Cold weather girls-advice needed

Layers are your best friend! I'm not in a Great Lakes area but NYC does get bitterly cold at times - I highly recommend the Heat Tech line from Uniqlo. These pieces are fantastic. www.uniqlo.com/us/en/women/collections/heattech. They have leggings, tank tops, tees, you name it.

I also really love my Columbia coat, it's thin and compact but SO warm. The omni-heat tech is similar to Uniqlo's, it retains your body heat and keeps you warm. It's water resistant and since it's mid-thigh length it helps keep the wind from going up your back. This is the model I have - www.columbia.com/p/womens-powder-lite-mid-jacket-1748311.html?dwvar_1748311_color=319&pos=13

edit - hat and gloves are a must, definitely! And thick socks!

It depends if you will be outside just going from house to car or if you will actually be outside for any length of time.
I recommend a down coat, longer is better. Canada Goose is the best but it's crazy expensive and unnecessary. Eddie Bauer makes good down coats. Wear layers, like a long-sleeved shirt, then a sweater, then the coat. Hats (toque), scarf and mittens are all a must. Boots can be almost any brand. Sorels are a good brand for water-proof warmth but there are other brands as well.

I had an Eddie Bauer winter coat for a long time.  Broke my heart when I had to get rid of it.  (Why did I get rid of it? I don't remember. Either I outgrew it or the zipper broke, which defeats its use as a winter coat.)

But this reminds me that if I'm outside in the really bitter cold, which is usually when I take the bus somewhere instead of driving in the snow and meaning I will have to walk a couple of blocks and stand around a bit, my layers are: regular shirt (probably short sleeved), long sleeve hoodie zipped up, down VEST zipped up, then coat.  The vest really helped to keep my torso warm, but because it was sleeveless, it kept my arms from overheating.

As others have said, layer up. Thin “undershirts” like Cuddl Duds or another brand really help keep you warm. Thin fleece tops are warm, easy to care for, and practical.

As for coats, Columbia, LL Bean, Lands End, Eddie Bauer, and others all make good coats. I like parkas. Don’t get one that is too short, because you will be dealing with wind.

Hat, warm scarf and warm gloves are a must. You need gloves with some insulation, or a liner. You can buy disposable hand warmers to pop into your gloves.

Shoes-I suggest a shoe with some kind of tread. Merrell, Keen, Ecco, and many others make great weatherproof shoes and shoe boots.If I am shoveling snow and it’s freezing, I wear my Uggs boots. My feet never get cold. Since you are not used to cold weather, you might want to think about warm socks, maybe wool.

**Lands End has silk glove liners on sale for $15.00. Only large and extra large though.

DD travels from Houston to Chicago a good bit. She's going up tomorrow evening and back Tuesday evening. Weather forecasts predict it won't get above freezing that whole time.  She'll be in factories and loading terminals and needs very warm clothes.  She swears by this North Face Arctic Parka.  It's waterproof and blocks the wind and keeps her warm.  The same parka got her through two winters in Lubbock, TX during college.   Clothes are layered underneath.  Cashmere scarf, good lined gloves as well.  

You have time to benefit from the clearance sales then.

Uniqlo also makes lined sweats/joggers. They’re really warm.

Maybe some heated mittens or a vest. I have a vest and it’s good but honestly my feet are what gets cold.

Lands End has some good jackets too.

A good hat. Your heat escapes through your head. My vascular doctor always says no one from Cleveland should go without a hat in winter.

I love my silk long underwear. It's barely there, and yet keeps me toasty warm. They're so thin, you can wear them under any of your regular clothes.

One other thing.... Whether heavy weight or light weight over layers make the outside windproof or windbreaker and/or water resistant.

Good socks and good boots. I’m not a fan of Uggs, I don’t find them that warm and I prefer something water resistant.
I have a fabulous pair of knee high boots from
Timberland that keep me toasty and dry. Also love my lands end and llbean boots. Jeans are not warm enough, they get cold and stiff, though llbean makes fleece lined jeans that are warm.

I have a knee length superpuff (TNA - Aritzia) that is water resistant that I love. This year I bought a full length water proof super puff (super puff2o) that is AMAZING. I wanted to hate this jacket and return it but I couldn’t because it’s so cozy and soft yet fully waterproof.

I wear the narrow fit with a slight block heel blundstones in black. They’re fantastic but yes, I’m obviously west coast 😩☔️❄️ 😂. Everyone in my family wears these, and most of my friends have them too - for those yucky cold, wet, snowy days. They are waterproof. I wear wool socks with them if I’m going for a walk.

If it’s extra cold and snowy I’d wear my sorel winter boots or my keen winter boots.

On my head I wear a cashmere toque. Keeps me warm. On my hands the same but if it’s wet I wear nothing. With phones, gloves are a pain.