Dressing well for winter in Tokyo?

Hi Everyone

I live in Australia, where it doesn't really get all that cold, and am visiting Japan in winter (mid Feb to first week of March 2008).

I literally have only one jumper in my wardrobe (nice, but a little tatty by Tokyo standards), a lovely pink knitted poncho (but lightweight) and a black trenchcoat.

Otherwise I live in jeans and sneakers.

Being a girl, I'd like some advice on what kind of warm clothes I should pack to both keep warm and look at least a little fashionable.

Will I need boots? (hard to get boots that zip up over fat girl ankles but I'm up for the challenge!) Jackets? Gloves? I'm so unsure.

I'm a big girl - around an American size 16 or an Australian size 18. But I am also very tall - almost 6ft. Most people don't even notice I am overweight because of my height, but it does mean I have to look hard to find clothes that fit (both length of arms and legs, and around my hips!).

Last year I visited in summer and lived in nice jeans and pretty summer tops - it was quite easy to look nice all the time cos my wardrobe already consisted of so many summer items.

Someone has suggested I try the Ski and Snow stores here in australia before I go?

size 16 is not so big and im sure you can find some winter clothes here in tokyo.
around the time you in japan have sales discount becos spring is near. i wouldnt worry so much about it if i were you

I live on a tropical island so I have the same problem when going to Japan during colder months.

I normally order what I need from Jcrew before I leave. I don't want to spend my time in Japan hunting down clothes especially when prices are generally cheaper in US.

As for sizing, I'm US size 2 or 4 and 5'5" tall but it isn't all that easy to find clothes that fit me well. My body isn't built like an average Japanese woman, I guess. I have curves and my frame isn't small. My mother is not even five feet tall and her US size is extra small but her Japanese size is medium. So I'd suggest you try to get your shopping done before you leave.

As for shoes, wear something comfortable that'd keep your feet warnm and dry.

You will most likely need more than the poncho or the trenchcoat. It is pretty expensive to get a down coat just for a trip to Japan, so unless you plan to go other places where you need that kind of thing in the future, maybe a thick fleece with a really warm sweater underneath it?
Problem is it's summer in Oz now huh.

You could buy a fleece or jacket here but they will almost certainly have to be men's ones, which is probably fine as fleeces tend to be kind of unisex.

Just to give you an example I am 5'9" (175cm), Aussie size 10- 12, and I can almost never find anything here with long enough sleeves in the women's stores. Stores like JeansMate, which are all over Tokyo, have cheaper jackets. That is one of the coldest times of the year though and you will want something warm as soon as you arrive so a bit of a dilemma.

People from Melbourne have told me that Tokyo's winter temps are very similar to Melbourne's- see if you can find pictures of Victorians in the winter on the internet for an idea of what to wear perhaps!

I agree that you should try to get some essentials before you go. You must live in the northern part of Aus if that is all you have! So I guess buying warm clothes here, when the shops are full of summer gear, will be an issue. I suggest the outdoor shops for a city-friendly fleece which you can wear for outside if your trenchcoat isn't a warm one.

You can use long sleeved T shirts under your clothes for extra warmth and pantihose under your jeans will make it warmer. I didn't find Tokyo to be much colder than a Perth winter, but was glad of scarf and gloves. You can easily buy those in Tokyo at a range of prices.

It get quite warm inside shops, hotels, the train etc and cold outside so it helps to have things you can peel off

For a tall lady like you, the size you mentioned is very common, any other small size may be too short in length.
I don't think you need to pack up super cold clothes but it all depends on where in Japan you're going and what sort of excursion you're planning there.

Have you tried online shopping? LLBEAN, Eddie Bauer or Lands End (also JJILL) all carry both tall and larger sizes in smart casuals to dress ups and all sorts of coats and jackets. I'm sure some of these companies run globally.
Japan would be a little hard place for the foreigners to shop unless people are about average size or smaller in USA standards although they have Big and Tall shops but these are hard to locate. I noticed many tall people in Australia when we visited. It's probably good idea to have a nice comfortable jacket and sweaters for your trip depending on what extend of your trip is. You can generally get by smart casual attires. Fleece jacket (for casual or during flight) is easy to handle and care for during trips and keeps you warm.
It's hard coming from summer season in Australia into winter in Japan. Keep in mind mid Feb in Japan could be pretty cold at times but around March it acts up and could get bit warmer or cold or just stay cold, unpredictable but southern parts you go in Japan it gets warmer.
I think you can easily get by pants and jacket (w/ shirt, sweater) with comfortable shoes for average touring around Japan.

From an observer

Just take a couple of sweaters, gloves, and a warm jacket. You should be fine. There's usually not much snow in Tokyo so I wouldn't worry about boots. A hat and some socks would be good too.

Don't take a chance that you can find warm clothing in Tokyo. My daughter lived in Japan for three years--Tokyo for one year and was never able to find clothes other than shoes that fit--and she wore a 10/12 U.S. size.