STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

laken1 · Hermes

NYC trip advice

Elle · Hermes

Hmmm, how about some neutral wool trousers on the bottom, and things to layer on top? And maybe some dangly earrings to keep in your purse to fancy it up a bit in the bathroom of the restaurant before dinner? I'd totally wear the Danskos if it was me - they're unobtrusive enough to pass with a variety of outfits and formality levels.

For the layers on the top, I'd come up with 2 or 3 underlayers (camis/tees), 2 or 3 middle layers (blouses/thin knits, maybe on the slightly dressier side), 1 or 2 outer layers (chunky cardigan), and then your actual coat. Should be warm enough for roaming the streets, and for dinner you can remove the coat and cardigan.

Elle · Hermes

Under layers:

Middle layers:

Mossimo® Black: Georgette Button-Front Blouse - Floral Print Mossimo® Black: Long-Sleeve Turtleneck - Gladiator Gray

Outer layers:

Juniors' Mossimo® Red: Shawl-Collar Carcoat Sweater - Café Latte

lynnie · Chanel

i would ask your inlaws if any of thost places (restaurant, jazz club) have dress codes (jacket required, no jeans). If not, then i think you can easily make it work- i very rarely NEED to change between day and night in the city. I would dress around your comfortable shoes- since that is the most key. If you are wearing clogs, maybe make an outfit using dark jeans. Keep it simple- maybe black turtleneck, not too big bag for day to night, gold jewelry. Or if you want to wear boots, you could wear tights, a wool skirt (not pencil-comfy one) and a sweater, etc. I think the trick is to wear "dressy casual", I don't think you'll be underdressed unless you go somewhere REALLY fancy. People really wear anything in this city, and there are so many tourists that there may even be less of a dress code here in certain spots than in other cities.

-- Edited by lynnie at 19:25, 2006-11-10

Hedvig · Coach

My most versatile pieces are v-neck sweaters. They're comfy and warm during the day and cute enough for a dinner out.

Black pants sound perfect, and like Elle suggested, wool pants would be great - or maybe a tweed or cord skirt with opaque tights. And yes, people wear jeans pretty much anywhere, including the jazz clubs I've been to (but I expect some may have a dress code, like lynnie said).

I wear sweaters like this a lot:

-- Edited by Hedvig at 20:16, 2006-11-10

honey · Gucci

i like the idea of a deep v-neck sweater or cardigan with a nice cami/tank underneath, i especially like the last two elle posted.

i think your clogs are fine. i would wear them with dark jeans or a great fitting pair of trousers. keep everything simple, and then pack some eye-catching accessories to add some sparkle.

also union square cafe has no dress code. the dressiest it gets is date night/going out clothes, but there are also tons of people who wear jeans, and sweats. i would think the same of the radio city christmas show (well maybe not the sweats part). haven't been to the last place so i can't say for sure, but in general my experience in the city is that unless you're going to a super fancy, extremely pricey place, most places don't have a dress code. as long as you look presentable you're fine.

laken1 · Hermes

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you - I feel so much better. We already know dress codes - this is a source of contingent between DH & his dad - DH is ALWAYS in jeans & it drives his dad nuts. When he was little he used to dress him up in suits & bring him to fancy dinners with his co-workers & DH rebels against that CONSTANTLY so I really think that is what the "itinerary" is when they send one. Aureloe is the only one where they need to wear a coat & we will have time to change for that dinner Thanksgiving night. I have a few outfits I'll probably post to get some feedback from ya'll - I've been brainstorming all freaking day. I promise ya'll will be sick of me by the time I leave - luckily it will only be about a week or so.

I think this is insane - why don't I worry about my clothes when I'm here in Dallas? It's totally across the board & I never feel this why - I don't understand when I go on a trip I feel that I must buy new stuff! When not even one person in NY has seen my old stuff.

-- Edited by laken1 at 22:15, 2006-11-10

littlebean · Kate Spade

Sounds like you've got some great options for your trip! I definitely think that your favorite casual looks -- nice jeans with layered tops and sweaters, or slacks/skirts with the same -- should be perfect for just about everywhere you're going without having to worry about changing. You can't possibly overestimate how important it is to bring comfy shoes for walking around the city! I just wanted to chime in because I've been to Union Square Cafe several times as well as the Rockettes Show and it's really anything goes both places.

halah · Kenneth Cole

I think you'll be fine...I was just going to add that some days if I go shopping all day and then meet friends later for dinner, I'll bring dressier shoes with me and possibly a different top. Then it's easy to change into something different while out shopping.

laken1 · Hermes

halah wrote:

I think you'll be fine...I was just going to add that some days if I go shopping all day and then meet friends later for dinner, I'll bring dressier shoes with me and possibly a different top. Then it's easy to change into something different while out shopping.

oh, good idea. Better yet, maybe I'll BUY different shoes & a top to change into....

SensibleChic · Nine West

OK I am a New Yawker so I am going to chime in.

Clogs - NO! I say NO because of the amount of walking you plan to do. Rockfeller Center, 5th Ave and Central Park all in one day is quite a large amount of distance to cover. With clogs, you can experience your heel slipping and this can be dangerous. I know because I ended up spraining my ankle wearing clogs. I was walking and my heel decided to go in a different direction than the rest of my foot when I stepped on a huge wad of gum on West Broadway. In NYC there is all sorts of garbage is on the streets (although it is a lot better thanks to former Mayor Rudy) and therefore you could trip very easily (especially since your eyes will not be on the pavement, but focused on buildings, stores and people). Comfortable shoes are definately recommended. Pumas and those type of shoes are very popular with natives, but don't go and throw $90 on a pair of Pumas or Diesals when that money could be spent shopping in NYC. There are other options, loafers, like those made by aerosole are ones that come to mind. If I were you, I'd check out Marshalls, TJ Maxx places like that, I am sure you can find a good flat with a flexible sole.

