<p>momochan---- Many thanks!!!</p>
<p>No, Vans aren’t great for Midwest winter-- which means that kids certainly WEAR THEM ALL WINTER!! Ha.</p>
<p>The worst part of Chicago weather is not the cold per se, but the cold wind. I travel to Chicago often and wear a nice heavy parka, but when the wind blows downtown even when it’s 40F or 50F, I might as well be wearing Speedos. </p>
<p>Having said that, Chicago during the holidays is awesome.</p>
<p>There is no shame in Chicago for those wearing big bulky coats. We do wear boots, coats, hats, scarves.It can be cold, so fashion goes out the window. </p>
<p>That said, best to actually buy the stuff in Chicago.</p>
<p>I can’t even imagine a boy having 6 bags worth of clothes. He’ll need jeans, a pair of khakis, a couple pairs of shorts, a mix of short and long-sleeved tee shirts, a button-down, and a couple of hoodies. Fourteen pairs of underwear and socks. Sneakers, flip-flops. Fall jacket. Maybe a blazer, depending on the school and his extracurrics.</p>
<p>Winter gear is highly dependent on the size of the campus and issues like waiting for a bus. Chicago wind can be brutal. But much better to take him shopping in Chicago in October. (I am extremely dubious that college age boys wear winter boots to class, by the way.)</p>
<p>We got around the boot issue by getting Chukka/Bota style boots. they were tall enough to cover the ankle at least. DS only wore true snow boots during snowball wars and when he was shoveling the elderly neighbors driveways.</p>
<p>Did that move two years ago (northern CA to Chicago). It seems you are exaggerating and also they can but stuff there will be more selection.</p>
<p>As Sop14’s Mom said, I have never seen male student’s wear winter boots on campus around here when going to class and it gets very cold and very snowy! Just asked D2’s BF about wearing winter boots and he said he doesn’t own any but has seen other young men with Columbia/NorthFace style boots when “playing” around in the snow. We can and do get snow in October but usually he just layers sweatshirts/hoodies with fleece until we get the real cold.</p>
<p>2 pair jeans, 2 pair shorts, 1 athletic short, 1 pair sweats (and buy one at bookstore), 2 long sleeve tees, 10 short sleeve tees, 1 hoodie (and buy 1 or 2 at bookstore), flip flops, Vans would work just fine, athletic shoes, waterproof windbreaker with hood, jacket good for 40-50 degrees (buy the winter one during parents weekend).</p>
<p>My son loves this Patagonia Men’s Better Sweater in light gray. It is a cross between a sweater and a polar fleece, but it is really dense. Works alone or as layer. [Patagonia</a> Men’s Better Sweater Fleece Jacket](<a href=“Patagonia Men's Better Sweater® Fleece Jacket”>Patagonia Men's Better Sweater® Fleece Jacket)</p>
<p>Also, my S1 doesn’t like to wear socks so in early fall and spring he lives in Sperry Topsiders. (you can even get these in chukka or work boot height)</p>
<p>Best guess on useable hanging space is 30 inches.</p>
<p>I would recommend a windbreaker. After all, Chicago is the windy city. Also, I don’t know what its like in California, but sometimes (especially early in the year, and closer to summer) you have to dress warmer for the air conditioning in buildings than the actual outside temperature. Layering is a good strategy.</p>
<p>The plains part of the Midwest has been having a blazing hot summer. Upper 90s. No rain. Wind feels like a blast furnace, but it’s better than when there’s no wind. Oh, and our dew points have been right around 70. If he’s not used to the humidity, this could get ugly.</p>
<p>Right now, do not worry at all about winter clothes. Send shorts and other hot weather gear. it might start cooling off at night by the end of August. Consider a windbreaker because that strong Chicago wind will blow right through a hoodie.</p>
<p>When winter does get here, let him decide what he wants. Lots of people wear big coats because they’re easy to shed once indoors. I personally hate layers; they make me feel like I’m stuffed into a sausage casing or something.</p>
<p>Munequita, you have lived through two mild winters. We made the same move 6 years ago, and it can feel like the arctic when you get into Chicago. Lake effect, heavy winds make it feel like you are in a freezer when it gets below zero, especially after several days of below freezing temps. We may have another mild winter, but I wouldn’t count on it.</p>
<p>Some of you might be surprised at how little clothing the young wear in the winter in the cold states. What one of the previous posters said about kids wearing Vans…oh yeah, that’s right on and I’m from a state colder than IL.</p>
<p>Now college is different from high school in that the kids are actually moving between buildings so they will want a coat but it doesn’t need to be the warmest coat on the market…they’ll melt once they get inside. If the kid cares about fashion, Lands End and LL Bean are not going to be happening. My kids call those brands “old people stuff”…LOL! Patagonia and North Face pass the test. Buy boots and accept the boots will rarely be worn unless there is a major blizzard that one has to walk inside in or shovel a car out of a drift. Yes, young people have a high tolderance for wearing wet shoes. Flip-flops and snow can be compatible. 
