# How do I dress to visit New York? Seinfeld or Sex In The City? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796 "2003-12-13T18:04:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/1 "2003-12-13T18:04:08Z")
How do New Yorkers dress today, outside the office or other professional milieus? We’re planning a trip there in February, and I honestly don’t know what the reality is. FTR, we’re planning on staying in midtown, would like to go out to a couple of shows or concerts, with a possible search for the perfect martini later on. Our daytime activities will consist of a side trip or two to Jersey and time spent in museums, as well as chasing down ancestral monuments. At home I tend to favor blue jeans; in fact I rarely wear anything else by choice. Shirts for me are usually polos or turtlenecks. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/2 "2003-12-13T18:05:29Z")
Oops, I meant to put this in IMHO. Could one of the moderators move it? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![audreyayn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@audreyayn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audreyayn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/3 "2003-12-13T18:15:44Z")
We dress however the heck we want. If someone has a problem with it, flip them off. ---
**Author:** ![Titan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Titan2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Titan2)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/4 "2003-12-13T18:21:01Z")
You’re sure to make a hit in an I (heart) NY wool cap.or an I’m with stupid -\> shirt. Seriously,if you’re from any semi major metro area wear the same thing you’re wearing there in the winter.Galoshes may be a handy adittion to your traveling gear (remembering the time a snowstorm kicked up without warning on a midday Friday,and by the time I got off work there was like 10 inches of the stuff-and I had to walk from 14th to 7th st,since the buses weren’t running-only the subway.) Had to trash my shoes. If you’re from rural America I’d probably leave the IH cap at home. Next time you see Letterman check out the attire in the crowd when they pan the audience.Should give you an idea of what some of the tourists are wearing. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/5 "2003-12-13T18:25:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Titan2 \* > \*\*You’re sure to make a hit in an I (heart) NY wool cap.or an I’m with stupid -\> shirt. > > Seriously,if you’re from any semi major metro area wear the same thing you’re wearing there in the winter. \*\* I don’t think so. I’m from L.A. I would have mentioned that in the OP, but I’m really more concerned with what to wear under the Eskimo gear; what people see when you’re indoors. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/6 "2003-12-13T19:09:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by \*\*\*Spectre of Pithecanthropus \*\* > Oops, I meant to put this in IMHO. Could one of the moderators move it? > > Thanks! Off to IMHO. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/7 "2003-12-13T19:21:41Z")
wow, people dress according to the city they’re visiting? If you ever come to London, you better invest in kappa trainers and a tracksuit… ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/8 "2003-12-13T20:05:02Z")
Last year some friends of mine went to NYC for a conference. They reported that they felt very odd on the street, as they felt odd for wearing colors other than black. (Said friends are 40ish, professional, females.) Me, no matter what I wear, I’ll be sure to also wear a baseball cap from a bar in Montana. Cause every guy who’s ever been to Montana will want to buy me a drink and talk about it. Whistlepig ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/9 "2003-12-13T20:06:24Z")
Did I mention that they felt odd? This cold medicine has me repeating myself or saying the same thing again. Doug ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/10 "2003-12-13T20:24:35Z")
Well, watch intensely what fashion the hippest people on TV shows about NY wear… And then wear either jeans and t-shirt or khakis and polo shirts (or any combination there of). Of course, in clubs wear button front long sleeve shirts (I remember when the craze a few years ago was white shirts, the UV lights in the club made all the poly-blend white shirts (90% of the guys’ shirts) glow neon blue. Fleece whatever seems pretty common on the streets nowadays, as do sweatshirts, cause it’s rather cold. Also cheesy Leather/Pleather jackets are everwhere (of course, I own one too - wOOT!). Actually, the majority of New Yorkers (and even the sub-genre of Manhattanites) look pretty damn common place… Now if you want to know what the ultra-hip elite wear, damnifino - maybe they do wear what you see on tv. ---
**Author:** ![12hazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/919ad9/32.png) [@12hazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/12hazel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/11 "2003-12-13T20:39:23Z")
Better yet, catch a couple episodes of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Then dress like they do, only - to be on the safe side - in black. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/12 "2003-12-14T00:42:46Z")
Don’t walk around with a camera around your neck or a guidebook or map in hand, or gawk really obviously. (The New York mantra is ‘Act like you see this every day,’ even if _this_ is someone pogo-sticking down the street in a chartreuse bathrobe, and definitely if it’s a celebrity, Times Square, or something else tourists would naturally gawk at.) Don’t wear things that I think of as Midwestern Tourist, like sweaters with twee embroidery. Generally, low-key, simple, and slightly preppy is probably good in any city in America. Unlike Europe, wearing sneakers will not mark you as an obvious tourist. You don’t have to wear all black, unless you’re going to be in a very professional setting, like Wall Street, where everyone around you probably _will_ be wearing black. Blue jeans and polo shirts are totally fine. ---
**Author:** ![vasyachkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c5a1d2/32.png) [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/13 "2003-12-14T01:23:01Z")
wear something by The North Face or Diesel, black is good. if you’re a woman white is also good. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/14 "2003-12-14T02:17:50Z")
Blue jeans and a (dark) turtleneck are fine. I’d lay off the polo shirts, though. ---
**Author:** ![vasyachkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c5a1d2/32.png) [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/15 "2003-12-14T05:00:22Z")
Blue jeans ? depends on what you call blue. you would only wear solid light-blue jeans if you’re a construction worker and are covered in paint and cement from head to toe. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/16 "2003-12-14T05:02:42Z")
Re: Sex in the City, don’t wear what Sarah Jessica Parker wears. I don’t mean in New York, I mean anywhere. Christ, she dresses like a special needs student in a flood victim shelter. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/17 "2003-12-14T06:50:39Z")
Black all the way. Jeans are borderline, as long as they are (very) dark. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/18 "2003-12-14T07:17:05Z")
Pants with strech waistband, Timberland boots for walking and Payless Maryjanes for working. If it’s cold wear a nice, fluffy sweater or a silk shell if it’s not cold. Well, that’s what I’d wear if I lived in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/19 "2003-12-14T07:46:39Z")
Where do people get this idea that everyone in NYC wears black? This is at least the third time I’ve seen this posted on this board, yet I have never, _ever_ observed it in reality. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796/20 "2003-12-14T07:58:35Z")
We’re talking about Manhattan, the only burrough in NYC that matters. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-dress-to-visit-new-york-seinfeld-or-sex-in-the-city/218796.md?page=2)