EVELYSS / Guides / Travel & Everyday

What to Wear in Nashville in December (Music Venues, Holiday Shows and Cold Rain)

“Nashville in December is two climates: the cold street and the hot, crowded room with live music. Dress for both, a thin top under a sweater under a coat you don't mind holding, and wear boots you can stand in for hours.”Her take

What's the weather like in Nashville in December?

December is chilly and often damp. Typical daytime highs are around 50°F, with mornings and nights in the 30s and occasional frost. Rain falls on roughly a third of the days, and a cold, rainy day near 40°F feels much colder than the number suggests.

Snow is uncommon and rarely sticks, but cold snaps happen. Check the forecast a few days before you leave and pack one extra warm layer just in case.

How to dress for hot venues and cold streets

Music bars, honky-tonks and concert halls get warm and crowded, while the walk between them is cold. Layer so you can strip down to something you're happy to be seen in.

Wear a nice base top, like a fitted long-sleeve knit, a bodysuit or a silk blouse, under a sweater or jacket. Choose a coat you can drape over a stool or hold, since space is tight in many bars. A crossbody bag keeps your hands free for drinks and dancing.

Should you wear cowboy boots in Nashville?

Wear them if you love them. They suit the city's music scene, nobody will think twice, and they're practical in December because the shaft keeps your legs warm.

Break them in before the trip, because you'll stand and walk for hours. Pair them with straight-leg jeans over the boot or tucked in, a midi skirt with tights, or a sweater dress. If boots aren't your thing, waterproof leather ankle boots work just as well.

What to wear during the day

Daytime is casual: jeans, a warm sweater and a coat cover most sightseeing, museums and brunch. Add a scarf and gloves for mornings, and an umbrella or hooded coat for rainy days.

Comfortable shoes matter most. Downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods involve a lot of walking, often on brick and uneven sidewalks, so choose broken-in boots or leather sneakers.

What to wear for a night out or a holiday show

For live music bars, think jeans, boots and a fun top: a sequin or velvet top, a fitted knit with statement earrings, or a leather jacket over a bodysuit. For a holiday concert or a dressier dinner, try a velvet blazer with tailored trousers, or a midi dress with tights and heeled boots.

Shimmer and texture suit the season. Keep the outfit warm enough for the queue outside, and leave a big coat at your hotel if you'll be hopping between busy bars.

A 4-day December packing list

This covers sightseeing, two nights out and one dressier event.

• 1 warm, water-resistant coat that reaches the hip or below.
• 1 leather or suede jacket for nights out on milder evenings.
• 2 pairs of jeans: one straight-leg, one darker for evenings.
• 1 midi skirt or sweater dress with opaque tights.
• 3 base tops: a bodysuit, a fitted long-sleeve knit, a silk or satin blouse.
• 2 sweaters, one of them chunky.
• 1 velvet blazer or sparkly top for a holiday show.
• 2 pairs of shoes: broken-in cowboy or ankle boots and leather sneakers.
• Scarf, gloves, a compact umbrella and warm socks.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

A warm water-resistant coat, a good-looking base top for warm venues, broken-in boots, one sparkly or velvet piece for a holiday show, and an umbrella for the cold rain.

Read next