Can you teach me how to winter?
November 15, 2013 9:34 PM Subscribe
I've spent my entire life (with little exception) between Houston and Atlanta, latitudinally speaking, and moved to Seattle this summer. I don't really know what I'm supposed to be wearing to best handle the winter.
I've traveled a bit, but generally in the spring or summer, but otherwise I've spent my life in three states, and always between Houston and Atlanta. It's just never really been that cold. And when it has been cold, it doesn't last more than a few days.
I moved here (Seattle) from Tucson, where I could get by in all but the coldest days with a t-shirt and a hoodie. I've never really owned a heavy coat or jacket. When it was really cold in Tucson I'd wear one of my two pairs of long underwear under my jeans and layer a thermal under my t-shirt.
I have an office job here, and it's kept fairly warm inside right now. I'd like to get a jacket that's warm enough to keep me when I'm outside for brief periods of time (walking from my car into buildings, walking from building to building) that I can take on and off with little hassle.
I don't really know what I need, and I'm kind of hoping you guys can tell me. What's normal for this part of the country? I've tried layering a thermal beneath my t-shirt, but I get hot in my office at work.
Bonus points if it's waterproof/resistant in a manner appropriate for Seattle.
I apologize if I sound like an idiot.
I've traveled a bit, but generally in the spring or summer, but otherwise I've spent my life in three states, and always between Houston and Atlanta. It's just never really been that cold. And when it has been cold, it doesn't last more than a few days.
I moved here (Seattle) from Tucson, where I could get by in all but the coldest days with a t-shirt and a hoodie. I've never really owned a heavy coat or jacket. When it was really cold in Tucson I'd wear one of my two pairs of long underwear under my jeans and layer a thermal under my t-shirt.
I have an office job here, and it's kept fairly warm inside right now. I'd like to get a jacket that's warm enough to keep me when I'm outside for brief periods of time (walking from my car into buildings, walking from building to building) that I can take on and off with little hassle.
I don't really know what I need, and I'm kind of hoping you guys can tell me. What's normal for this part of the country? I've tried layering a thermal beneath my t-shirt, but I get hot in my office at work.
Bonus points if it's waterproof/resistant in a manner appropriate for Seattle.
I apologize if I sound like an idiot.
Layers. It's a cliché, but it's accurate. Also, be willing to shed under-layers when you get to work and put them on when you leave. Seattle isn't, say, Montana cold, but you're still adapting to it.
Definitely put some thought into footwear and good socks, because damp feet from dealing with puddles or slush will make your day a misery.
Previously and previously and previously, and the last one is good at teasing out the difference between below-freezing cold and 0F cold.
posted by holgate at 9:56 PM on November 15, 2013
Definitely put some thought into footwear and good socks, because damp feet from dealing with puddles or slush will make your day a misery.
Previously and previously and previously, and the last one is good at teasing out the difference between below-freezing cold and 0F cold.
posted by holgate at 9:56 PM on November 15, 2013
So the reason everyone wears hoodies in Seattle is they're versatile and useful for the climate. The hood keeps the spitty rain/mist off you and the rest of it otherwise keeps you warm/dry. What you're looking for is a variety of hoodies. Seriously, when I lived in Seattle, I had everything from the light kind you throw on to go to the store to the high-end kind with a serious liner and hood.
For Seattle specifically what you want is layers but also light layers that you can remove or mix and match. Like a long-sleeved t-shirt under a t-shirt with a hoodie on top or an undershirt, a t-shirt, and a button-up over the top of it. Sweaters are also good for Seattle if those are your jam, not mine personally.
Coatwise, I also kept a blend. I never needed a serious winter coat, even the time it snowed, but I was walking a lot. I'd look for a light kind of jacket without much bulk to it to keep the worst of the wind off and maybe something more serious in leather/faux leather with a bit of a liner rather than stumbling around in puffy parkas looking like a mountain climber.
And yeah, I gave up the sneakers in Seattle, too wet, too many puddles, too much sudden rain. You'll also want a beanie or some other kind of hat to keep your head warm and several pairs of gloves because you'll lose em and a scarf because one day you'll go "oh shit that's what could prevent the wind from slicing through my neck." Happened to me.
