What to Wear in 40 Degree Weather: Layers, Jackets and Outfits

Forty degrees is an awkward temperature: too cold for a T-shirt and a light jacket, but not cold enough to justify your heaviest winter parka. If you are working out what to wear in 40 degree weather, the answer is a few smart layers you can open and close, topped with a jacket that stops the wind. This guide covers 40°F (about 4°C) for men and women, from weekend errands to evenings out.

What does 40 degree weather feel like?

40°F is about 4°C, a few degrees above freezing. On a still, sunny afternoon it feels crisp but manageable, especially if you are walking briskly. Add a breeze and it turns raw quickly. Using the National Weather Service formula for wind chill, 40°F with a 10 mph wind feels like about 34°F, and a 20 mph wind pushes it down to roughly 30°F.

Damp air and time of day matter too. A gray, drizzly 40 degrees feels colder than a bright one, and a 40-degree afternoon is often bookended by a frosty morning and an evening that slides back toward freezing. Dress for the coldest part of your day, not for the forecast high.

A quick note if you think in Celsius: this guide is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. At 40°C you would be dressing for a heat wave, and the leather jacket would stay in the closet.

What to wear in 40 degree weather: the three-layer formula

The easiest way to stay comfortable at 40°F is to build your outfit in layers. Each one has a job, and you can peel one off the moment you step indoors.

• Base layer: a long-sleeve T-shirt, a thin thermal top or a cotton button-up shirt. Fine merino wool is warm for its weight and never feels bulky under a jacket.
• Middle layer: a crewneck or turtleneck sweater, a flannel shirt, a zip cardigan or a light hoodie. This is your insulation, so choose wool or a thick knit over thin cotton jersey when you can.
• Outer layer: a jacket that blocks wind. Genuine leather is ideal here, because it stops the moving air that cuts straight through knitwear.
• Bottoms: jeans, chinos, corduroys or wool trousers. Thin leggings on their own tend to feel chilly at 40°F, so pair skirts and dresses with opaque tights and boots.

The middle layer is where most people go wrong, either too thin to make a difference or so thick the jacket will not zip. Our guide to wearing a sweater with a leather jacket shows which knit weights sit comfortably under which jacket styles.

Is a leather jacket warm enough for 40 degrees?

Usually, yes, as long as you layer under it. Leather is very good at stopping wind, which is the main reason 40 degrees feels colder than the number suggests. The hide on its own is only a modest insulator, though, so the real warmth comes from the lining and what you wear underneath. Our guide to how warm leather jackets really are explains this in more detail.

As a rough guide:

• Unlined or lightly lined jacket: fine for short trips at 40°F with a sweater underneath, as long as it is dry and calm.
• Lined jacket or one with a zip-out liner: comfortable for most of a 40-degree day, including a long walk around town.
• Shearling collar or sheepskin body: the better choice for wind, early starts, late nights and long stretches outdoors.
• Longer leather coat: worth it when you will be standing still, because the extra length keeps your hips and thighs warm.

Move up to shearling jackets or a coat when the wind picks up, when the temperature is heading below the mid-30s, or when you will be outdoors for more than an hour without moving much.

If you are choosing one jacket to handle 40-degree days, these three cover the range from adaptable to properly warm:

Men's Heavyweight Cowhide Racer Jacket with Zip-Out LinerWomen's Black Lambskin Leather Jacket with Shearling CollarMen's Sheepskin B-3 Bomber Jacket

The zip-out liner lets the racer jacket switch between colder and milder days, the shearling collar on the lambskin jacket keeps drafts off the neck, and the sheepskin B-3 is the one to reach for when 40 degrees comes with a stiff breeze.

What should men wear in 40 degree weather?

Three outfits that work from morning to night:

• Errands and weekends: a long-sleeve tee under an open flannel shirt, dark straight jeans, a leather racer or bomber jacket zipped to the chest, and leather boots or leather sneakers with wool socks.
• Office and business casual: an oxford shirt with a merino crewneck over it, wool or cotton chinos, a black leather jacket, and derby shoes or Chelsea boots. A thin wool scarf fills the gap at the collar on the walk in.
• Evening out: a fine-gauge turtleneck, dark tailored trousers, a black leather jacket and polished boots. The turtleneck keeps your neck warm without the bulk of a scarf.

What should women wear in 40 degree weather?

The same layering rules apply, with a few more options for legs and feet:

• Errands: a fitted long-sleeve top under a chunky cardigan or crewneck, straight jeans, a leather jacket with a shearling collar and lug-sole ankle boots.
• Office: a fine-knit turtleneck, wide-leg trousers, a leather jacket or a long leather coat, and loafers with thin wool socks or block-heel boots.
• Evening: a knit midi dress with opaque tights, knee-high boots and a cropped leather jacket, plus a wool scarf you can wrap twice once the sun goes down.

Skirts and dresses work well at 40°F as long as your legs are covered. Fleece-lined tights and tall boots make more difference to how warm you feel than a heavier jacket does.

What to wear when it is 40 degrees and windy or drizzly

Wind: zip your jacket all the way up and turn the collar up. A collar that stands, or a shearling collar, stops cold air sliding down your neck. Tuck your scarf inside the front of the jacket instead of letting it hang loose.

Drizzle: genuine leather copes with light rain for a short time. Blot off the water with a soft cloth when you get inside, then let the jacket dry on a wide hanger at room temperature, away from radiators and heaters. For steady rain, carry an umbrella or wear a waterproof shell over the top. Our guide to wearing a leather jacket in the rain covers what to do if it gets soaked.

Damp cold also creeps up through your feet, so waterproof boots often matter more than an extra sweater on a wet 40-degree day.

Which shoes and accessories work best at 40°F?

• Shoes: leather boots, Chelsea boots, lug-sole ankle boots or leather sneakers with wool socks. Skip canvas sneakers and open shoes, which get cold fast, especially when wet.
• Scarf: wool or cashmere, tucked into your collar. It does more for your comfort than almost any other single piece.
• Gloves: thin leather or knit gloves are enough at 40°F unless the wind is strong.
• Hat: a knit beanie or a wool cap for early mornings and evenings.
• Bag: a crossbody or a backpack keeps your hands free for pockets and gloves.

FAQ

Is 40 degrees cold enough for a winter coat?

For most people, a lined jacket over a sweater is enough at 40°F as long as you are moving. Choose a heavier coat or a sheepskin jacket if you run cold, if it is windy, or if you will be standing outside for a long time.

Can I wear just a T-shirt under a leather jacket at 40 degrees?

Only for a quick dash between the car and a building. For anything longer, add a sweater, flannel shirt or thermal layer, because leather blocks wind but holds little heat on its own.

Should I wear gloves and a hat at 40 degrees?

They are optional on a calm, sunny afternoon but worth carrying. Thin gloves and a knit beanie take up almost no room in a pocket and make an early morning or a late night far more comfortable.

What is 40 degrees Fahrenheit in Celsius?

40°F is about 4.4°C, a few degrees above freezing. If your forecast says 40°C, you are dealing with extreme heat instead, so dress light and leave the jacket at home.

Getting what to wear in 40 degree weather right comes down to three things: a warm middle layer, a jacket that blocks the wind and shoes that keep your feet dry. Find your outer layer among our men's leather jackets and women's leather jackets.