New York City – What to Wear in November

Styling insights every potential visitor should know! For ladies and men!

November, infamously known as the month of Thanksgiving, in New York, is all things autumn harvest. If you love gorgeous, colorful foliage, pumpkin pie, and all of the delicious, enticing things that come with November in New York, this is your sign to go!

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It can be challenging to choose what to wear and pack for this month. That’s why we cover everything you should know:

  • November weather
  • November outfit tips for ladies
  • November outfit tips for men
  • A packing list
  • Things to do

Written by our NYC resident.

Weather

New York weather in November is the picture of autumn chill. The average high temperature is around 59°F (15°C), while the average low temperature falls to around 38°F (3°C). Closing in on the Thanksgiving holiday and the end of November, you may even notice temperatures drop transitioning into the winter season.

A Typical Day

On a typical day in November, daytime temperatures reach the mid-50’s°F (around 14°C). Then, by nightfall, the temperatures drop to around the mid-40’s°F (around 8°C).

As it gets closer to December, you’ll notice the days get a little colder. Daytime temperatures will begin to drop to around the mid-40’s°F (around 8°C), while nighttime temperatures fall to around the mid-30’s°F (around 3°C).

Rain

In November in New York, you’ll most likely experience quite a few cloudy days. In addition, it also rains sporadically throughout the month. On average, rainfall occurs about 9 to 10 days in November. Be sure to keep this in mind as you pack!

Snow

Snow in NCY during November is rare. However, once every couple of years an inch (about 2.4 cm) of snow might occur. Once every ten or twenty years it can be more, but again, it’s highly unlikely and you don’t need to consider this when packing your clothes.

What To Wear / What To Pack

When visiting during this month a good heavy layers collection comes quite in handy.

During November in New York City you wear knit tops, cardigans, or heavy-blend sweatshirts. Bring jeans and a warm fall jacket. Make sure to pack items that are both warm and allow for some flexibility for different weather conditions.

Don’t forget to pack an umbrella, as you might need one in November.

Shoes: In general, it’s a good idea to wear comfortable walking shoes, so you can discover the city’s neighborhoods and all those iconic attractions without getting blisters or foot pain.

Ladies | Outfit Tips

Ideas for a perfectly warm, yet stylish November outfit to explore New York with during the harvest season!

Ladies! When packing for your November travels to the infamous New York, we’ve provided a few pointers for guidance.

As we approach the winter season, make sure you’re prepping your suitcase with those warmer items in your closet.

Pants
Levi's Women's 311 Shaping Skinny Jeans (Also Available in Plus)
  • You might also like the “Classic Straight”

In regards to bottoms, we advise keeping your selection to a handful of long pants (i.e. jeans). If you’re someone that is quite sensitive to colder temperatures, we suggest bringing along some light thermal wear.

For instance, Uniqlo’s heattech leggings or Felina Velvety Super Soft Leggings (see above) can especially bring some warm comfort under a pair of jeans.

Another stylish and clever option to travel with would be a pair of overalls, as they can be layered underneath or be worn alone and still provide an ample amount of warmth and versatility.

Top

November is a good time to wear layers in NYC as the weather can vary from cool and mild to cold. You can pair bottoms with long-sleeve shirts or button-ups made of heavy material (such as sweaters or flannel shirts). Other items to consider packing are cardigans, sweaters, graphic sweatshirts, or hoodies.

Jacket
andy & natalie Women's Bomber Jacket Fashion Qulited Casual Bomber Jakcets Long...
  • âť„ Ultra-Lightweight and High Quality Materials: Filled with ultra soft material for warmth and comfort on cold...

You’ll want to bring along a warm fall coat or jacket. This could be a bomber, pea-coat, stylish trench, puffer coat, etc. As it can rain sporadically during this month, we recommend this jacket:

Sale
SaphiRose Women's Long Hooded Rain Jacket Outdoor Raincoat...
  • [Size]: The rain coat is casual fit and big enough, runs big for petite women, and pick one size down if you are...