I was raised in the South, too, and the problem is you're used to thinking in terms of like my winter coat and my gloves as in one single coat and one single pair of gloves, but what you need in Seattle are a variety of things, not a single coat or a single pair of gloves.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 10:14 PM on November 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
For Seattle specifically what you want is layers but also light layers that you can remove or mix and match. Like a long-sleeved t-shirt under a t-shirt with a hoodie on top or an undershirt, a t-shirt, and a button-up over the top of it. Sweaters are also good for Seattle if those are your jam, not mine personally.
Coatwise, I also kept a blend. I never needed a serious winter coat, even the time it snowed, but I was walking a lot. I'd look for a light kind of jacket without much bulk to it to keep the worst of the wind off and maybe something more serious in leather/faux leather with a bit of a liner rather than stumbling around in puffy parkas looking like a mountain climber.
And yeah, I gave up the sneakers in Seattle, too wet, too many puddles, too much sudden rain. You'll also want a beanie or some other kind of hat to keep your head warm and several pairs of gloves because you'll lose em and a scarf because one day you'll go "oh shit that's what could prevent the wind from slicing through my neck." Happened to me.
I was raised in the South, too, and the problem is you're used to thinking in terms of like my winter coat and my gloves as in one single coat and one single pair of gloves, but what you need in Seattle are a variety of things, not a single coat or a single pair of gloves.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 10:14 PM on November 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is no winter in Seattle. That's in my top ten favorite things about this place.
First, get your footwear sorted. Make sure you've got good socks, good shoes or boots with grip and water resistance. It will freeze like maybe five days a year, here. But if you ever want to leave town you'll want something that will keep you comfortable and allow you to walk with confidence. Keep them in your car and swap, if you want. Socks are a matter of preference and foot-sweatiness, but they make, in my opinion, the biggest difference in personal comfort in the cold.
Accessories like scarves, gloves, and hats will really help you adjust to the variable whims of Seattle weather. Get a soft scarf that you can tuck into the front of your coat and pull up to your ears, but is also thin enough to lie flat under your collar if it's not that cold out, or fold up into a small square in a bag. Hats are a personal thing, I love earflaps and pompoms but that's maybe not for you. Get a hat that's large enough to fit your head - you'd be surprised at how many people don't do this - and one that aligns with your level of fastidiousness. Care about your hair? Go for something more structured in felt or canvas, but then you have to find a place to keep it in the office. Need to jam it in a pocket? Follow our Canadian neighbors and acquire a touque. Mittens are warmer than gloves but I've never experienced a temperature in Seattle that merits mittens. You might disagree. Thin thermal gloves can sit in a coat pocket all year and be found just when needed most.
You're seeing the pattern, right? With a roster of scarf, hat, gloves, and socks, you can add on or take off things in any combination until you're comfortable, and they're all small enough to fit into a bag in your car or in a drawer. Coats then become less important in the scheme of things.
As for coats, though, you'll probably end up wanting two. A light weight one that's more waterproof, just go to one of the sundry outdoors stores in town (Columbia is well-known for a reason, but it is a bit $$), and a heavier, more formal one made of a wool blend or similar fabric. You might not think the second one will keep the rain out, but it definitely will unless you're in a downpour or you're outside for a long time, and it will absolutely work best for the one day it snows. (Also, the day it snows? Absolutely do not drive. Just save yourself the terror of other people.)
You'll probably develop a selection of hoodies over time, too. If you combine your thickest hoodie with your heavier coat, you'll be toastier than any puffy jacket. Your thinnest hoodie and light weight jacket will keep everything pleasantly dry through the mercurial springtime.
Aim to keep your feet dry, and your neck warm.
posted by Mizu at 10:20 PM on November 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
First, get your footwear sorted. Make sure you've got good socks, good shoes or boots with grip and water resistance. It will freeze like maybe five days a year, here. But if you ever want to leave town you'll want something that will keep you comfortable and allow you to walk with confidence. Keep them in your car and swap, if you want. Socks are a matter of preference and foot-sweatiness, but they make, in my opinion, the biggest difference in personal comfort in the cold.
Accessories like scarves, gloves, and hats will really help you adjust to the variable whims of Seattle weather. Get a soft scarf that you can tuck into the front of your coat and pull up to your ears, but is also thin enough to lie flat under your collar if it's not that cold out, or fold up into a small square in a bag. Hats are a personal thing, I love earflaps and pompoms but that's maybe not for you. Get a hat that's large enough to fit your head - you'd be surprised at how many people don't do this - and one that aligns with your level of fastidiousness. Care about your hair? Go for something more structured in felt or canvas, but then you have to find a place to keep it in the office. Need to jam it in a pocket? Follow our Canadian neighbors and acquire a touque. Mittens are warmer than gloves but I've never experienced a temperature in Seattle that merits mittens. You might disagree. Thin thermal gloves can sit in a coat pocket all year and be found just when needed most.
