What to Wear This Month: Five Outfits for a Mild November

NOAA’s outlook for November 2026 favors a warmer-than-average month across most of the country. No region is favored to run cooler than average. Heavy coats can stay in the closet for now, and light, easily removed layers will do more work.

What the November Outlook Means for Your Closet

The odds of above-average temperatures are highest across the northern states. Wetter-than-average conditions are favored across much of the South and the East Coast.

Mild does not mean uniformly warm. Cold nights are still possible, and a warm afternoon can be followed by a cold evening.

The outfits below rely on pieces that come on and off easily: a jacket, a scarf, a cardigan.

Five Outfits From Pieces You Probably Own

1. Corduroy trousers for the office

Wear straight-leg corduroy trousers with a plain cotton shirt and loafers. Add a knit vest or a thin sweater for chilly offices, and take it off when the afternoon warms up. The ridged texture adds interest without needing a heavier fabric.

2. Denim jacket over a crewneck sweater

Pair a mid-weight sweater with straight jeans and a denim jacket on top. This works for weekend errands and for the walk to a late-afternoon coffee. If the day warms up, tie the sweater around your waist or carry the jacket.

3. Midi skirt, knit top and ankle boots

A midi skirt with a fitted long-sleeve knit works for dinner or a gallery visit. Sheer or opaque tights cover the legs on cooler evenings. A scarf can finish the look and is easy to stash in a bag.

4. Field jacket, T-shirt and chinos

An unlined cotton field or chore jacket over a plain tee and chinos is a good everyday outfit. Sneakers or lace-up boots both suit it. The jacket has pockets for gloves if the evening turns cold.

5. Light blazer over a turtleneck

Wear a lightweight blazer over a thin turtleneck and tailored trousers. The turtleneck covers the neck and the blazer holds in some warmth, so you can skip an overcoat on a mild day. Wear leather shoes or polished boots with it.

How to Wash and Dry Corduroy

Corduroy is the one fabric here that is easy to damage at home. Its ridged surface, called the nap, picks up lint, and the lint is hard to remove once it settles. Check the garment’s care tag before washing.

• Pretreat stains on underarms, necklines, cuffs and hems before washing.
• Turn the garment inside out and use the normal cycle with cold water.
• Keep lint-makers out of the load. Fleece jackets, towels and sweaters should be washed separately, and corduroy should go in with similar colors and fabrics only.
• Dry on low heat, or line dry. Taking pieces out while still damp reduces wrinkles.
• Hang with care. Clips can leave marks on the fabric.

Wash new corduroy pants before you shorten or take in the legs. Hot water and a hot dryer cycle will finish any shrinkage in advance. Use that method only for a pre-alteration wash, not for routine laundering, since too much dryer heat shrinks the legs. A corduroy blazer is better left to a professional cleaner.

FAQ

– Is corduroy machine washable?

Most corduroy can be machine washed, but read the care tag first. Use cold water, turn the garment inside out and avoid lint-producing items in the same load.

– Will a warm forecast hold all month?

NOAA’s outlook favors above-average temperatures, but it describes odds for the month as a whole. Its hazards outlook for November 13 to 19 still allows for near-freezing nights in parts of the Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Check your local forecast before heading out.