4 Degree Dilemma

Tomorrow morning Matt and I are flying to Albuquerque and then two days after, we are flying to Chicago.  Both of these trips are for interviews for Matt’s internship which will begin sometime late this July.  He is interviewing at several different places and while I’m experiencing a great deal of anxiety not knowing where we’ll end up (or how in the world we’re paying for all these interviews), I’m even more anxious about a tiny, little fact I found out today. 

According to weather.com, the current windchill in Chicago is 4 degrees. 

4 DEGREES PEOPLE.  What the heck does one even wear in 4 degree weather?!

I emailed my friend Christie who we’ll be staying with in Chicago to inquire about my wardrobe for the trip.  Since I was born and raised in Texas, I own nothing that would protect me from frostbite.  Nothing that would even come close.  Her reply?  “Layers, my friend. Long underwear, multiple pairs of socks and boots.”  So by “layers” does she mean a cute black tank under a v-neck sweater?  By “long underwear” does she mean boyshorts (those are the longest underwear I own), and do grey short Uggs c0unt as “boots?”  I think I’m in serious trouble here.  My “heavy” sweaters are long tissue cardigans from Banana and Anthropologie, and the closest thing I have to long underwear (besides my boyshorts) are cute black leggings.  I own two pairs of gloves, and I can only find one glove from each pair.  Oh.my.gosh.help.me.please.

I have a couple of hours to get these so called “winter-must-haves” bought, packed, and on the airplane.  (I used to think winter-must-haves were a north face fleece and a pashmina.  Clearly, I was confused.)  And while I understand the symptoms of frostbite are intensely painful, I reeeeeally want to try to maintain some level of chicness in my layers as opposed to looking like an overstuffed marshmallow puff.  So, I searched out some pictures of favorite cold weather city girl, Whitney Port, for some inspiration.  If she can look this chic bundled and braving the cold, perhaps I can too.  So here are the key pieces I’m keeping in mind to survive my weekend trip to the Frozen Tundra.

 A gigantic, humongously oversized scarf.  As you all know, I die for winter white, so I heart heart heart this look.

Tights and boots.  I’ve got the tights trend down pat, but I’ll have to work on the boots and tights combo.  (Repeat, must work on the boots and tights combo…must work on the boots and tights combo…)

 Jackets/blazers.  Ok, I could never (I repeat, NEVER) get away with leggings and that short of a top (my legs are not nearly that skinny), but this cream and black plaid jacket just makes me smile.  I’m pretty sure having that Chanel bag on my arm would warm my heart as well :)

 Giant black sunglasses.  These will help keep my eyes warm don’t you think?  :)

Even with all this winter Whitney inspiration, I’m pretty certain I’m still going to end up overbundled, puffy, and looking like this the whole weekend… Awesome.  So if you hear on the news that they found a frozen marshmallow woman in Millennium Park, know that it’s me, and I might be out of the blog scene for a week or two until I defrost :)  So if you have a second this week, send your warm wishes my way!