You're seeing the pattern, right? With a roster of scarf, hat, gloves, and socks, you can add on or take off things in any combination until you're comfortable, and they're all small enough to fit into a bag in your car or in a drawer. Coats then become less important in the scheme of things.
As for coats, though, you'll probably end up wanting two. A light weight one that's more waterproof, just go to one of the sundry outdoors stores in town (Columbia is well-known for a reason, but it is a bit $$), and a heavier, more formal one made of a wool blend or similar fabric. You might not think the second one will keep the rain out, but it definitely will unless you're in a downpour or you're outside for a long time, and it will absolutely work best for the one day it snows. (Also, the day it snows? Absolutely do not drive. Just save yourself the terror of other people.)
You'll probably develop a selection of hoodies over time, too. If you combine your thickest hoodie with your heavier coat, you'll be toastier than any puffy jacket. Your thinnest hoodie and light weight jacket will keep everything pleasantly dry through the mercurial springtime.
Aim to keep your feet dry, and your neck warm.
posted by Mizu at 10:20 PM on November 15, 2013 [3 favorites]
When you buy any new coat, make sure you try it on while wearing however many layers you're going to want to wear. It really sucks when you realize that you can't actually wear your new coat without taking your hoodie off first.
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:47 PM on November 15, 2013
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:47 PM on November 15, 2013
What I did in Seattle was a goretex rain jacket (with hood) from REI and then layers underneath as needed.
posted by kbuxton at 10:52 PM on November 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by kbuxton at 10:52 PM on November 15, 2013 [2 favorites]
Scarves. If you're feeling really cold, wrap it so it covers your mouth and nose, it's like an instant ski mask.
Leather, if you don't have ethical problems with it. It breathes, is waterproof, molds to your body, and is actually pretty warm.
PVC boots, if you can find them. They're warm and waterproof, lightweight, and they last foreverrrr.
posted by rue72 at 12:25 AM on November 16, 2013
Leather, if you don't have ethical problems with it. It breathes, is waterproof, molds to your body, and is actually pretty warm.
PVC boots, if you can find them. They're warm and waterproof, lightweight, and they last foreverrrr.
posted by rue72 at 12:25 AM on November 16, 2013
I could give you a practical answer, but I'm more used to the cold than you are, you might need to have heavier-duty warmth, at least initially. Find a TV show with characters whose dress style appeals to you and would suit you, then pay attention to what they wear in the cold.
But regardless, you should have at least a coat and gloves. Preferably two coats - a lighter dressier one (for the walk between car and office), and a more seriously water-resistant one (for when you're out shopping or other spending more time in drizzle/rain. Keep an eye out for one with a detachable inner lining, because then you can put the lining in to make it warmer on a really cold day, and take it out so you don't overheat on a merely-cool-but-quite-wet day. A rubberized raincoat is probably overkill unless you're going to be cycling or walking long distances in the rain. But they're out there if you find yourself wishing you had something completely waterproof.
Gloves: much like the coats, get a pair that has some but not heaps of insulation (eg like the "thinsulate" ones), as these don't take much space (and as a bonus can more easily be fairly stylish). Look for ones with touch-pad-contacts on the fingertips so you can use your smartphone without taking your gloves off.
Also grab a pair of ski-gloves. These are cheap, very warm, somewhat water resistant, but they're bulky and you can't really do much with your hands while wearing them.
Scarf and wool hat/beanie are good options to have, and inexpensive, but don't worry about them until you have a coat. And with these kinds of accessories you can pretty much take them in whichever direction you want to, style-wise.
Shoes - if you don't already wear them, leather shoes (or boots) can keep your feet dry in the rain and puddles where many sneakers wouldn't.
Speaking of which - wool socks. If your cotton socks get wet, they'll stay wet all day, and that's not fun. Wool socks will dry out much quicker. (Wool socks typically aren't 100% wool - don't worry if they're only 50%, they'll still be better than cotton).
