Clothes for winter in London

Hey everyone so I just got into Goldsmiths and UAL which are both in london, and as someone from LA we don't really experience cold. So i wanted to ask what yall wear in london to beat the cold, stuff for like style enthusiastic girls pls 🙏

Reply 1

Kingston Zhi En

Official Rep

Original post by Sashasena300

Hi there @Sashasena300 , I would highly recommend getting a good puffer jacket or wool coat. Having similarly moved from a warm climate, I was also really afraid of the cold! If you are on a budget, pop into one of the many charity/ thrift stores in London and you should easily be able to find something suitable at an affordable price 😋 Cosy knitwear, jumpers and wooly scarves are also helpful in layering up to stay warm! You can easily find some really nice things on 2nd hand platforms like Vinted! Hope this helps 🙂

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)

Reply 2

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Sashasena300

Hi @Sashasena300

Wow moving from LA to London - that is very exciting, I hope you are enjoying your course?

This is a great question, I remember doing a lot of research into good winter coat brands when looking at studying in Canada over the winter, so know the feeling.

Have you got apps such as Student Beans and UniDays? These are great for getting student discounts on high-street brands!

I moved to study in Salford from down South in England and because it rains here more than down south everyone told me to invest in a good waterproof coat, so I used my student discount to buy a long, warm waterproof coat from Superdry - it was worth the investment and I can even machine wash it to keep it looking new.

It depends on what your budget is, how long you will be using it, and whether you intend to take anything you buy back to LA. If you are here for more than a year and will need things again next winter then it is worth spending a little more. Saying that, there are plenty of great secondhand sale sites such as Vinted and Depop where you can sell your second-hand clothing at a reduced rate, but if your clothing is in good condition you can still get a good rate.

I purchased myself a second-hand Northface coat from one of these sites as this brand is known for being warm, and stylish, but pricy. Another place to look is charity shops, especially in certain areas of London there can be some designer/good quality brands donated to charity shops, so you can get some real steals.

If you can hang on until January you might find a lot of warm clothing such as coats, boots, jumpers, and thermals good into the January sales. It depends on your style, but I would say it is worth investing in a higher-quality item if you're looking for warmth and durability, from my experience, if it is super cheap it is usually because it looks great but isn't particularly warm apart from thermal socks which you can even get at supermarkets nowadays. Outdoor clothing brands usually make fantastic warm clothes, but sometimes they are more practical than fashionable, but if you search you can usually find some gems. Another place you can find hidden treasures is in TK Maxx if you have the patience.

I never buy second-hand footwear so saved up and bought myself a pair of Timbaland boots in the January sales a couple of years ago they are such good quality they still look new. Brands like UGG are known for being warm, but expensive, so you might be happy with a cheaper and less warm boot if you only need it for this winter. Clothing-wise look for fabrics like merino wool, polyester, or synthetic blends specifically designed for thermal wear, as these are known for their excellent heat retention and moisture-wicking capabilities. It is worth trying the item on in a cool environment to see if you feel noticeably warmer and it fits snugly to keep the heat in.

I would chat to your fellow coursemates and see where they'd recommend shopping for whatever you need or they might have some clothes they don't mind you borrowing to try out before you invest in your own.

I hope that helps a little. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions and I will be happy to help! Happy shopping 😀

Lucy :smile: