The time has finally come to swap summer shorts with sweatpants, replace tank tops with sweaters and substitute sunglasses for ski goggles. Winter’s wrath is knocking on our door and, with the arrival of autumn, it’s time to ask the question: How soon is too soon to whip out that winter jacket?
Wearing a winter jacket, in some peculiar, twisted way, almost feels like a science, especially during November when it’s getting colder, but not cold enough to warrant five layers with a scarf wrapped around your head, mummy style. There’s also the desire to fit in with your classmates, and since the Fordham University student body is made up of people from all over the country and the world, knowing what everyone feels about coats can be difficult. Some bundle up because they’ve never experienced temperatures below 50 F degrees before, those who might wear a fleece with a flannel and those who even still rock the athletic shorts with a sweatshirt combo. Trying to find a middle ground can be tough, and determining when it’s time to start adding layers can be confusing and complicated.
As someone who comes from a colder climate than some — the blustery and frigid Connecticut — I believe that the warmest jacket comes out officially around Halloween. For me, jackets can be quite the burden, especially when it’s 40 F degrees outside and 70 F degrees inside Faculty Memorial Hall, and wearing a jacket makes you feel like you’re bursting into flames. Before Halloween, for me, is a time for sweaters, hoodies and warm flannels, with a hot latte in hand and maybe a cozy scarf.
When thinking about when to start officially wearing a jacket, it would be worthwhile to get a gauge of what students from different climates think. Coming from Connecticut, I have a very different experience from someone who is from a much warmer, sunnier climate that doesn’t experience the biting cold. So to prevent any East Coast bias from slipping through, I interviewed my friend from across the country to see what she thinks about the passing of the torch from autumn to winter. Audrey Arias, FCRH ’29, started wearing her jacket around October, and as a California native, reflected on when she “walked into [her] eight thirty class with a huge jacket and scarf covering [her] face” and was “warm for sure.” Coming to Fordham, she had no experience with shockingly cold temperatures, and recalls how back home she used to put her jacket on around late November to early December for below 60 F degree weather, but now thinks that wearing a jacket around mid-October is appropriate.
I found Arias’ response to be very interesting, as I could never truly know what it’s like to experience freezing temperatures for the first time and feel very ill-prepared. When on the topic of fitting in with her fellow classmates, Arias remembers how she felt embarrassed walking into her class all bundled up, and recalls how she needed to acclimate to the weather in order to gauge what is appropriate clothing to wear.
Of course, there is no set date or correct time to start wearing your winter jacket. In fact, I’d say it completely depends on how you feel. Truthfully, even though it might feel awkward at first, there’s no need to copy what everyone else is wearing. If you are freezing, put on the jacket; if you still get warm walking outside, don’t put on the jacket. Don’t let what everyone else is doing tyrannize what you feel comfortable wearing.
With that being said, how soon is too soon to wear your jacket? The answer is that it’s never too soon. For some, the jacket comes on earlier, and for others, it comes out later; it’s up to you to decide when the jacket becomes a necessity, regardless of what everyone else is doing. Stay warm and stay smart!