NYC weather is moody. Layers are must. Yes, a v-neck with a tank underneath is perfect. So would be a cardigan with a tank or cami. Avoid wool. If you are going to be going in and out of places, wool can get too hot. Go with cotton.

Native New Yawkers don't dress to the nine's in New York 24/7. Sarah Jessica Parker is not indicitave of NYC fashion. Natives do have a certain flair, but they don't run around Manola Blahnik's like SJP, because their feet would end up painfully sore just walking to the subway. In fact on the weekends, if you go to the UES (upper east side, one of the most expensive areas to live) what you will see are the natives wearing in jeans, pumas and a leather jacket. In my experience, New York retail clerks judge a gal by the handbag she carries and not outift she is wearing. The reasoning goes like this, carry a real LV, Chloe, Kate Spade, Gryson, Isabelle Fiore, Botkier bag while wearing sweats basically sends the message that you have money to spend and are so confident in yourself that you don't need to flaunt a Chanel suit, but you do have enough money to buy a $1,000 handbag.

I hope to GOD that you avoid the fake purse selling on Canal street. Not only are those things ugly, they are illegal and petty thieves like pick pocketers are all over the place because they are fully aware that this is where innocent tourists go. I have known of tourists who got locked in Canal street stores, because the vendors saw the police were patroling the area and decided to lock the doors even though innocent people were in there. It is also a really overcrowded area and it can be difficult to walk at even a snails pace because of all of the tourists there.

laken1 · Hermes

SensibleChic wrote:

In my experience, New York retail clerks judge a gal by the handbag she carries and not outift she is wearing. The reasoning goes like this, carry a real LV, Chloe, Kate Spade, Gryson, Isabelle Fiore, Botkier bag while wearing sweats basically sends the message that you have money to spend and are so confident in yourself that you don't need to flaunt a Chanel suit, but you do have enough money to buy a $1,000 handbag.

Yeah, I'm not really worried about what retail clerks at shops "judge" me as when I don't walk in with a $1,000 handbag. I find that ridiculous since I'm not really a bag gal & I surely don't care what some clerk thinks of me. I'm more worried about being dressed appropriately in the restaurant settings than in a shopping setting. My #1 concern is comfort of shoes & #2 is that I am not underdressed for dining. Other than that, even though I am confident & technically "have enough money" to buy a $1,000 bag - that's really not where my priority lies. So if that is what is important I image I'll not be impressed with the whole experience.

kittenheels · Coach

This is probably a really dorky suggestion, but you might want to consider silk long underwear. It does not take up much space in a suitcase, but it's a life saver if it is freakishly cold. (I'm from Boston, and it has gotten me through many a winter before I moved to LA).

Other than that, I think the layering and carryinig some fun jewelry in your bag makes a lot of sense. I bet you'll have a great time!

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

laken1 wrote:

Other than that, even though I am confident & technically "have enough money" to buy a $1,000 bag - that's really not where my priority lies. So if that is what is important I image I'll not be impressed with the whole experience.

OMG that's not what we're like! I think SensibleChic got a little side-tracked while trying to make the point that you shouldn't feel the need to get all dressed up because it's NY and NY has this fashiony image or whatever. (Some people coming from out of town really do do this, though.) But you're on exactly the right track--comfy shoes and versatile layers will be your biggest concerns! I agree with everyone else that you really don't need to worry about being dressy for restaurants--everyone's ideas of dressy casual with nice sweaters, etc. is perfect.

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

i second kittenheels' reco of silk long underwear. i always wear them when i go to ny in the winter.

the only thing about wearing a pair of pumas in the winter is that if there's snow/slush at all, your feel will get soaked. i would wear a pair of nice flat or low heeled leather boots that work with pants, jeans, and skirts. that way your feel will stay dry.

and make sure you bring a scarf. a big pashmina-y kind of thing is great to wear as a scarf while outside and then use as a wrap when you're inside in case you end up sitting in a drafty part of the restaurant.

SensibleChic · Nine West

sephorablue wrote:

OMG that's not what we're like! I think SensibleChic got a little side-tracked while trying to make the point that you shouldn't feel the need to get all dressed up because it's NY and NY has this fashiony image or whatever. (Some people coming from out of town really do do this, though.) But you're on exactly the right track--comfy shoes and versatile layers will be your biggest concerns! I agree with everyone else that you really don't need to worry about being dressy for restaurants--everyone's ideas of dressy casual with nice sweaters, etc. is perfect.

Sephorablue - thank you for clarifying what I was trying to say.

lynnie · Chanel

small aside- but as someone that lives in nyc as well- I don't see a $1000 bag as indicative of someone's confidence and how rich they are, espec. if they are in sweats. It is easier to justify living beyond your means and charging one bag- as opposed to a whole wardrobe. Or to save up a lot for just one bag. Or to carry a reallllly good fake. I think how you are pulled together and carry yourself as a whole are much more important.

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

lynnie wrote:

small aside- but as someone that lives in nyc as well- I don't see a $1000 bag as indicative of someone's confidence and how rich they are, espec. if they are in sweats. It is easier to justify living beyond your means and charging one bag- as opposed to a whole wardrobe. Or to save up a lot for just one bag. Or to carry a reallllly good fake. I think how you are pulled together and carry yourself as a whole are much more important.

Absolutely. Don't worry about being treated badly or looked down on by salespeople. After six years of living here, I think New Yorkers are a lot friendlier than they get credit for, as far as the general stereotype is concerned. Dressy casual will be just fine, and it really is true that you can wear just about anything in this city and no one will bat an eye. You're totally on the right track!