not wear them often, but you'll be glad you own them a few days a year!)
Warm Socks (a couple pair of thick warm socks for super cold weather and a supply of thinner good quality wool socks for everyday.)

Business Attire
Wool or wool blend suits (will keep you warmer than what you alread own)
Wool coat (the longer, the better)

Casual Attire
Jeans (do a great job of cutting the wind compared to khakis)
Shorter down or wool jacket (like a ski jacket or a navy pea coat)
Sweat pants and hoodie (for when it's cold at night at home )
Sweaters

Just layer that stuff together with everything you already own.



Keep in mind, it's SUPER WINDY downtown in the winter! You'll need the suggested outerwear if you plan to take public transportation becuase you'll be walking through town.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Mugatu

I've never worn a scarf in my life.

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Scarves are really helpful, though. Most people just wear them for decoration, but you can use them to block any draft in your coat from the buttons or zipper, or you wrap it around your neck, mouth, and ears on really cold days.

Even though I own many scarves, I've had a hard time being a scarf user, but I agree that they make a world of difference. I get too caught up in the fashion and by ones that itch or tickle me. I'd wear scarfs more often if I owned the right one! I really need to invest in a good cashmere scarf---a big generous cashmere scarf---in a neutral color. Any coat that doesn't button up to the neck needs a scarfon the super cold days.

[jenniferprestia]

Can I suggest that whatever you choose you buy it now (probably online)? Winter wear is already on the sale racks - in January you'll be seeing spring and summer weight clothing.

Hopes - you might try anything that is described as a pashmina: while the cashmere ones are wonderful, the generic "made out of viscose" ones are very soft and even though thin, fill up that "gap" very well without bunching. I must confess to a scarf addiction - Hi, my name is Jennifer, and I'm a scarfaholic. Not wool though - I love wool but not next to the skin.