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What to wear in Columbus?

Comfortable Clothes for Each Month & the Fashion Style in Columbus.

see 5 Day Clothes Forecast: Columbus

Clothes for the Seasons & each Month

We provide an overview of seasonal clothes and information on appropriate clothes for each month (Monthly Recommended Clothes).

Seasonal Overview

Winter
Since winters in Columbus tend to be cold, dry and windy, having the right winter clothing is vital to staying warm and comfortable. A heavy weight, warm, and versatile outer jacket is a must for anyone during this time of year, and if the jacket is waterproof, even better since Columbus does occasionally get rainy days and can even hail during the winter. There may also be snow so you should invest in a good pair of gloves as well as a scarf which can make a huge difference in keeping out the wind and the cold.

Spring
Although the weather can still be a little uncertain during the springtime in Columbus, you can generally look forward to warmer weather. What that means is that color makes a return to clothing and you can start to wear lightweight fabrics like cotton, nylon, linen, etc. Springtime means you can trade your winter boots in for ankle boots and even sandals for sunny days. For both men and women, light sweaters, tees, and button-up shirts are perfect when paired with jeans or slacks.

Summer
Summertime is typically the season that most residents of Columbus look forward to the most after the cool temperatures of the year give way to the warm and sunny days that can reach highs of mid 80s°F. With the onset of the sunshine and higher temperatures in Columbus, the air gets much more warm. Dressing for summertime here means keeping cool with cotton fabrics and more bold, bright colors.

Fall
The fall season is as beautiful as it is unpredictable, with mild to cool temperatures. What this means is a return to layering with heavy weight fabrics like corduroy, wool blends, and acrylics as well as leather and suedes.

Monthly Recommended Clothes

The following are the recommended clothes for daytime and nighttime based on the average high/low temperatures for each month.

Jan - Mar
Apr - Jun
Jul - Sep
Oct - Dec

Recommended Clothes in Columbus

month	Clothes
Jan	Daytime: A down jacket, gloves, warm hat and so on. Nighttime: Clothes are the same as daytime, but very cold outside.
Feb	Daytime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on. Nighttime: A down jacket, gloves or mittens, warm hat and so on. Very cold outside.
Mar	Daytime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary. Nighttime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on.
Apr	Daytime: A light jacket, sweater, or light winter clothes (jacket or coat). Nighttime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary.
May	Daytime: A long-sleeved shirt, light jacket or sweater, but sometimes a short-sleeved shirt is good. Nighttime: A light jacket, sweater, or light winter clothes (jacket or coat).
Jun	Daytime: A T-shirt, tank top or short-sleeved shirt. Nighttime: A long-sleeved shirt, light jacket or sweater, but sometimes a short-sleeved shirt is good.
Jul	Daytime: A T-shirt or tank top, and shorts or jeans. Nighttime: A short-sleeved shirt, sometimes a long-sleeved shirt.
Aug	Daytime: A T-shirt or tank top, and shorts or jeans. Nighttime: A long-sleeved shirt, light jacket or sweater, but sometimes a short-sleeved shirt is good.
Sep	Daytime: A T-shirt, tank top or short-sleeved shirt. Nighttime: A light jacket, sweater, or light winter clothes (jacket or coat).
Oct	Daytime: Sometimes a short-sleeved shirt is good, but sometimes light winter clothes are necessary. Nighttime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary.
Nov	Daytime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary. Nighttime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on.
Dec	Daytime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on. Nighttime: A down jacket, gloves or mittens, warm hat and so on. Very cold outside.

Average temperature

Low : Average low temperature, High : Average high temperature

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More Information

Columbus

Columbus is the capital of Ohio and one of the largest metropolitan areas of the United States, and it is a city that is highly regarded for its business industry. It is also considered to be an excellent area for technology and industry with a strong workforce and economy. The seasons in Columbus, Ohio are distinct and they often bring unexpected types of weather patterns and conditions.

The city of Columbus is also occasionally notable for its severe weather conditions which may be surprising. Even so, the area of Columbus experiences seasonal changes that are typical for Ohio in general. Like most of the other northeastern states in the US, the weather is quite consistent with the seasons but sometimes there can be some radical shifts in temperature or conditions. If you are planning a trip or if you are moving to Columbus, it's a good idea to get an idea of what to expect and to plan your wardrobe accordingly.

Here are additional suggestions to help you build a wardrobe that is appropriate for the changing weather you are likely to experience while in Columbus.

Winter

If it's really cold, you might consider wearing a thermal or base layer under your clothing. In fact, layering clothing is a great idea in Columbus since this keeps your body insulated and allows you to remove some extra layers when you are indoors. It's also smart to have a practical pair of winter boots which will be necessary if it does snow and which will keep your toes warm too! The fabric of choice for a Columbus winter is wool since it is much warmer than acrylics and dries quicker if it gets wet.

Spring

Scarves are still a great idea, especially to bundle up with on chilly evenings and a light jacket or snuggly cardigan will serve you well for the cooler days. Spring in Columbus has been known to be a time for tornadoes which will require breaking out some of those winter pieces again to brave the high wind conditions. A woolen cap or beanie is another good way to deal with gusty tornado weather.

Summer

Dresses with straps or no sleeves and skirts or rompers for women, and tank tops, shorts, and t-shirts for both, are all easy to wear and will keep you cool during this season. Sandals, espadrilles, and flip flops are popular types of footwear and many like to wear caps or hats other styles to protect against the UV from the sun. For trips to the nearby rivers or lakes, it'll also be time to break out your swimsuit!

Fall

Boots are the preferred footwear for this time of year along with the perennial scarf and hat combo. For women, sweaters, pants, jeans, and long skirts are all good options and for men, pants in thick fabrics, sweaters, sweatshirts and Henley's all work well.

Getting used to a new and bustling city like Columbus along with it's varied and sometimes uncertain weather patterns may take a little time but with the right wardrobe you can certainly be prepared in style!

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