As a brooklynite let me be the first to Flip of Ellis and invite him to sit and spin 
That being said, what everyou wear bring the skins of many dead animals. Its FUCKING COLD. As I write this, its 4 degreees below freezing, not counting for wind chill, which if you plan to stay in mid town is well below the legal minimum. And friedo, you are just blind. 6 out 10 people wear black of some form on a major item in NY. You just don’t notice anymore.
I never do dress like SJP! However, the reason I mentioned that show in my thread title is more because of how the male characters dress. It seems like they’re almost always wearing thousand-dollar Armani suits, no matter what.
The image of mid-town New Yorkers not daring to step outside their doorman-staffed highrises without being decked out in something from the pages of GQ or W, according to gender, is one which still gets promoted by films and TV shows generally. I realize that this is likely an exaggeration, but, by definition, exaggerations have a grain of truth. What’s more, L.A. has the reputation of being the most casually dressed large city the world. I think that’s true without a doubt.
Just had to point this out, Biggirl, my absolute favorite! (I hope you weren’t joking)
Flip answer, but just wear what makes you comfortable. I would think there’s room for wearing whatever is comfortable in a big city like that!
I don’t know where you get this…granted, I live in Park Slope, the Levi’s/fieldcoat/Birkenstock center of the universe.
But within the past week I’ve walked through Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, the East Village, the Village proper, Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Midtown, and the Upper West and East Sides, and you couldn’t drive a steamroller down the sidewalk without squishing DOZENS of New Yorkers in jeans.
I think there’s another the reason New Yorkers dress more carefully than other US cities:
New York is crowded, and everybody walks shoulder to shoulder. with more physically close contact than in other cities.
In crowded subway cars, upscale yuppie brokers stand pressed up next to street winos and panhandlers. If you ask somebody what time it is, the first thing they do is make sure their wallet is still securely in place, before they glance at their watch and (politely) tell you its 6:35. It’s natural to judge a total stranger by his appearance, and if you dont want to look suspicious, then don’t dress like a panhandler.
n California, people are overly car-conscious, because you are what you drive. In Manhatten, you are what you wear.
Its not just a matter of snobbish fashion–although that’s part of it. (New Yorkers HATE baseball caps, because it helps 'em feel more sophisticated than the proletariate, ). It’s also a matter of courtesy, to dress nicer because you are forced to share your space with strangers.
Don’t make me kick your ass.
Not joking at all. My Maryjanes are so comfy. But it looks like I’ll be wearing the Timberlands out again. More doggone snow!
Depends on the sitch–if you’re just hanging out doing the tourist thing during the day, jeans are fine (although you won’t be seated at The Four Seasons or something) along with a nice sweater (monochrome, dark, or a nice cashmere or imitation is OK). Can’t go wrong with a casual crisp white or other pastel shirt, open-necked, and a sports jacket if it’s nice out. If you pick up tickets for a Broadway show or something, dress slacks and a nicer sports jacket and tie are fine; same for women although lots of them wear skirts, and not hoochie-mamas like SaTC.
Concerts–Carnegie Hall or Irving Plaza? The former, a business suit, the latter, depends on the band. Black jeans usually work, and a black shirt of some kind. The most important thing you should NOT wear, though, is a self-conscious look like you KNOW you’re TRYING to be hip. I’ve seen Western guys wear cowboy boots or string ties and look cool, because of their attitudes.
well don’t mean to sound like a racist, but Timberlands are for African Americans, just like Enyce, Roca Wear, Sean John and Ecko.
The North Face is unirace 
works for people of all colors.
Diesel is for white men and women, and black women, but not black men.
i SWEAR i am not racist but this is just what i see in subway every day.
ye you couldn’t possibly be what you drive in manhattan, cuz you can’t drive there well you can, but even if you got a lombarghini the subway will be faster.
Thanks for the Racewear Report! Good to know I dress appropriately for my race.
So what are the other Irish/Czech/Germans wearing these days? I’d be embarrassed to show up in Timberlands and be mistaken for a negro. Someone might ask me to dance.
I think that applies to LA more than SF or the bay area as a whole. Hell i’ve seen so many beater cars here it’s hard to think anyone is so car conscious here, except the rice-rocket boys.
From what i’ve seen in San Francisco, at least in the gay scene, everyone tends to dress nicely even if they’re in jeans and t-shirts. It’s usually the tourists to the castro in baggy jeans and oversized t-shirts. Everyone also tends to dress warmly because it’s usually very cool year round. Even here in Monterey people dress warmly because it’s much like SF weather here.
Id say that you’d be okay in Turtlenecks. Especially as a woman as I suppose you are. Honestly I have very little experience in NYC, but a lot in Europe, and we all know that Europeans have better style anyway. But seriously, anything that is black or dark should suffice. Don’t try to fit in too hard, because sometimes its okay to be a tourist. Don’t be too cool to be a tourist by any means.
First this:
Then this:
I’m going to be laughing about these at least all day, probably longer.
Actually I’m a guy, but I was motivated to ask this question after talking to my wife, who’s been warning me that my L.A. style won’t fly in New York. Not that I really have an L.A. style either; I just wear what I like.
I can see how my screen name is ambiguous with respect to gender. My old name used to be javaman so it was pretty clear.
Actually I’m a guy, but I was motivated to ask this question after talking to my wife, who’s been warning me that my L.A. style won’t fly in New York. Not that I really have an L.A. style either; I just wear what I like.
I can see how my screen name is ambiguous with respect to gender. My old name used to be javaman so it was fairly obvious.