I woke up last weekend to find the streets of New York covered by the first real snow of the season (that sloppy freezing rain over Halloween weekend does not count). Aesthetically, I love the snow. A thick frosting of the white stuff has a way of brightening a dreary winter’s day, and softening a harsh cityscape into something off of a picture postcard. From a sensory perspective, my love is somewhat numbed, along with my extremities.
The necessity of experiencing the New York City winter directly, and not just from my bedroom window, has been one of my greatest challenges in moving here. While I may never come to enjoy walking the frozen streets of the city between the months of November and March, I have come to tolerate it, in part through a series of easy and inexpensive tweaks to my winter wardrobe.
My latest discovery was passed on to me by a friend whose expert credentials on dressing for the frozen north were earned over the course of three winters spent in Montreal (where 20°F is considered a balmy spring day). The tip was this—mittens are much warmer than gloves.
Although it means sacrificing the dexterity that comes with their finger separating cousins, mittens keep your hands much warmer by bundling all your fingers together. And in the interest of evolution, you still have your thumbs free.
I was eager to put my friend’s advice to the test, but also a little apprehensive, as the last pair of mittens I owned were hot pink nylon and clipped neatly onto the sleeves of a matching coverall (think Randy’s winter getup in A Christmas Story). Fears of being revisited by the winter fashions of my youth, however, proved unfounded, as my post-holiday shopping revealed mittens are available in a variety of styles that are both cute and toasty.
My personal preference is for the “grandma knit me this” styles, like this pop-top pair available at South Moon Under.
Artesania Pop Top Mittens, southmoonunder.com, $11 (sale)
Leather detailing on WeSC’s cable knit mittens lends them a more sophisticated vibe.
WeSC Speckled Knit & Leather Mitten, urbanoutfitters.com, $19.99 (sale)
Cheap Monday offers a grown-up interpretation of nylon, which works for both girls and guys, and is great for the more serious, ski-bunny types.
Cheap Monday Vex Mitten, urbanoutfitters.com, $9.99 (sale)
For those with a more playful style, there is the fox mitten, from Piu by Celapui.
Piu by Celapiu Fox Mitten, urbanoutfitters.com, $12.99 (sale)
Whatever your winter style, mittens make for an addition that is both fun and functional.
Posted by mandijrs on January 25, 2012 at 10:25 AM EST #