If you are about to visit New York City in August and want to know which clothing items to pack for the hot weather and which outfit is appropriate, we got you covered. Our clothing and styling insights are written by an NYC local and cover every aspect a potential visitor should be aware of.
Weather Overview
August tends to be one of the hottest months of summer in New York. The average high temperatures throughout the month range from 84°F to 80°F (29°C-27°C).
However, New York City is very humid in the summer, making it seem slightly hotter than it actually is. Keep that in mind when planning which clothes to wear during the day.
Typical Day: On a typical day in August, the temperature is highest in the afternoon (between 12 PM to 3 PM). You’ll find the temperature to be cooler in the early morning (between 7 AM and 9 AM) and evening (after 7 PM).
An average temperature progression goes from 74°F (23°C) in the morning (around 8 AM), then rises to 83°F (28°C) in the afternoon (around 3 PM), and finally falls back down to 76°F (24°C) in the evening (around 9 PM).
Rain: Do not expect much rain. If any should occur, do not be discouraged. New York’s summer weather can be very temperamental, and it will likely only rain for short periods throughout the day. Wearing a rain jacket is not necessary in August.
What To Wear / What To Pack
New York City is a stylish epicenter, especially when the temperature starts rising. You will see people wearing things you wish you had, as well as some of the craziest get-ups you’ve ever seen.
That being said, when you pack for your summer NYC trip, take this chance to create some colorful, bold outfits. (Hot tip: don’t overdo it, sometimes just a pop of color can elevate an outfit.) There is no dress code in the city, so however, you choose to present yourself is perfect.
Pack summer clothing for an August visit to New York. Typically, you wear shorts, skirts, lightweight pants, t-shirts, tank tops, and crop tops. Be sure to also include a few loose cardigans, hoodies, or sweaters as heavy air-conditioning is frequently used indoors.
💡 It’s hot and often very humid in NYC during August. Therefore, we suggest just wearing very light clothing. No need to bring a jacket for the evenings. However, a light sweater is useful as the air conditioners are on full blast in restaurants and hotels.
Swimwear: While there are not many opportunities to go swimming in and around the city if the few that are available should be of any interest, pack one or two swimsuits.
Shoes: New York City involves a lot of walking. Come prepared. Prioritize stylish summer sneakers over sandals. If you plan on exploring New York’s nightlife, perhaps include one fancier shoe or heel that can go with multiple outfits.
Heat/Sun Protection: In regards to protective summer gear, please make sure to pack sunscreen and an ample amount of cute sunglasses for your August visit. You may also want to include a small umbrella, just in case. Pack a few colorful handkerchiefs (cotton-based, preferably) as well. They can come in handy to soak up any sweating you may experience when exploring the city.
Ladies
For the ladies, we advise packing clothing that either leaves space for airflow (such as sundresses or flowy skirts) or items that leave a certain amount of skin exposed (such as tank-tops, shorts, crop-tops, short sleeves, open front/back tops, etc).
The humidity can get quite intense during August in NYC if you’re not used to it. It tends to make clothing that hugs tighter on the body feel a bit sticky. However, for those of you planning on exploring the nightlife, go ahead and pack something in that area for the humidity will start to clear by nightfall.
An example of a stylish outfit perfect for New York City in August might be a scarf top, a lightweight colorful long slitted skirt, a pair of neutral or color-matching sneakers, and a color-coordinated or black small shoulder bag, purse, or (if you have) a characteristic cloth tote is always a good way to go. Another alternative, for those of you wanting to save luggage space as well as look good exploring the New York City streets in August, playsuits or jumpsuits can be a great option to bring along.
Gents
For the guys, we advise bringing along lightweight short-sleeve t-shirts for your August trip in New York City. You can elevate an outfit quite easily by incorporating a graphic t-shirt. A thicker, casual jacket would also be a good addition for when it gets slightly chiller in the evenings.
Add a nice button-down shirt to your luggage for nights out. In regards to bottoms, lighter-weight pants are your friend! For example, stylish casual trousers or looser-fitting jeans.
If you’re the kind of guy that likes a good pair of knee / thigh-length shorts, be sure to bring those as well. Something that might also go well with the summer weather is a stylish co-ord set.
When it comes to packing shoes, take with you a minimum of two to three shoes (depending on how long the trip will be). Avoid bringing any shoes too fancy, such as dress shoes. We advise keeping your shoe selections to sneakers (or if you’re a sandal person, add a pair to your luggage. More than one will most likely not be necessary).
Sneaker culture is very much prevalent in New York City. That being said, bring with you sneakers that are both stylish, and comfortable, and have the ability to be either dressed up or dressed down.
You’ll also want to bring with you either one larger day bag or a large day back (for example, a backpack or a satchel), double that as part of your carry-on during travel, and a smaller cross-body bag to walk around with (for example, a sling bag or a saddlebag).
Packing Checklist
- Shorts / skirts
- Shirts (t-shirts, short-sleeve, blouses, crop-tops)
- Tank-Tops
- Pants (lightweight material / light-wash jeans)
- Light cardigan / hoodies
- Light Scarf or Shawl
- Dresses
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Sneakers (i.e. comfortable walking shoes)
- Dress shoes
- Stylish day and night bag (i.e. compact purse, shoulder bag, small backpack, or cloth tote)
- Sunglasses
- Hat (not very necessary, but if you prefer hats bring one or two)
- Accessories (jewelry, handkerchiefs, hair scarves, belts, etc.)
- Sleepwear
- Adapter
- Portable charger
- Reusable, portable water bottle
- Toiletries