<p>We are from NYC, and my D just finished her first year in Providence. One of her close friends is from Florida. Just for perspective Winter there was snowier than in New York, but she NEVER wore boots. The walkways were cleared pretty fast, although they did get slippery. So, for her, important was good traction. She wore moccasins all winter, actually. She did, though, buy a better winter jacket than the one she had. Contrary to the above post, (if I am interpreting correctly) she needed a hood. If you will be in Providence, there is plenty of good shopping very close by. So, I would agree that you can wait until you see exactly what you will need. Bring layers, definitely. Sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. I agree with no Uggs. It is more wet and slushy and cold and crispy in the snow.</p>
<p>The Florida friend LOVED the winter. She didn’t find it too much at all!</p>
<p>Another New Englander chiming in. You’ve gotten some great advice already, and I vote for waiting to shop too, but at least now when you shop, you’ll have some good ideas of what you’re looking for.</p>
<p>I’m in New Hampshire, and it gets pretty darned cold. What I wear for a ‘winter coat’ is an LLBean $40 ‘warmup’ jacket that has a fleece-lined body. I layer under when it’s cold (like -20), not-so-much when it’s warmer (like 10 to 30). For Spring and Fall I wear a fleece jacket.</p>
<p>For a more modern perspective, my daughter has one North Face waterproof jacket that she wears a lot. I hesitate to call it a rain coat, because she wears it more often than just in bad weather. For really cold days, she wears a Spider ski jacket that she’s had for quite a while. She has a wool coat but rarely wears it. She does wear hats and gloves when she runs. She also wears UnderArmor, which is similar to the cuddleduds someone else mentioned. </p>
<p>For boots, which I only wear when I’m actually IN THE SNOW, like shoveling, I have Sorels, and I think that’s what my daughter has too. As someone else mentioned, they have a removable felt liner that can be taken out if it gets wet or too dirty. I’d guess those aren’t too fashionable, though. Lots of kids wear ankle-high hiking boots that have been waterproofed.</p>
<p>There are several boys that I know who wear shorts year-round.</p>
<p>When you go to college, the weather in RI will still be warm. It doesn’t get seriously cold until November. There’s nothing wrong with waiting until you get there to go shopping. And if you’re a thrift shop type, there’s lots of appropriate clothing in the thrift shops.</p>
<p>As another one living on the “north coast”, where winters are long, I’d suggest a jacket set with a fleece inner layer and a waterproof outer layer, which you can wear separately or together - D swears by her North Face set. Same with the more formal rainwear - make sure you get one with the inner liner that you can zip in - have had my trusty one since D was a baby, and she turns 17 next week. A short peacoat is also nice to have as well, and as other posters have mentioned, a fleece vest is nice too - Vineyard Vines makes some nice ones…</p>
<p>My southern son just finished his freshman year at a New England LAC. He was amazed at how long and unrelenting the winter was, and how much time he had to spend outdoors just walking from building to building. By Christmas he was wearing long john bottoms, a hat, scarf, gloves (plus down jacket) and couldn’t have cared less how he looked in them. I agree with the others who’ve said you should wait to do your shopping in Providence. But don’t be too hard on yourself if your southern blood makes you want to bundle up a whole lot more than your northern friends need to. Have fun!</p>
<p>For autumn, I like to own ONE vest as an outergarment. It sounds dorky, but LLBean and others make them in fleece with a front zipper. Make sure it’s not tight or stiff in the neck, that’s important. Some zip too high and you feel like an English butler.</p>
<p>Around Sept/Oct, I use it as an outergarment. It layers over a long-sleeve shirt or turtleneck jersey, and out the door I go. Just the vest keeps my torso warm, and I am not bogged down with the sleeves of a jacket or sweater. Anything to keep autumn going a bit longer. </p>
<p>It’s good for a 4-week period, anyway, if you want to hold off buying/wearing the full outer-jacket. A fleece vest is also a refreshing alternative to a steady diet of sweatshirts and sweaters (rest of the winter).</p>
