Suggested winter clothing for grad school in Boston?

[josepidal]

I will hopefully be flying to Boston in a few months to begin a Master of Laws degree in September. However, I come from a tropical country and have no clue whatsoever as to what winter clothing is like. I mean, I have a general idea, but I don't want to get stuck with a fleece fit for a ten year old in the university.

Would you guys mind linking some good eBay auctions for winter items or something, so I could have an idea not just what items to be sure to get, but so that I get a little style out of this?

Also, I know some people suggested cashmere sweaters and the like, but might those be impractical for me as I'd use them for one winter then never touch them again when I go back home to my equatorial abode?

 

[billiebob]

I own the Marmot 8000 meter parka. You will too come December.






If you are planning anything outside, may I suggest the Marmot 8000 meter suit?

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by josepidal

I will hopefully be flying to Boston in a few months to begin a Master of Laws degree in September. However, I come from a tropical country and have no clue whatsoever as to what winter clothing is like. I mean, I have a general idea, but I don't want to get stuck with a fleece fit for a ten year old in the university.

Would you guys mind linking some good eBay auctions for winter items or something, so I could have an idea not just what items to be sure to get, but so that I get a little style out of this?

Also, I know some people suggested cashmere sweaters and the like, but might those be impractical for me as I'd use them for one winter then never touch them again when I go back home to my equatorial abode?

Just PM me when you get here and I'll get you geared up on the cheap. I am on good terms with a local merchant who sells Patagonia, Arteryx, etc..., and can probably swing you a deal. You want something 1) With a hood, and 2) with a zip out fleece lining. If you don't want to go technical gear, go to STP and get a Gloverall duffel coat. They are the lower end quality ones, but are heavy and warm. Put it this way. On the coldest days, walking to the gym in just a jersey and sweatpants over running shoes, I wore my Gloverall duffel and was just fine.

 

[JBZ]

Be sure to get yourself a good pair of winter boots. No need to be stylish here. You want something waterproof with a good tread that will keep your feet warm and dry. Over the course of the winter, these will become beat up and dirty, so they're not anything you should care about from a style perspective. LL Bean's classic Bean Boot (lined with thinsulate) is a good choice, and will make you look like a real New Englander.

I like LA Guy's suggestion of the zip out liner for the winter coat, because you can probably still use it as a casual rain coat without the liner once you return to warmer climes.

Also, while Boston does have its share of cold days in the winter, it's really not THAT bad. You're not going to Antarctica or anything.

 

[Concordia]

You'll have maybe four months where it will be at or below freezing, two of those months with a fair bit of snow, and one week in February where it's below zero (Fahrenheit).

Bean boots or shoes are a good idea. If you intend to wear your good shoes, Neos overshoes will keep them safe.

Down parkas and the like will keep extreme chill off, but you might be better off with a good wool topcoat/overcoat. It will breathe better and can be worn unbuttoned, while keeping the wind off when it gets nasty. And you can sell it when you're done.

Keezer's used to be the gold standard for this sort of article. Generations of Harvard freshmen would go there to get a navy blazer, black tie rig, and a cashmere or wool topcoat. Come graduation, they'd sell them back. Or so it seemed, at least, from looking at the inventory. Check them out in September.

 

[josepidal]

Thanks, particularly, LA Guy, I do look forward to meeting up. I hadn't forgotten; just thought I could get relatives to pick up stuff now whether on eBay or from stores as it's currently summer over there.

 

[Luc-Emmanuel]

May I suggest something warm and fuzzy to got with your Harvard Master of Laws which begins in september?

!luc

 

[philosophe]

I swear by my Canada Goose parka. I have one of the lighter models (CG makes gear for the polar stations), and it is phenomenally warm. Duffel coats are also great for New England winters.

Aside from wearing these coats, the key to winter warmth is layering. Turtleneck sweaters are a godsend in February. I have some lightweight wool or cashmere and silk pieces that I wear under other sweaters when it is absolutely freezing. Cotton-cashmere tees are also great. And then there are the more technical materials.

Last but not least, invest in good wool socks. I wear smartwool (available from STP) when I'm wearing boots or casual shoes. Any good wool dress sock will work for dressier occasions.

 

[tiger02]

I have a good friend from Cincy who just graduated HLS. Wears nothing but shorts and a tshirt, with an occasional admission to the weather in the form of a windbreaker. Did it in Jersey, now does it in Boston. No freaking clue how, though.

Tom

 

[josepidal]

Any links to ebay or online catalogs of all this great stuff (including fall stuff, not just winter)?

 

[philosophe]

The weather will still be mild in September, so you'll have some time to shop.

Right now, I'd check STP for basic items like wool socks. As LA Guy mentioned, STP also has the Gloverall duffels. I believe that they also have some Smedley merino turtlenecks at about $69 each.

Lance at Virtualclotheshorse has some nice sweaters.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by tiger02

I have a good friend from Cincy who just graduated HLS. Wears nothing but shorts and a tshirt, with an occasional admission to the weather in the form of a windbreaker. Did it in Jersey, now does it in Boston. No freaking clue how, though.

Tom

I think I've seen this guy. Where is he originally from? I had a friend from a place just south of James Bay, who laughed at Kingston "Cold". He wore sandals all year round (in Kingston, Ontario!)

 

[tiger02]

Cincinnatti. You're right though, there was also a dude a year ahead of me at school from northern Canada somewhere. Short shorts, tshirts, and Tevas in a snow storm. Guys who are actually from cold places mock Boston. Guys from the Phillipinnes need to dress warm

 

[Concordia]

Sweaters may be your most useful implement, especially as you layer. You might have no need for cashmere, but a lambswool v-neck or crew-neck from LL Bean will see you through a lot. My default uniform in our (casual) office for years was a v-neck plus chinos and a button-down shirt.

No need to buy now. The first cool weather won't likely come until after you've been here for a month or more. But a spin through www.llbean.com may be informative.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by tiger02

Cincinnatti. You're right though, there was also a dude a year ahead of me at school from northern Canada somewhere. Short shorts, tshirts, and Tevas in a snow storm. Guys who are actually from cold places mock Boston. Guys from the Phillipinnes need to dress warm

And then there is this guy in an adjacent lab from inner Siberia who wear thin poplin shirts year round, and a windbreaker when it rains or snows... He says that he has never felt cold in Boston. Ever. He told me once that Boston had essentially 2 seasons - summer and spring.