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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Northeastern chapter.

Like many of us, my roommate and I met on Instagram through our class page. We connected over many things, one of the biggest ones being our home state, Texas. Ever since arriving in Boston, we have navigated several changes that come with moving from the South to New England. However, there is no question that the one we’ve been least prepared for is the weather.  

In Texas, it stays in the 80s and 90s well into October, only beginning to drop to the 60s and 70s in November. When we got to Boston, we were ready to be pulling out our puffers in November, even October. What we were not ready for was the 50 degree weather that came in September. We were especially not ready for the winds, which had a way of getting under every jacket we wore. Getting to Steast or Wolly’s required huddling together while we walked. Since then, we’ve gotten a bit better at staying warm. Here are a few tips we have for other Southern girls for their first fall in New England: 

Don’t write off puffer vests. They seem like they won’t keep you warm. I’ll be honest, I only bought one before I got to school for fashion purposes. No one in Texas wears them, for obvious reasons, and I was excited to finally be able to have one. However, they go a long way on chilly days, as the perfect layering piece for when it’s not enough to go out with just a shirt on.

Thermal shirts are saving my life. I bought two thermal shirts before moving, one beige and one deep green – they go with everything. Not only that, they genuinely decrease the number of layers I have to wear. Putting them on under crewnecks and sweaters allowed me to go without a jacket in October, and they truly make all the difference once November hits. 

Layering, but for your legs. My roommate and I had never needed to do any kind of layering for our legs. Recently, she began wearing leggings underneath her sweatpants to help with the wind. While her face stayed painfully cold, at least her legs were warm and cozy. 

A puffer is not enough. I am quickly learning that a puffer, although big, thick, and warm, is still not enough to avoid the cold. Lately, I’ve made sure to include a sweater, hoodie, or crewneck on top of my shirt before I go out, which has done wonders. Wearing more than one jacket has now become essential as the temperatures continue to drop. 

I had never bought a scarf in my life. I actually think I forgot what a scarf was until I decided to go to school here. Now I’m glad my mom made sure I came with a few. Even while my body is warm in my three jackets, my face and throat freeze with the winds. It’s easy to imagine why I love my scarves then, and it doesn’t hurt when I get complimented on them too. 

The wind does more than keep you cold. They dry you out. Your throat, your skin, and especially your lips. Carrying around chapstick is a necessity, as is reapplying every 20 minutes. Carrying around water helps with our dry throats, as does our humidifier. Every morning we would wake up with a sore throat for weeks once it started to get cold, no matter how much we bundled up at night or slept in fuzzy socks. My roommate decided to buy a humidifier to help, especially since we’re used to the humid Texas air. Since then, we have fallen in love.


Staying happy is just as important as staying warm. There is nothing more depressing than walking out of your building after a class at 4:30 p.m. in the dark. I’ve always gotten a bit of seasonal depression, even in Texas. My therapist recommended a therapy light, (available on Amazon) which my roommate and I now share. We both agree that it’s been helping to lift our mood a bit this fall. 

Carolina is a first-year Journalism and Political Science major. She's from Houston, Texas and some of her favorite things are Taylor Swift, green tea, How I Met Your Mother, and Dead Poets Society. She is passionate about women's issues and wellness.