Winter’s coming, but my jacket remains on the hook.
It’s no secret it’s been an unseasonably, concerningly, warm fall. With Ontario temperatures hitting record highs during Halloween, it perhaps comes as no surprise my warmest layers have yet to see the light of day. But, despite the warm weather outside, this delayed winter has me thinking about the annual game of chicken that comes with busting out your winter jacket.
No one wants to be the first, and you’d be a fool to be the last. It’s hard to decide the perfect time to debut the waving flag that tells the world you feel the cold. It seems like no one can agree on the answer.
When I encountered my first Ontario winter, I was shocked. Born and raised in the balmy, temperate, climate of New Zealand, the cold was a slap in the face. Though I’d certainly felt chilly Wellington winds, and seen snow before on the slopes, it was nothing like this. My friends and housemates laughed, as I earnestly asked if we still had to go to class when it was snowing. The answer was—to my disappointment—a resounding yes. If I remember correctly, I was wearing my warmest winter jacket before October was through, complete with scarf, beanie—sorry, toque—and all.
At the time, I realized I was a little more rugged-up than my peers, but at that point, I was too cold to care. Now, two years down later, I’ve realized there’s a fine balance between nonchalance and sensibility when it comes to donning your winter layers on campus.
As someone new to the bitter Canadian winter, I’ve noticed there’s some kind of status boost, or badge of honour that comes with appearing immune to the cold. I’ve stood back and watched as Ontarians try to one-up each another on who can withstand the chilliest temperatures, only to be defeated by a Manitoban who’s faced summers more frigid than this. Both groups laugh at the shivering B.C. dwellers, who long for the wet winters of the West Coast.
Taking all of this into account, I found myself at an impasse. I could forever face silent judgement from my peers for my inability to withstand the cold, or just toughen up.
I tried to be brave, I really did. I attempted wearing more layers under my clothes, sans jacket, to give the appearance of someone who could handle the weather, only to find myself sweating as soon as I stepped inside any building. Yet, I felt embarrassed to appear blizzard-ready while my classmates seemed unaffected in their hoodies and sweaters, no jacket in sight.
It’s been a rough few winters, but lessons were learned. What I’ve realized is, there’s no right or wrong time to whip out that down jacket—it’s not worth it to shiver. Shake off those haters, and shrug on more layers.
Since my first bright-eyed winter here, when I still thought squirrels were cute, I’ve adapted. I’m becoming accustomed to the Kingston climate and the more seasons I spend here, the slower I am to reach for my puffer. But, along with growing used to the cold, I also care much less about what people think about me or the way I dress.
Perhaps it goes together with age, and confidence, but I wish I could tell my shivering second-year self that nothing was ever that serious. Whether you want to commit to being on-trend or toasty, that decision is yours to make.
Don’t let a man in a flannel who’s trying to hide his goosebumps tell you you’re overdressed. Wear that puffer jacket with pride, even if the temperature is in the positives.
No matter what the weather forecast may tell you, what you wear isn’t anyone else’s decision to make. But one word of advice—hold off on the snowshoes for another month or so.
Tags
Fashion, Student life, Weather, winter jacket
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