outfit for snowy weather?

[Cookie]

I'm visiting a school this weekend and it looks like there will be snow... Coming from the South, where I see snow like 2 days a year, I don't know what formal / semi-formal outfit will work for cold weather up North.  The coordinator said in the email that it would be a lot of walking.  Please help!!!

[Tall Chai Latte]

Boots. That's key. You don't want to fall over.

 

And how to keep yourself warm kind of varies between people. For me, if I keep my head, neck, and hands warm, I don't feel cold. Which translates into wearing a hat, scarf, and mittens. Another tip is dress like an onion: have a thick outer layer and wear your formal/semi-formal outfit underneath. That way, you can quickly shed and adjust to indoor ambient temperature when you come in from outside. 

[ion_exchanger]

Living in the north, I am used to wearing dressy clothes when it snows. This is the time where you can take advantage of those pants that you have that are just a little to short for all of your shoes, but will work perfectly with boots. No one will blame you if you have to wear boots to avoid busting your rump on snowy payment. if you wear a nice sweater and nice pants, you will be dressy in the midst of undesirable weather. My go to outfit for snowy walking weather was solid black boots, nice black corduroys, and a nice argyle sweater that had those dressy collars, earrings, and a necklace. For males, you can wear nice pants and a sweater as well. I'm also seconding tall chai latte with bringing a hat, scarf, and mittens. If you were like me and didn't want to mess up your hair, bring earmuffs. They have some that go over the head, and around the back of the head. You can also dress in layers. I'm always hot, so just my sweater was perfect for me. Good luck!

[rising_star]

Long johns or any kind of undergarment under whatever formal/semiformal outfit you want! I have a tendency to be cold, so I often wear a layer under whatever I want to be presentable in, plus a thick outer layer.

[katieliz456]

I've been having this same problem as an AZ native going to interview in Boston this week, so I appreciate the advice!

 

Extremely dumb question (please don't judge ): I am planning to wear black dress pants (tights underneath) with a nice shirt&cardigan, with a warm coat over for going outside. I was thinking about wearing black leather boots, but do you wear them "under" your pants, or "over" (like you would with jeans or leggings)?? My outfit doesn't really look "right" either way hahaha...

[ion_exchanger]

Hmm, that's tough. Without seeing the outfit, I would say wear the pants over the boots, but it really depends on how the pants taper at the end. I think that you should err on the side of caution, and I think that pants over boots is just a bit more professional than boots over the pants, at least for an interview.

Edited February 19, 2013 by ion_exchanger

[katieliz456]

Hmm, that's tough. Without seeing the outfit, I would say wear the pants over the boots, but it really depends on how the pants taper at the end. I think that you should err on the side of caution, and I think that pants over boots is just a bit more professional than boots over the pants, at least for an interview.

 

Thanks! They are looser at the ankles, and the boots are pretty tight so they fit under them fine. I think the part that looks weird to me is just having my boot-clad feet sticking out... i feel like it looks like i am wearing some weird type of shoes haha.

[ion_exchanger]

Thanks! They are looser at the ankles, and the boots are pretty tight so they fit under them fine. I think the part that looks weird to me is just having my boot-clad feet sticking out... i feel like it looks like i am wearing some weird type of shoes haha.

 

Haha I have that same problem. I keep telling myself that it's because I am looking straight down at my boots, and they definitely look better to people that aren't me.

[Cookie]

Thanks everyone, great advices!  I dont see myself wearing boots with dress pants though.  Can black flats and black tights look ok and keep me warm?  I plan to wear a trenchcoat over my pant suit. 

[kaister]

I'm debating whether to wear boots under pants or flats.  The flats just look so much nicer and my student host said I could change into my flats (from boots) when we got to campus if I wanted, but I'm just not sure if it's worth the hassle or not, especially if we'll be going in and out a lot, and you can never tell when the itinerary may change.

[MacZeeZee]

I went to an interview last week in the "blizzard" that hit us in the NE. I wore dress pants, black heels, a nice blouse, and a sweater for the interviews.  On the way there, I wore a long snow jacket, knee-high rainboots (pants tucked in) with thick, thick socks, hat, mittens, etc.  I just arrived 30 minutes early, found a bathroom NOT in the general vicinity of the interview room, and changed my whole look when I got there (put on my heels, fixed my hair, touched up my makeup, put on my earrings, etc.).  I shoved all of my snow gear into my boots, and just brought them up and asked the secretary where I could stash those items until the end of the visiting day.  She was very accommodating :-)

 

I brought a nice looking bag with me that was big enough to fit all of my crap in. It's my husband's Jcrew-esque breifcase-ish messenger bag. Totally worked out great!  I felt great during the interviews, and was warm and not panicked about my pants getting ruined on the trek there!

[katieliz456]

I went to an interview last week in the "blizzard" that hit us in the NE. I wore dress pants, black heels, a nice blouse, and a sweater for the interviews.  On the way there, I wore a long snow jacket, knee-high rainboots (pants tucked in) with thick, thick socks, hat, mittens, etc.  I just arrived 30 minutes early, found a bathroom NOT in the general vicinity of the interview room, and changed my whole look when I got there (put on my heels, fixed my hair, touched up my makeup, put on my earrings, etc.).  I shoved all of my snow gear into my boots, and just brought them up and asked the secretary where I could stash those items until the end of the visiting day.  She was very accommodating :-)

 

I brought a nice looking bag with me that was big enough to fit all of my crap in. It's my husband's Jcrew-esque breifcase-ish messenger bag. Totally worked out great!  I felt great during the interviews, and was warm and not panicked about my pants getting ruined on the trek there!

That's smart! I was hoping to do something similar, but I don't really have any nice bags that are big enough to hold that stuff I have big cloth tote bags (that I use as backpacks for school) or nice, leather, SMALL purses. :/

[Cookie]

I went to an interview last week in the "blizzard" that hit us in the NE. I wore dress pants, black heels, a nice blouse, and a sweater for the interviews.  On the way there, I wore a long snow jacket, knee-high rainboots (pants tucked in) with thick, thick socks, hat, mittens, etc.  I just arrived 30 minutes early, found a bathroom NOT in the general vicinity of the interview room, and changed my whole look when I got there (put on my heels, fixed my hair, touched up my makeup, put on my earrings, etc.).  I shoved all of my snow gear into my boots, and just brought them up and asked the secretary where I could stash those items until the end of the visiting day.  She was very accommodating :-)

 

I brought a nice looking bag with me that was big enough to fit all of my crap in. It's my husband's Jcrew-esque breifcase-ish messenger bag. Totally worked out great!  I felt great during the interviews, and was warm and not panicked about my pants getting ruined on the trek there!

 

Seriously, you are amazing This is what I am gonna do!!! Thanks!

[Tuck]

Long johns or any kind of undergarment under whatever formal/semiformal outfit you want! I have a tendency to be cold, so I often wear a layer under whatever I want to be presentable in, plus a thick outer layer.

 

I have tried the long johns under dress clothes thing, and I encountered issues:

 

1) I felt frumpy because of the way it they made my clothes look

2) I felt uncomfortable with having all those clothes on

3) I was insufferably hot when indoors.

 

How do you make it work?

 

I have always lived in hot climates, and dressing both warmly and professionally seems impossible to me.

[rising_star]

I only buy the silk longjohns. They let you breathe while also adding a thin layer of warmth. I dunno, but it's never bothered me and I think that, by now, someone would've told me that I didn't look professional.