Packing lists

What to pack for New York in December

December in New York is cold but rarely brutal. Afternoons are usually in the 40s, nights drop to around freezing, and the wind that funnels between the avenues makes it feel colder than the thermometer says. Snow is possible but the rain, sleet and gray slush at every crosswalk are much more common.

The trick is dressing for both outdoors and in. Stores, museums, restaurants and subway cars are heated hard, so you want a warm coat over layers you can take off, not one heavy sweater you are stuck in all day. And you will walk a lot, so your boots need to be comfortable and waterproof.

Checked

The weather

Daytime high
44°F
7°C, falling through the month.
Overnight low
32°F
0°C. Wind chill makes it feel colder.
Wet days
~11
Mostly rain or sleet. A real snowfall is possible.
Daylight
9 h
Dark by 4:30pm near the solstice.

The capsule

A week, one traveler, Atelier palette. Black and ivory from sidewalk to dinner, with a camel coat to keep it warm. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.

Atelier palette · 11 pieces · 27 outfits

Layers

  • Wool coatWool coat
  • Puffer, for the coldest daysPuffer, for the coldest days
  • Oversized blazerOversized blazer

Tops

  • Cashmere crewneckCashmere crewneck
  • Merino turtleneckMerino turtleneck
  • Silk blouse, for dinnerSilk blouse, for dinner

Bottoms

  • Black jeansBlack jeans
  • Tailored pantsTailored pants
  • Satin slip skirtSatin slip skirt

Shoes

  • Waterproof Chelsea bootsWaterproof Chelsea boots
  • Leather sneakersLeather sneakers

Three days from this capsule

Central Park in the cold
Museum and shopping day
Broadway and dinner

Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.

The full list

Clothes

  • Warm coat that covers your hips
  • Blazer or smart jacket
  • Two warm sweaters
  • Two or three lighter tops for layering under them
  • Something dressy for a show or a holiday dinner
  • Jeans or pants, one pair dark enough for evenings
  • Thermal leggings or tights for the coldest days
  • Warm socks

Shoes

  • Waterproof boots with a grippy sole
  • Comfortable sneakers, for dry days
  • Dressier shoes, if the evening needs them

Cold and wet

  • Beanie or hat that covers your ears
  • Gloves that work with a touchscreen
  • Scarf
  • Compact umbrella

Documents and tech

  • ID or passport
  • Contactless card or phone for the subway gates
  • Show and restaurant reservations, confirmed
  • Type A/B plug adapter if you are visiting from abroad (120V)
  • Power bank; the cold drains phone batteries

Toiletries

  • Rich moisturizer and lip balm
  • Hand cream
  • Any prescriptions, in your carry-on

Gear worth the space

  • A long, warm coat

    Wool over layers is fine for most of the month. On the coldest days, a puffer is the only thing that beats the wind off the rivers.

  • Waterproof leather boots

    Pick a pair you would happily walk ten miles in, with a rubber sole that grips wet sidewalk. They should look fine at dinner, too.

  • Touchscreen gloves

    Thin liners with conductive fingertips, worn alone or under warmer gloves on very cold days.

  • A foldable tote

    It packs to the size of a wallet, holds a day of shopping and goes home as an extra bag in the overhead bin.

Cold wind between the avenues, heated hard indoors. Packlier packs your December in layers that come off as easily as they go on.

Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.

One email at launch, nothing else.