<p>For accessories, why not use Ebay (if you can’t wait for the Providence thrift shops, that is). If you don’t like it, it didn’t cost you much and you can give it away. Give a scarf, make a friend… </p>
<p>I think there’s something emotional about buying a <em>few</em> things looking ahead, like just a scarf, gloves, or vest ,… just in anticipation. Just satisfy the itch to prepare yourself…but I still stand by the advice to leave the heavy expenditures for after you arrive and see what’s around. </p>
<p>Massachusetts (near RI border) here. I agree with most of what has been written above. It won’t be cold when you start school, so you can shop in the fall if you want to see what others are wearing. Just be sure to include that expense in your budgeting plans for spending money. FYI, there are no “cheap” stores at the Providence Place Mall. </p>
<p>Northface - is THE fleece around here, with Columbia coming in 2nd. D had some Old Navy fleeces, but for her birthday she asked for a Northface so I bit the bullet and bought one from Zappos ($165). Now I see why they cost so much - this is the warmest fleece I’ve ever tried on, and the water-resistant shoulders are a great idea, it also has many pockets and is overall just extremely well-made. It will last more than a decade IF she doesn’t lose it or have it stolen. Get one and PUT YOUR NAME IN IT.</p>
<p>Uggs - they’re fashionable and warm, but as other posters have mentioned they’re no good in the snow. The wet snow and slush will ruin the pretty suede. They’re great for wearing on cold dry days, or after the sidewalks are cleared and dry, but you’ll need something waterproof too. D has a pair of UGG clogs, very expensive but probably the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever put on my feet.</p>
<p>fillintheblank…any way you can get an “allowance” for your “cold weather gear” and then order it once you get to college? You won’t need it at all anyway the first month of school, except for maybe a hoodie or a very lightweight fleece. Even in RI, it is unlikely that it will snow in September:) </p>
<p>Re: Boots…wait until you get to school to make any boot purchases. You may find that no one wears boots and you may find that everyone does. DD never owned a pair of boots while in High School (we live in New England). DS attended college in Boston and very few of the girls wore boots.</p>
<p>Re: outerwear…as suggested…layers are wise, and a decent fleece is important. Most kids do like to have warm gloves and a hat. Some like a scarf. But again…there is nothing that you can’t mail order once you get there. Once you get there, you’ll have a sense of what the natives wear in the winter and you can see stuff and try it on (yes, they have stores in Rhode Island).</p>
<p>Agreed that if you look at the different temperature ratings, you will want the $165~ version. However, DS has the much lighter weight $40~ version and still doesn’t zip it up. Probably won’t work for a Southern gal. But for him the brand name and price mattered more than being actually protected from the weather.</p>
<p>Re post #29: Not to me! Another brand of boot that I used to have that were in fact fashionable were Timberlands. They were black, sort of like hiking boots, but thinner, and high ankle height. Not bad in snow because they could be laced tightly over pants. But at this point, I don’t think that most kids wear ANY boots.</p>
<p>Boots can be handy for very heavy rains; especially the type following a lot of snow. Stepping into an icy mix of water and snow with sneakers isn’t fun unless you have an extra pair of socks and footwear handy.</p>
<p>Rhode Island is practically summer resort compare to Ithaca and Hanover. In anyway, dont pre-buy your winter gear in calif then stuffed them onto suitcases on a plane. Buy them when you get here, and buy where the locals buy. You’d find much better suitable gears, reasonable priced and dont have to transport them cross-country.</p>
Winter there was snowier than in New York, but she NEVER wore boots. The walkways were cleared pretty fast, although they did get slippery. So, for her, important was good traction. She wore moccasins all winter, actually. She did, though, buy a better winter jacket than the one she had. Contrary to the above post, (if I am interpreting correctly) she needed a hood. If you will be in Providence, there is plenty of good shopping very close by. So, I would agree that you can wait until you see exactly what you will need. Bring layers, definitely. Sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. I agree with no Uggs. It is more wet and slushy and cold and crispy in the snow.</p>