What to Wear in Chicago

Chicagoans dress for the weather first and style second, and the weather here changes more than in most American cities. Casual clothes work almost everywhere. A few smarter restaurants in the West Loop and River North expect a little more in the evening, but jackets are rarely required.

Winter (December to March)

This is the part people underestimate. Bring a properly warm, windproof coat that covers your thighs, a hat that covers your ears, a scarf, gloves and waterproof boots with grip. Pavements get icy and slushy, and the wind funnelling between the towers of the Loop is brutal. Thermal layers underneath help, and you can take them off inside, where buildings are heated hard.

Summer (June to August)

Warm and sometimes humid, so light clothes, sunglasses and sunscreen. Bring swimwear if you want to try the lake beaches. The water is cold until well into July. Keep a light jumper or jacket for evenings by the lake and for the architecture cruise, where it gets breezy on the water even on a hot day.

Spring and autumn

Pack for anything. A day can start at 5°C and end at 20°C, or the reverse. Layers are the answer: a T-shirt, a jumper and a waterproof jacket, plus a warm hat in March, April and November.

Shoes

Chicago is flat, which makes it a walker's city. A day of sightseeing easily covers ten miles, from the Loop along the river to the lakefront. Bring comfortable, broken-in shoes, and something waterproof for winter or wet spring days.

Packing list

• Comfortable walking shoes, plus waterproof boots in winter
• A warm, windproof winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves from December to March
• A light jacket or jumper for lake evenings and boat tours
• Light clothes, sunglasses and sunscreen in summer
• Swimwear, if you're coming in July or August
• A compact umbrella for summer storms
• A US plug adapter

For which months bring which weather, see our best time to visit guide. For a sense of how far you'll walk, see our architecture guide.