5 "Boring" Winter Items Every NYC Girl Owns

When she’s not working with big names like Lupita Nyong’o, Constance Wu, and Diane Kruger or writing a best-selling book, celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger divulges her fashion expertise in our Ask a Stylist column. From the best places to source vintage to the secret to finding your most flattering jeans, come back each week for a professional’s perspective.

If you’re looking for what to wear in New York during the winter, you’ve landed on the right post. Today I’m sharing the top five “boring” winter essentials I can verify that every girl in the city owns. As a seasoned New Yorker and over my career as a stylist over the past year, I’ve nailed down the items one needs to stylishly survive the cold-weather climate in the Big Apple. Below, I’m breaking down the five categories that earn the most mileage during the months of December through March, and sharing my shopping picks for each winter wardrobe must-have.

Winter Hat

Luckily, brands like Eugenia Kim and Moncler offer super-cute winter hat options. Walking around NYC, you’ll see dozens of beanies in bright colors and options with puffy poms. Berets are also a stylish option I offer to my clients when dressing for press events in the winter.

Proper Gloves

Every true NYCer owns a pair of beautiful leather gloves that are properly lined and a style that’s designed for utility from brands like Canada Goose and Ugg. Below are my picks for classic cold-weather gloves.

Fluffy Scarf

While fluffy scarves aren’t the most convenient item to store away during non-winter months, the layering piece comes in handy once temperatures start to drop. Below you’ll find my favorite fluffy scarves to keep you warm this winter.

Warm Boots

From weather-ready boots like options from Sorel and Ugg that facilitate stomping through the snow and sleet to over-the-knee boots for a stylish option on the days it’s not drizzling or snowing, proper footwear for a winter in New York is a necessary investment.

Layering Pieces

Simple sweaters and turtlenecks are “boring” basics but are the basics you’ll live in during the months of December through March. They are the starting point for building basically every winter outfit combination I can think of. Shop my favorite layering pieces below.