The Big Apple is known for many wonderful things – great food, amazing broad way shows, wonderful museums, Central Park, Lady Liberty, and more. Another thing that makes New York distinct from other cities is fashion. This city is thriving with culture and individuality. Each corner of the city displays interesting details, and you can bet that the streets are always filled with people who reflect the city’s culture. If you’ve been wondering what to wear in New York for your next trip, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on and follow my simple guide on how to look and feel like a New Yorker.
Compared to the other states in America, New York is more fashion-forward, often being on the forefront of trends. This kind of fierce sartorial thinking is brought on by the people from all kinds of backgrounds, most of whom have fearless and unique styles. There is no one rule about what to wear in New York. Being a boiling pot of diverse personalities, the city welcomes fashionistas of all kinds.
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East Coast vs. West Coast
At the other end of the country, Los Angeles, another fashion capital has always been compared to New York because of their stark contrast. The city of Hollywood is also a popular tourist destination but has a more laid back vibe. The ‘California style’ is inspired a lot by warm weather, Hollywood and coastal vibes. Details like ruffles, lace, ribbons are often incorporated in their clothing.
New York, on the other hand, is a city of more polished and structured fashion. Temperature also plays a big part in East Coast fashion trends. Because the weather is a bit colder on the East Coast, people also take into account layering and thicker fabrics. Sheer fabric and thin layers will not be enough protection when temperature starts to drop.
Shop the Essentials
While most fashion styles are welcome in New York, a smart fashionista should be equipped with the essentials. Having the right pieces in your wardrobe will make dressing and pairing a lot easier. Get inspired by online wholesale clothing catalogues and try to find the retail offering the clothing pieces you like. It will certainly save you a lot of time when picking what to wear. Essentials are go-to staples that you can wear season after season.
These are the basic pieces every girl must have in her luggage, especially when going to meet the street style of a city as New York.
Dark Denims
You can never go wrong with a classy pair of dark denims. Instead of the trendy distressed ones, ridden with holes and loose threads, go for dark wash or black jeans that fit your body type well. Ill-fitting jeans can really look unflattering, and what you want is to feel cozy and stylish while going around town. Dark denims are so versatile and you can easy to pare with any outfit.
Stylish Coat
If there’s one fashion item that you should splurge in, it’s a coat or jacket. Aside from the style boost, a good coat will ensure that you stay warm and cosy during cold days. When picking your coat, go for neutral tones like beige, black or white. Fashion items in this color will be easy to match with almost anything in your closet.
Shift Dress
A shift dress is another staple every fashionista should have. This timeless style ilooks flattering on the most of body types. This style was a big hit during the early 1960s, which was a welcome change from the corseted looks of the past eras. Modern shift dresses will fit perfectly on the urban streets of New York. It can be styled with leggings during fall and winter season, or show off your bare legs during warmer months.
Little Black Dress
Whether you are going to New York or not, little black dress is a true staple that every girl should have. This no-fail piece is slimming on any figure, which is one of the reasons why it has achieved its fame. Keep in mind that the little black dress does not really have to be “little” anymore. If you are not comfortable with short hemlines, you can go for midi lengths and knee length LBDs too. Aside from being a timeless piece, little black dress has also become an iconic style, thanks to Holly Go lightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s – an all-time classic movie filmed in New York. So, if you want to recreate and channel Audrey Hepburn’s character while walking the streets of New York, a LBD styled with pearls is all you need.
What NOT to Wear in New York
A fashion editor for Who What Wear detailed her style journey when she made the move to NYC. According to her article, one of her biggest takeaways from the address change is how important practical pieces are when living in New York. Staples are very important and will be great to mix with polished pieces. High and low fashion – which is designer pieces mixed with low-cost fashion, is another effective method to pull off the New York style.
Some of the items to give up when in New York include:
- Uncomfortable high heeled shoes
- Mini bags
- Loose, cotton sweatpants
- Bohemian dresses
- Office clothes that don’t transition
Ultimately, you need to have a confident personal style when visiting this city. The place is teeming with fashion, culture and interesting characters. When trying to figure out what to wear in New York, keep in mind that the way you carry yourself will play a big role in pulling off your outfit. If you walk with a confident stride, you will have no problem blending in like a true fashionable New Yorker, no matter what you are wearing.
