Winter is NYU’s most notorious season. Walking up University Place along Washington Square Park, the obnoxiously powerful winds make it nearly impossible to get to class without almost dropping your coffee because your fingers went numb. Despite the temperatures that make most of us dread stepping outside, many NYU students are committed to making sure their outfits are all the more stylish. Here are some of the most iconic looks you’re bound to see around campus for the rest of the semester and into the new year.
The comfy 8 a.m. survivor
This early morning lecture definitely wasn’t her first choice, but this girl will still take the time to piece together an effortless look. You can easily spot her trendy platform Ugg Tazz slippers, dragging her feet to class with chunky headphones blasting Tate McRae to keep herself awake and a Blank Street latte in hand. In addition to an oversized gray hoodie and warm Pacsun sweatpants, she wears the black puffer jacket that she can’t leave her dorm without, looking like she’s starting hibernation instead of final exams. She’s so cozy that no one knows how she manages to stay awake — it’s probably all of the coffee she consumes.
The workout girl
After waking up at the crack of dawn for a CorePower Yoga class before her 9:30 a.m. class, this student sports her Alo set and chunky sneakers for the rest of the day, rather than going home to change out of her workout clothes. She throws a cropped puffer jacket on top — also from Alo, of course — and carries her fourth matcha latte of the day, looking like a walking athletic-wear brand deal. With hair slicked back into a bun, not a single hair out of place, she has that post-workout glow that just screams, “I’m better than you.” If you want to hang out with her outside of class, good luck finding an empty time slot on her Google Calendar.
The downtown street style guy
You hear him before you see him: He has a Carhartt jacket layered over a plaid shirt, and crumpled baggy jeans punctuated by a belt that does nothing functionally but everything aesthetically — he’s definitely a Tisch student majoring in dramatic writing, and he’s made it his entire personality. He’s most likely wearing a tote bag covered with pins from film festivals and indie rock concerts, Cuban-heel boots that beg for attention and a black knit beanie that shows he’s just a misunderstood artist, mysterious and probably in a band. He takes it off to reveal messy hair — but that’s just what happens when you have too many creative ideas swirling in your brain. As he flips the pages of the used book he always carries with him, you notice his chunky silver statement rings — one is from Etsy, another is from a basement in Bushwick — which clack every time he starts using intense hand gestures while he speaks.
The fashionably late Pinterest board
This girl always walks into class seven minutes late, but her entrance is nothing short of grand. She glides into the room in a black wool coat and long flare jeans, her black boots just peeking out, and her confidence skyrockets with every click of the heels on the ground beneath her. A dark brown Miu Miu bag hangs off of her shoulder, while everyone wonders how she fits all of her class materials in there. She has a chunky scarf wrapped around her neck, and if you ask her where it’s from, she will nonchalantly tell you that “it’s thrifted.” Underneath all those layers, she has a gray turtleneck that fits her just right. When she sits right next to you, you can’t help but notice her perfectly blown-out hair and hands covered in gold and silver jewelry, because she knows how to mix metals just right. Who cares that she’s never on time?
The West Coast girl
She came from the California sunshine where it never gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and is clearly unprepared for the brutal northeastern cold — there’s a high chance that she’s never seen snow before either. She shows up to class in a lightweight zip-up sweater and baggy jeans that leave her ankles fully exposed. Nothing is covering her ears, neck or hands. Her only hope at warmth is her hair, but of course, she tied it in a ponytail. She is, however, clutching a massive Stanley water bottle all the time and wearing sunglasses, forgetting that the sun already set at 4:30 p.m. She’s secretly freezing to death, but she’ll never admit that out loud. Instead, she tells everyone that she just didn’t think it would get this cold, as if weather apps don’t exist.
The finance bro
It goes without saying that he’s a Stern student — and he’s proud of it. He’s been awake since 6 a.m., and will make sure to mention it in every conversation he has. The quarter-zip from Patagonia or Columbia is a non-negotiable. For pants, he’s definitely wearing slim-fit chinos if it’s a casual day. As for shoes, black or brown Chelsea boots complete the look and add a sense of purpose to his stride. He will bring an iced coffee to his morning Economics lecture, without a drop of milk or sprinkle of sugar. With hair drenched in so much gel that even the winter winds can’t knock it out of place, his overpowering cologne can be discerned from two blocks away. He’s constantly in a rush to get to a coffee chat or recruiting interview, aided by his flashy watch that he says makes it easier to check the time. He’s trying his hardest to emulate a JPMorgan analyst who constantly uses the word “synergy,” but doesn’t even know what it means.