Color: We like to wear dark, solid colors for coats as they are easy to dress up and down and do not show dirt from the subway.

Shoes

Being that the weather can be quite nice but still precarious when packing shoes, we suggest focusing on a pair of sneakers and a pair of sturdy boots (i.e. Doc Martens) that have style flexibility and can withstand the handful of overcast days of November.

Comfortable shoes are essential to be able to walk and enjoy the city.

Bag/Accessories

Lastly, you will certainly need a day bag to bring along any and all essentials with you as you explore the city. This could be a compact shoulder purse or bag, tote, etc.

We highly recommend a bag with anti-theft features (see above) to keep your belongings safe in the city!

In addition, we recommend packing a warm hat or beanie. Perhaps even a pair of gloves if you aren’t a fan of the chilly weather.

Men | Outfit Tips

Ideas for a great stylish and warm fall outfit!

For the guys, we also recommend packing primarily long pants, such as jeans or heavy-material trousers. Pair your bottoms with a few heavy cotton long-sleeve shirts and/or button-ups.

Another good option would be bringing along a heavy-blend graphic sweatshirt, hoodie, or sweater. A suggestion of ours would be to pack along some thermal or base layer shirts to wear underneath your sweatshirt or thick button-ups.

Finally, bring together the entire ensemble with a warm fall coat or jacket, whether it be a bomber, trench, or puffer.

Shoes

We suggest you limit yourself to a pair of sneakers and a pair of versatile boots. Either option will give you just enough flexibility for the temperamental weather, as well as in regards to the wide range of activities you’ll be able to partake in.

When out on your city adventures, you’ll want to bring along a day bag to carry your essentials. This could be a backpack, shoulder bag, etc.

Lastly, something to keep in mind when packing your outer layers is to bring along a few warm hats for the colder weather. You may even want to pack a pair of gloves or earmuffs if you are particularly sensitive to the cold.

Packing Checklist

  • Pants (jeans, trousers, etc.)
  • Fall coat or jacket (bomber, pea-coat, trench, etc.)
  • Base or thermal undershirts
  • Long-sleeve shirts
  • Heavy-blend Button-Up (flannel)
  • Overalls (optional
  • Vests (be it sweater, puffer, or utility)
  • Sweatshirts and/or hoodies
  • Cardigans and/or sweaters
  • Accessories (jewelry, etc.)
  • Hat or Beanie
  • Gloves (optional)
  • Earmuffs (optional)
  • Toiletries
  • Day bag (backpack, saddle bag, shoulder bag, tote, etc.)
  • Shoes (i.e. sneakers, boots)
  • Umbrella
Things To Do

As mentioned earlier, one of the most popular holidays in November (and in the entire calendar year in America) is Thanksgiving. If you plan to travel to the city around the time of this well-celebrated American holiday, keep in mind that Thanksgiving can be quite the busy traveling time in the states.

Nevertheless, there are many Harvest-themed activities to partake in throughout the entire month that may be right up your alley, from undeniably sweet baked goods to timeless family adventures. As well as a parade.

You may even want to explore further upstate New York. There you may find gorgeous scenic landscapes, brightly-colored foliage, local harvest hayrides, apple-picking, and pumpkin-patch farms.

*Ideas for Fall / November-only activities

  • Thanksgiving Day Parade
  • Upstate Apple-picking farms
  • Hot Apple Cider and Donuts
  • City Holiday Markets
  • Radio City Rockettes Christmas Show (starts Nov 5th)
  • Black Friday Shopping
  • NYC Thanksgiving Dinner (various restaurants around the city do Thanksgiving Day meal specials)

Must-Visit Attractions

November is an excellent time to visit all the popular and iconic attractions in NYC. We highly recommend booking tickets in advance for the first slot in the morning. Our favorites are the Empire State Building, and Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center).

Tip: Vist the 9/11 Memorial and Museum as well.

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