How to Survive a New York Winter

Winter in the Big Apple can be a big, depressing hassle unless you go into it with the right attitude, not to mention a hefty pair of gloves. Fashion should not go out the window, but it should also not include anything with fabrics that get wrecked by salt on the street or high heels. You can survive a New York winter with some simple tips, and beat frostbite, depression and slipping on ice in the middle of Lexington Avenue in the process.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Winter wear
• Good boots
• Determination
• Tote bag full of winter stuff
• Sunlight simulator lamp

1. Get a winter tote bag. Use it to haul shoes you have to wear at work as well as a few cold weather necessities. These include eyeglass cleaner for when your lenses fog up, tissue, extra socks, Vitamin C, lip balm, hand sanitizer, skin lotion and anything else you may need in a winter pinch.

2. Go for layers. Dress in layers that can be peeled off in an over-heated coffee shop or subway car. Use your tote bag to store your gloves, scarf and hat so they don’t get left on the train and end up Queens.

3. Concentrate on the boots. By “good boots” we don’t simply mean a pair that cost $1,052. Sure those may be good, but we need boots that are preferably lined, definitely waterproof and have soles that can stand up to both ice-turned-slush and slippery subway floors. You also may need to trek through debris in them if the train or bus breaks down. Carry your work shoes in a tote bag or leave them under your desk.

4. Invest in a sunlight simulator lamp. New York winters can be eternally gray. It doesn’t matter how warmly you dress if you are too depressed to even get out of bed and put a sock on. Sunlight simulator lamps come in many varieties and prices and can be easily placed on your desk at work. When I used one in a Madison Avenue insurance office, several coworkers would always flock to my desk when I would turn it on for the prescribed 10 minutes or more per day.

5. Stay healthy. Crowded winter subways and coughing coworkers are a great way to get sick during the season. Make sure you take your vitamins and herbal supplements, eat right, drink warm water infused with lemon and get plenty of sleep. After all, it’s easy to sleep when the sun seems to set at 2 p.m.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a close eye on your hats and gloves, especially when you remove them on the subway. Too many times I have seen a lone glove seeped in slush on the side of the road. There is really nothing sadder.
• Use glove clips on your coat, like little kids have, for extra security with your fur-lined hand warmers.
• Personalize your winter style. Matching, or purposely non-matching, accessories are ways to do this, as are vintage coats and big, furry hats sold on Orchard Street. Have fun with mittens or muffs. Jazz up your pea coat with a zebra-print scarf.
• Don’t worry about looking like an overstuffed sausage or over-wrapped falafel in your winter wear. It’s all about comfort, not fashion pages. A friend of mine even had a knit nose cover that tied around the back of her head. Yes, it looked somewhat odd, but her nose didn’t turn all red like everyone else's.
• Don’t try to fight it. Whether you like it or not, you’re going to get winter and weather that feels like winter, for more than six months in New York City. Go into it prepared, and it won’t feel more like six years.