Seattle makes a thing about how locals never use umbrellas. Get an umbrella anyway. You don't have to use it, but it's great to have the option for when you would otherwise get covered in water. I prefer to have two types: The massive golf umbrella (I like the ones with the thick plastic vanes rather than metal ones. And get one with wind-vents, ie instead of one canopy, it has a outer canopy with a huge donut-like hole in the centre, that is overlapped by the inner canopy. So it looks like there is only one canopy, but when the wind gets underneath it, it can escape through the vents between the inner and outer canopies). The other kind of umbrella to get is the ultra portable small folding type. The vanes will be metal on these. Even a high quality one won't be the best umbrella, but they work and their strength is being so portable.
Leave the golf umbrella in the trunk of your car, or buy another umbrella for the car.
posted by anonymisc at 1:36 AM on November 16, 2013
But regardless, you should have at least a coat and gloves. Preferably two coats - a lighter dressier one (for the walk between car and office), and a more seriously water-resistant one (for when you're out shopping or other spending more time in drizzle/rain. Keep an eye out for one with a detachable inner lining, because then you can put the lining in to make it warmer on a really cold day, and take it out so you don't overheat on a merely-cool-but-quite-wet day. A rubberized raincoat is probably overkill unless you're going to be cycling or walking long distances in the rain. But they're out there if you find yourself wishing you had something completely waterproof.
Gloves: much like the coats, get a pair that has some but not heaps of insulation (eg like the "thinsulate" ones), as these don't take much space (and as a bonus can more easily be fairly stylish). Look for ones with touch-pad-contacts on the fingertips so you can use your smartphone without taking your gloves off.
Also grab a pair of ski-gloves. These are cheap, very warm, somewhat water resistant, but they're bulky and you can't really do much with your hands while wearing them.
Scarf and wool hat/beanie are good options to have, and inexpensive, but don't worry about them until you have a coat. And with these kinds of accessories you can pretty much take them in whichever direction you want to, style-wise.
Shoes - if you don't already wear them, leather shoes (or boots) can keep your feet dry in the rain and puddles where many sneakers wouldn't.
Speaking of which - wool socks. If your cotton socks get wet, they'll stay wet all day, and that's not fun. Wool socks will dry out much quicker. (Wool socks typically aren't 100% wool - don't worry if they're only 50%, they'll still be better than cotton).
Seattle makes a thing about how locals never use umbrellas. Get an umbrella anyway. You don't have to use it, but it's great to have the option for when you would otherwise get covered in water. I prefer to have two types: The massive golf umbrella (I like the ones with the thick plastic vanes rather than metal ones. And get one with wind-vents, ie instead of one canopy, it has a outer canopy with a huge donut-like hole in the centre, that is overlapped by the inner canopy. So it looks like there is only one canopy, but when the wind gets underneath it, it can escape through the vents between the inner and outer canopies). The other kind of umbrella to get is the ultra portable small folding type. The vanes will be metal on these. Even a high quality one won't be the best umbrella, but they work and their strength is being so portable.
Leave the golf umbrella in the trunk of your car, or buy another umbrella for the car.
posted by anonymisc at 1:36 AM on November 16, 2013
(With a warm coat, I find I'm ok with just jeans, even though the coat only goes to the bottoms of my jean pockets. If I'm going to be out in freezing cold for a long time and not moving enough to stay warm, then I'll wear another layer under the jeans, but that's rare and it doesn't sound like you'll be doing that. I wear the same pants in Seattle as I do in California, I just throw on a coat and gloves in Seattle winter, and take them off at the office.)
Oh - the warm/water-resistant coat should have a hood that either detaches or zips into a pouch in the collar. Or at least I find those useful!
posted by anonymisc at 1:44 AM on November 16, 2013
Oh - the warm/water-resistant coat should have a hood that either detaches or zips into a pouch in the collar. Or at least I find those useful!
posted by anonymisc at 1:44 AM on November 16, 2013
Lived in Seattle for 20 years and I concur with the above.
One thing that's not explicitly stated, but is kind of implied (hoodies, gore-tex) is that Seattle is one of the most sartorially relaxed cities in the country. Chances are very good that culturally you will be just fine with a nice rain jacket as the outer layer--you know the professional and social circles you run in and how uptight they are (or not). However there are some folks who run in more formal and/or conservative circles, even in Seattle, and It's certainly possible to find rainwear that is more tailored and less sporty. Very nice trench coats, that kind of thing. Nordstrom downtown can help you out.
posted by Sublimity at 4:29 AM on November 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
One thing that's not explicitly stated, but is kind of implied (hoodies, gore-tex) is that Seattle is one of the most sartorially relaxed cities in the country. Chances are very good that culturally you will be just fine with a nice rain jacket as the outer layer--you know the professional and social circles you run in and how uptight they are (or not). However there are some folks who run in more formal and/or conservative circles, even in Seattle, and It's certainly possible to find rainwear that is more tailored and less sporty. Very nice trench coats, that kind of thing. Nordstrom downtown can help you out.
posted by Sublimity at 4:29 AM on November 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Well, I am some help to you here, because I spent ten years in Minnesota and three in Portland (OR). So I am well-positioned to tell you that what you are going to experience is (happily) not real winter.