Under Armour Cold Gear definately passes the “cool factor” test but only while doing downhill and nordic skiing. Nobody is wearing the stuff under their regular clothing…not even when it is -15 below zero. A hat and gloves/mittens are a good idea. Two pairs of mittens is reasonable because one will certainly get lost. Lastly, get them some Chapstick. Winter can be rough on the lips. Tell them to not engage in any excessive licking…it only makes it worse.</p>
<p>In Ohio I am expecting my daughter’s fleece northface to make it to the end of September/early October and then I plan on buying her a new winter coat. Luckily I am 1.5 hours away from her school so not a real problem to get her clothes to her. You will definitely want a winter coat available by October with how crazy the weather can be- 80 one day and 12 hours later 40 degrees with cold rain. A pair of rubber boots plus a pair of ugg type boots is what my daughter will be wearing.</p>
<p>Plan on equipping her with some under armour type shirts for layering during the cold especially cold football games. She will probably start out in light weight tennis shoes as she will be walking a lot. She has invested in yoga pants and baggy sweatshirts/hoodies to see her through early morning - we found victorias secret and aerie for the sweatsirts and yoga pants but Forever 21 has some cute sport wear too. </p>
<p>Of course it depends on the school- she is attending OSU so pretty much anything goes there. lol</p>
<p>^^true, college4many, but many of those kids with almost nothing on are from states with winter to begin with. My employer attracts a fair number of students from the desert southwest and Florida. Yes, by senior year, they dress like natives, but as freshmen? Lots of time they’re pulling out winter coats the first time there’s a little frost on the grass.</p>
<p>Do you mind saying what school he is attending? If he is going to Northwestern, there is a NorthFace store less than 2 blocks from campus.</p>
<p>At some colleges there’s little outside walking that has to be done. At CCM in Cincy, for example, a student can go from dorm to dining to class to practice rooms without ever stepping outside. They designed it that way on purpose. My S’ college, distances are short, walkways are quickly plowed so time spent outside is minimal unless intentional.</p>
<p>Living in Central OH my kids wear something like a North Face fleece all winter, only adding more if intentionally in the snow/cold - snowboarding, sledding.</p>
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momochan - last year we hung all of S’s T-shirts on plastic hangers in his dorm closet, which allowed for more space in the 5-drawer dresser. It also helped keep the wrinkles down. I assume your S will be doing his own laundry. If he hangs the shirts right out of the dryer that will help.</p>
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<p>This. DD just graduated from a Chicago school and now lives there permanently post-graduation. As a student, she wore Van’s all winter long (despite her mother’s persistent nagging.)</p>
<p>However, she did load up on scarves, gloves, and hats - anything to cut the wind.</p>
<p>You do know that Chicago has fabulous shopping, right? If it were me, I’d just wait and purchase some of this stuff there.</p>
<p>As a former Chicagoan who has lived in CA for 30 years, I still try to do as much clothes shopping as possible when I am visiting Chicago. Way cheaper, more selection, nicer stuff. And I agree with those who have pointed out that the dorms have very little space for tons of clothes. I would pack the minimum and certainly wouldn’t go online and start buying more clothes at this point.</p>