What kind of shoes should we wear in winter in Chicago?|139861

My daughter will be going to Chicago in Feb. to check out a few art schools. We are from So. Cal so we have NO idea what winter is really like and have absolutely NO idea what kind of shoes she will need to walk around the city in. Help!

Well it sorta depends. If there is snow on the ground then you_ll want something that you can walk around comfortably in and keep your feet dry. So like a hiking boot would be good.
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If there isn_t snow on the ground then basically a sneaker or whatever you feel comfy in. But I wouldn_t wear open toed shoes during the winter here. It can be brutally cold here in Feb.

Boots, get them offline if you can_t fine any, you don_t want to get to Chicago without them. Your toes will freeze trying to find some to buy. She might want to buy leg warmers to wear under her pants and layers.. layers ...layers.. The wind will cut right threw you... its the worst part... She_ll need a scarf and hat/hooded coat..

Being from Cali, you probably will be REALLY sensitive to the cold. So I suggest insulated boots/shoes. If it is snowing, then insulated boots but no snow, get the insulated shoes. With the insulation, she can just put on several pairs of socks. I don_t know if they sell boots in Cali judging from what the previous person said but you can always get here and buy boots for cheap. And if she will be walking around, she will need a hat, scarf, gloves, long johns or tights and a good warm coat. Every part of her body should be covered because the chill factor downtown is not nice. It is brutal even without the snow because the wind is blowing air from Lake Michigan which makes it colder than outside the city. I hope she has fun!
And I hope I didn_t scare her off.

WARM WARM WARM!!!!

Boots
Anything that is close toed.
I live in Texas and know that Chicago is a cold state,ummm watch the news ,mabe?

I lived there two years. One winter had NO snow. The other had a little. Both were skin ripping, bone crushing cold because it really is windy. No misnomer. Even in April, the wind is so strong it felt like it would pull out my hair. BUT, Chicago is awesome and I would move back in a minute. Summers are incredible and she will never be bored. If she_s going to live in the city, I would recommend Lakeview, Wriggleyville, or Lincoln Park. There are other nice parts as well but I_m less familiar with them. I would want her to live around the Loop/downtown. And this is going back 12 years now. Hope it helps. Philly has good art schools as well. Great city but a little more _lived in_ than Chicago.

A normal winter has lots of snow so make sure she has boots. Yes I know that she wont be able to get them at home but put aside $200.00 just for winter boots and shoes that would be a min. As the temp. goes below freezing at time -10 with the wind chill factor you do have to worry about getting the feet damp and then getting frost bite. I live in MI , across the lake and had up to 7 toes frost bitten at one time. My first year I did not have boots. Not fun