As others have note, your biggest issue in the winter in the PNW is keeping yourself moderately dry, because it can get chilly, and when you're wet, being chilly is awful. Think about water-resistant jackets, perhaps one light and one heavy, and take note of the advice everyone is giving you to KEEP YOUR FEET DRY. I would rather be in -15 weather in Minnesota with dry feet than in 40 degree weather in Portland with wet feet. Keep your feet dry.
And don't be afraid to carry an umbrella. Nobody cares. Anybody who cares will get over it. Don't think of it as being afraid of a little rain, think of it as staying dry so you're not cold and wet.
Oh, and I didn't even wear long underwear in Minnesota, nor did almost anyone I knew, except maybe if for some reason they were going to be outside for a long time (working the concession stand at a very cold football game or whatever). Day-to-day, you do not need thermals in Seattle.
posted by Linda_Holmes at 4:34 AM on November 16, 2013
As others have note, your biggest issue in the winter in the PNW is keeping yourself moderately dry, because it can get chilly, and when you're wet, being chilly is awful. Think about water-resistant jackets, perhaps one light and one heavy, and take note of the advice everyone is giving you to KEEP YOUR FEET DRY. I would rather be in -15 weather in Minnesota with dry feet than in 40 degree weather in Portland with wet feet. Keep your feet dry.
And don't be afraid to carry an umbrella. Nobody cares. Anybody who cares will get over it. Don't think of it as being afraid of a little rain, think of it as staying dry so you're not cold and wet.
Oh, and I didn't even wear long underwear in Minnesota, nor did almost anyone I knew, except maybe if for some reason they were going to be outside for a long time (working the concession stand at a very cold football game or whatever). Day-to-day, you do not need thermals in Seattle.
posted by Linda_Holmes at 4:34 AM on November 16, 2013
Lots of good advice, but I would add one more: buy as little as possible for a couple of months. You WILL adapt to the damp/cold, and it won't seem so damp/cold -- just kind of normal -- and if you buy everything all at once you'll end up with too much.
And slightly more subtle, but I think important: once you get used to it, the damp and mistiness aren't too hard to deal with (coffee does help). It's the darkness that's hard, and remembering the hours and hours of sunlight in the summer isn't much help. Even natives get a bit worn down. So buy clothes that look good to you, stylish gloves, scarves with some color, a hat that makes you smile. Every little bit helps.
posted by kestralwing at 4:38 AM on November 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
And slightly more subtle, but I think important: once you get used to it, the damp and mistiness aren't too hard to deal with (coffee does help). It's the darkness that's hard, and remembering the hours and hours of sunlight in the summer isn't much help. Even natives get a bit worn down. So buy clothes that look good to you, stylish gloves, scarves with some color, a hat that makes you smile. Every little bit helps.
posted by kestralwing at 4:38 AM on November 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Boots that you can waterproof by applying dubbin, mink oil, or other proper waterproofing medium (read: not a spray) are essential. This is the time to shell out for those Frye leather boots if those are your style. You will wear them all winter for years. Finding good boots is a pain.
In Seattle you do not need much jacket as mentioned but do be mindful of the HVAC in your office. You will want a professional enough long sleeve + professional removable sweater to deal with temperature variations at work. When you come in and you are wet you'll feel cold, go into a crowded room and you're toasty.
posted by crazycanuck at 6:28 AM on November 16, 2013
In Seattle you do not need much jacket as mentioned but do be mindful of the HVAC in your office. You will want a professional enough long sleeve + professional removable sweater to deal with temperature variations at work. When you come in and you are wet you'll feel cold, go into a crowded room and you're toasty.
posted by crazycanuck at 6:28 AM on November 16, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks so much for all the advice guys.
It sounds like I need a decent pair of gloves, a scarf, and a water-resistant coat with a removable lining for warmth.
I don't want to sound needy, but could someone link me to some decent examples of these? I see lots of people wearing North Face jackets--are these what you guys are talking about?
