Well, well, well WINTER is here and she’s a beast. There are days when I’m convinced I have some type of frostbite after standing in the winter cold at 3 AM…It’s New England after all…
There are some items I’ve found to help me stay as warm as possible. In general, I’ve also found that there are items that work well in the field, no matter what Mother Nature throws in my direction.
Some items are the basics: Advil and hand warmers. For the winter months, I highly recommend layering up with long johns underneath your clothing. I wore them one day and it was 45 degrees out and I was SWEATING. They work wonders when temps are below freezing. Mine are from Amazon and 30% off right now. I’d also highly suggest reporters in the winter season get mittens where the top folds over. WHY? A lot of the tech-friendly gloves aren’t strong enough to scroll on my phone during live shots. These allow me to expose my fingers only when I need to use or read off of my phone. You also can’t go wrong with a winter hat, if you’re worried about professionalism, the beanie below has a detachable puff.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The Lululemon fanny is a game-changer for running around. You can have your lav, chapstick, mints, and hand warmers with you wherever you go, especially if you’re quickly jumping out of the car to breaking news.
Other more basic must-haves (but items you may not know you need) are a planner, Aquaphor (for them chapped winter lippies), makeup touch-up bag, phone tripod (I often use this for live shots below me so I don’t have to hold my phone) and a more healthy energy drink. I love Alani Nu packets for a pick-me-up in the morning! You can see some of my favorite “healthier” options, here.
I go to work at 3 in the morning. Yes, you read that right. I’ve tried my best to manage the change in my sleep schedule but inevitably, most days, I’m tired.
Here’s the problem – coffee at 3 am is not cutting it for me. TMI but my empty stomach cannot handle my Nespresso pods. I’m not hungry at 3 am so I’ve realized coffee is a no-go. Plus, being a news reporter, I don’t work from an office, I work from my car. If I gotta go, my options are gas stations in Hartford, Connecticut. You can imagine – it’s not the cleanest or safest.
SOOOO I went to my tried and true FB page, MMJ Jane. It’s a GREAT resource for female journalists. Whenever I’m lost/confused/needing help, that’s where I go. In the group, I asked for energy drink recommendations from other morning reporters/anchors and got a ton of feedback!
Below are the energy drinks they recommended! I bought the Alani Nu energy packets based on reviews. So many girls swore by it! In case it’ll help you, no matter your job, I put the most common recommendations below!
I’ve noticed when it comes to workwear tops and being on camera, fitted tops are typically the way to go for me in the winter.
When you’re on camera, live shots usually show the waist up. On me, a more fitted top looks more flattering than a baggy blouse. From my experience, fitted shirts also work best with a long coat, but the problem with that right now, IT’S FREEZING OUT. Of course most days right now, a sweater is a must! High-neck tops also keep your neck nice and warm. I’m a big fan of a turtleneck.
Below are some sweaters and tops that I’ve found. They’re work-appropriate and will keep you warm out there!
My last post featuring work pants and shoes can be found here.
Being a reporter, you’re constantly on your feet and running around. As many of us know, no day is the same.
It’s hard sometimes to find pants, shoes, and shirts, that are comfortable to wear the entire day! I’ve always struggled with being comfortable, while finding something cute to wear.
Pants have always been my go-to rather than skirts. We’re constantly bending down, picking up gear and schlepping it all around. A skirt or dress is sometimes the recipe for a wardrobe disaster/malfunction.
With a new job around the corner, I’ve really been trying to elevate my work wardrobe. I’ve found that the split hem pants from Old Navy are the comfiest, multi-functional pants EVER. They’re also under $30! I was SHOCKED to find them. They feel like leggings and are a thick matieral. I got the brown and black since I loved the one pair so much. You can dress the pants up for work, down for around the house and even wear them for night out.
The trouser pants are from Express and are on sale RIGHT NOW in beige and black. If you’re under 5’5, defintely opt for the short. They’re still a little long on me but perfect with a 2 inch bootie. I heard the Abercrombie trousers aren’t very good quality so I opted for the Express ones and I love them.
I’ve found loafers are the best shoes for reporting (other than sneakers). Loafers have a sneaker base to them so they’re more ideal than a complete flat or heel.
You can shop everything below!
My last blog post on anchor dresses can be found HERE.
