Traveling Light: New York City Winter Packing List

This is the second NYC packing list in the history of this blog – the first was way back in the fall of 2017 when skinny jeans were de rigueur and my Vejas were brand new (wow, look how bright and clean they were!).

While my style has shifted some over the years, my love for dressing for the destination has not. Before packing for my February trip, I headed over to YouTube to find a current video or two showing what New Yorkers are wearing these days.

I landed on this account, and it is truly delightful. New York City fashion is unlike anything else in the world; people channel their creativity through their clothing, treating the streets like their own personal runway. My personal style is more subdued than anyone featured in those videos, but they inspired me to grab a few fun statement pieces out of my wardrobe for this trip.

Getting to explore this intersection – dressing for a destination while wearing what is in your own closet – brings me so much joy. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons I started this blog in the first place.

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What generally brings me less joy, though, is being forced to shove all of my belongings into a personal item – that is, the bag that fits under your plane seat. Normally I would reach for my Everywhere Bag because it has great built-in organization and fits pretty much every carrier’s dimensions, but a flare-up from a years-old back injury caused me to reach for a backpack instead.

To add insult to literal injury, I learned that my travel backpack is a few inches too large to count as a personal item on United. In a panic, I turned to the internet to order one that would fit, crossing my fingers the entire time that it would arrive before we departed.

Thankfully it arrived, and frankly? I’m pretty impressed.

This backpack packs more like a suitcase than a traditional backpack, although it has plenty of other backpack-like pockets, and packing was such a breeze. Well, the packing part was – not the choosing what to wear part.

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Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

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When packing for New York, my inclination is always to wear black (I suppose it helps that this color makes up the bulk of my closet!), and I led with my instincts here again.

I considered packing a dress or a skirt with fleece-lined tights, but with a pretty casual itinerary, I hung those items back in my closet. Instead, I decided simplicity would be my goal: two tops, two pairs of pants, one coat, and one pair of shoes (note: I am generally inclined to just bring one pair of pants for two days, as Michael did with his jeans, but something in me made me reconsider. I’m glad I did – at some point I noticed a sticky stain from who-knows-what I must have sat in).

The weather was a little all over the place during these two days, ranging from 23°F to 50°F and flurries to blue skies – so I chose some of my hardiest pieces to match.

Here is everything I packed for 36 hours in NYC, and why each item deserved a coveted spot in my backpack:

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NEW YORK CITY WINTER PACKING LIST

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WHY I CHOSE THESE ITEMS

Tops

Camisole | I wore this both days, as the first layer next to my skin. It’s an oldie, but it is super soft and fits really well.

Turtleneck | I own a few of these base layers from this Scandi brand, and they almost always make an appearance when traveling to cold destinations. They’re 100% wool (but not itchy to me), and lie so nice and flat underneath top layers. I hardly notice I’m wearing them, except for the added warmth they provide.

Sheer Blouse* | I love the details on this blouse so much that when I accidentally left it at an Airbnb a few years ago, I immediately ordered a replacement from Poshmark.

Cashmere Sweater* | A black cashmere sweater is a truly classic piece. I thrifted mine years ago, but this one is a great option for a low price.

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Bottoms

Wool Trousers℅ | The weather has to be just right for wearing wool trousers, so I wear these statement pants any chance I get!

Wide Leg Pants* | A sturdy pair of wide-leg pants stylishly fights the cold (just add an extra layer underneath for any sudden gusts!).

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Outerwear

Parka | “The Amazon Jacket” – did you ever think you’d see the day? I didn’t, in all honesty, as I try to shop from the online megastore as little as possible. But it is hard to resist the siren song of a big, warm puffy coat with a million (or six) pockets, so I found one secondhand on Poshmark. True, I kind of bumbled around the city, not used to wearing such a big coat. But I definitely stayed warm, and that was the goal.

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Pajamas

Pajama Top | Hotel rooms in the winter can feel a bit like a sauna, so I left the long sleeves at home and went for a simple tank. I’m glad I did because I ended up wearing this and my camisole the following day to stay just a bit warmer.

Pajama Bottom* | When traveling with only a personal item, I try to bring my lightest pajamas. A pair of silk pants feels luxurious but takes up almost zero space in my bag.

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Accessories

Crossbody Bag* | Yes, this ol’ thing. Not trendy, but oh-so practical and ready to thwart would-be pickpockets.

Gloves | I developed a habit of keeping a pair of gloves in the pocket of every coat – a habit I’m all too happy to keep.

Beanie* | I wasn’t going to pack a hat, but I’m so glad I decided to shove it in my coat pocket at the last moment because it came in handy as the mercury dipped.

Belt | An easy, no-nonsense belt that doesn’t trigger the metal detector.

Sunglasses | Since discovering this brand a few years ago, I’ve largely given up my Ray-Bans. These fit my face way more comfortably, and they have a truly fantastic warranty (ask me how I know!).

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Shoes

Lug Sole Boots℅ | Heading to the world’s coolest city called for the world’s coolest boots. And this pair not only looks good, but they are sturdy, warm, and waterproof. They handled getting caught in the flurries and navigating puddles of questionable substances on the sidewalks like a champ. Oh – and they’re comfortable, well, to boot.

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Not Pictured

Undergarments | A couple of pairs of underwear (regular and long) and a couple of pairs of wool compression socks were all I needed for this overnight trip – taking up hardly any room at all.

Makeup + Toiletries | Everything in this category (minus any liquids) went right into my handy catch-all case. I kept my makeup routine ultra-simple: just a tube of eyebrow gel, a tube of mascara, a bullet of lipstick, and a bit of foundation. I also tossed my medication organizer, nail set, hairbrush, a few extra hair ties, and my travel curling iron (below) in the bag.

Travel Curling Iron | Also new for this trip is this teeny-tiny curling iron, which fits easily into my toiletry bag and somehow doesn’t add too much time to my styling routine. It takes some getting used to curling hair with a shorter barrel, but overall I’m pretty impressed with this little thing.

Jewelry | I decided to keep things extra simple (and all-gold!) by wearing the same pieces both days: a paperclip chain necklace, several rings, and a pair of simple solid gold studs that I could wear in the shower.

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NEW YORK CITY WINTER OUTFITS

*this item is no longer available and a similar product is linked

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FINAL THOUGHTS ON WHAT TO PACK FOR NYC IN THE WINTER

New York City winters are generally milder than their Northeastern neighbors, but frigid temperatures are certainly not uncommon. Worst of all is the bitter wind that snakes its way down the avenues, seemingly intent on chilling you to the bone.

Layering is your friend here, with multiple skin-hugging thin layers to keep you comfortable, as is material. Natural fibers are generally my go-to, although you’ll want a water-repellent coat if precipitation is in the forecast. Worried about the bulk? Many restaurants and bars offer a coat rack to shed some extra layers (the great indoors are frequently toasty!). Where there is not one, of course, is the subway. You’ll want to hang on tight to your coat, or start sweating – the choice is yours!

One unexpected perk of traveling to NYC in the winter, though, is how much money I saved by being so bundled up. Only once did I hop into a fitting room to try things on. Undressing and dressing again really did a number on me, and I swore off trying clothes for the remainder of the trip.

But trying on clothing aside, winter is one of my favorite times to visit New York City. Prices are lower and there are fewer tourists, making the city generally a little more pleasant. So don’t let a little cold keep you away. As one of my favorite sayings goes, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”

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How are you handling the strict enforcement of baggage size at the gate? Have you had any issues?