And I've looked for gloves before, but it seems hard to find a pair that looks fairly casual, has some insulation, and yet doesn't render your hands completely useless.
Is there somewhere I should go to buy all this stuff? Nordstrom or REI or something? Eastside is more convenient, for what it's worth.
posted by Precision at 9:05 AM on November 16, 2013
It sounds like I need a decent pair of gloves, a scarf, and a water-resistant coat with a removable lining for warmth.
I don't want to sound needy, but could someone link me to some decent examples of these? I see lots of people wearing North Face jackets--are these what you guys are talking about?
And I've looked for gloves before, but it seems hard to find a pair that looks fairly casual, has some insulation, and yet doesn't render your hands completely useless.
Is there somewhere I should go to buy all this stuff? Nordstrom or REI or something? Eastside is more convenient, for what it's worth.
posted by Precision at 9:05 AM on November 16, 2013
Yes, go to REI. These are all great suggestions but nothing beats going into REI and saying you just moved here, you want to be warm but not too warm, and you don't want your clothes to be a lot of hassle.
There is an REI in Redmond. Go in and just try stuff on until you find something you like!
posted by AllieTessKipp at 9:26 AM on November 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is an REI in Redmond. Go in and just try stuff on until you find something you like!
posted by AllieTessKipp at 9:26 AM on November 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'll do that this weekend.
Thanks guys!
posted by Precision at 9:35 AM on November 16, 2013
Thanks guys!
posted by Precision at 9:35 AM on November 16, 2013
Seattle is the home of my favorite wool base layers ever: Filsons, still sewn in the back half of their store down in SoDo. I lived in Seattle for many years, and I did need long underwear in the winters (but I still wear it now that I live in San Francisco, so maybe I'm just cold). Filsons merino longjohns feel like you're wearing pajamas all the time, they last for years, and they always stay soft. They got me through a Norwegian winter, but they never make me overheat. (Yay wool! I wish I were a sheep.)
posted by hannahmae at 10:50 AM on November 16, 2013
posted by hannahmae at 10:50 AM on November 16, 2013
I JUST moved to Seattle (like, a month and a half ago) so I am totally feeling you. I found the perfect winter coat that I'm thrilled with at the Columbia store downtown. This is the coat. It's one of those 3-in-1 coats that people were talking about. The inner jacket is a nice puffy-but-not-too-thick jacket for when it's just mildly chilly. Wear both of them together when it gets windy and damp. I've had it for a couple weeks now and in the last few days when it's really turned chilly and windy...I love it. Highly recommend.
Some people might consider that coat overkill for Seattle...but I've just made peace with the fact that I can not STAND being cold and nothing ruins my winter adventures more than being chilly and cranky.
posted by ninjakins at 8:32 PM on November 16, 2013
Some people might consider that coat overkill for Seattle...but I've just made peace with the fact that I can not STAND being cold and nothing ruins my winter adventures more than being chilly and cranky.
posted by ninjakins at 8:32 PM on November 16, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Your best bet is to get a heavy "shell" coat, or a zip-out system like a Columbia 3-in-1 jacket. I have an Obermyer shell that I've been wearing since 2002 or so and sometimes it's good down into the 20s, if it's not too windy. You should get one with a hood and adjustable cuffs to keep out the elements so you don't need to worry about carrying an umbrella if you forget one. The Columbia systems are great because you can wear the inner fleece layer on its own, too, which I do through the spring and fall (read: most like Seattle weather).
As a resident of the PNW, you will learn to love the fleece and become one with the fleece. The fleece is your friend.
You almost certainly will not need a puffy coat or similar.
I am told that shoes/boots that are good for wet, slushy and/or muddy conditions are pretty much essential in the PNW. Personally, here in Wisconsin I do have a pair of boots for the days when I know I'll be trudging through snow, but for the most part I wear a pair of Salomon Gore-Tex/ClimaShield shoes, which are the best ever. Here's the male version. Despite being low-tops, I've never had moisture get inside them, even when they've worn through the top layer after two or three years. They're the kind of shoes that feel great in any weather, so they're good for year-round wear.
SmartWool socks are also amazing, and totally worth the price. Because wool is magic, they keep you warm in the winter and cool in warmer weather, so if you're inside/outside or the temperature changes a lot, they work really well without making you feel like you're too bundled up.
It's useful to have a couple of pairs of gloves lying around in your office, car, house, etc. in case you lose one.
posted by Madamina at 9:52 PM on November 15, 2013