Across the frozen pond: How stars cope with cold weather in New York

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10 April 2012

Manhattan's celebrities have plenty of practice in dressing to survive the big chill. Is there anything they — and our home-grown stars — can teach the rest of us about style?..

Why do some women suffer from Hat Head and others don't? Obviously there are more important questions in life but when the weather is this cold, I'm hard-pressed to think of many. This morning on my way to work I saw bobble hats, beanies, berets, trilbys and deerstalkers, their wearers snug and stylish underneath. But what happens when they take their hats off? Do they sit at their desks looking as though they went to bed with a saucepan on their head or is that just me?

Perturbed at being the only person who, as soon as snow strikes, can't seem to help dressing as though she's off to do hard manual labour on a farm, I resolved to put some effort in. Or at least look at what the celebrities are wearing, for some tips. With unlimited budgets at their disposal, surely they manage to look fashionable during a freeze.

If you've ever been in New York during winter, you may have noticed how well the woman on the (icy) street copes with Manhattan's sub-zero temperatures. They're used to them over there. Sure enough, Jennifer Aniston sensibly dons a Puffa jacket to withstand the cold. Practical, yes, but not very stylish. Gwen Stefani also resorts to a Puffa jacket, though hers is a wacky multicoloured one — perhaps she is emboldened by living in London for part of the year.

Finally, we have Katy Perry, whose new boyfriend (sorry, fiancé — love lives move fast in celebrityland), Russell Brand, has clearly lost no time in making his influence felt on her clothes. Her ridiculously thin cardigan is pure "Brit in Denial About the Weather": all that gives her away as being American are the sunglasses.

For you will notice that what invariably divides Americans from Brits is their devotion to wearing sunglasses all year round. An American will say: "Jeez, it's snowing. I'd better get my shades on before the glare makes me squint, leading to premature wrinkles and an early death." A Brit will say: "Sunglasses in the winter are for ponces."

She might, at times, look downright strange but on balance I prefer the British girl's approach to winter dressing. Granted, Florence "The Machine" Welch might not last long on Ben Nevis but her "ach, I'll just put a woolly hat on" attitude has its own charm. As does the Brits' apparent lack of vanity. You wouldn't catch an American wearing what looks like a giant tartan travel rug as a poncho but Agyness Deyn pulls it off with panache. Her peaked cap and DMs only add to the eclectic effect, while the ice-blue nails are magic.

The Brits also love a statement coat. Mongolian lamb is a favourite — as seen on Pixie Geldof — the shaggier and more outlandish, the better. Kate Moss prefers vintage fox: and has no qualms about pairing it with Minnetonka moccasin boots, even though they are seasons old. Who cares?
Generally, British women are far less fixated on new-season buys than their American counterparts and are quite happy to wear older stuff if the occasion suits. It's what makes us such eclectic dressers. And if you can't be eclectic when the temperature is -10, when can you?

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