STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Washington D.C. or New York?

lynnie · Chanel

where are you moving from? i went to school around dc and have a lot of friends that still live there (i'm from md). I live in nyc now (nice area in brooklyn). I think it depends A LOT on what kind of an atmosphere you want and what career opps you have. I am in fashion, so dc is basically not gonna cut it, but your career sounds like there would be good opportunities in both places. I know some people that have trouble finding jobs in nyc, but there is SO much money in this city, that i think it actually can be pretty easy to find something once you start meeting people.

My friends LOVE dc. i think its pretty and reminds me of home. But its way too conservative for me. i actually don't really like it and wouldn't really wanna live there.

on the other hand, I LOVE nyc, though sometimes i hate the inconveniences (though there are so many conveniences- its pretty ridiculous how spoiled we are). I truly believe its the greatest city in the world, so international, so many opportunities and possibilities (which you can feel in the air sometimes- i literally think it pulses w/energy) and that everyone, if they have the desire or opportunity, should live here some time before they die. Its just has this indescribable feeling- there are so many love songs written to this city- it gets inside of people in such a unique way- like Paris or other great cities of the world.

Now I have friends that just couldn't be happy in this city either. Its not for everyone. And when i visited, i never felt like i could be a part of it. It just made me feel empty and the city wasn't beautiful to me- it just seemed gray and overwhelming. But i am SO happy i moved here, probably the greatest decision i've ever made in my life.

hope that helps!

oh and as far as cost of living- yea its kinda expensive. But i dont make much and i do just fine! i live out of manhattan (and prefer it this way!), have roommates to keep costs down, make friends w/bartenders, hit up sample sales, wander the streets (free!)- i actually think it can be a cheap city if you resist the constant temptation (not as hard as it sounds...though can be at times).

-- Edited by lynnie at 12:46, 2007-01-02

jettie · Kate Spade

I spent the first 6 years of my professional life in DC (I also grew up in Northern VA). I had a degree in international relations and ended up working for a government consulting firm. There are definitley lots of international business/relations jobs with so many non-profits and government agencies headquartered in the area. I really like DC but moved recently because I was ready for a change in scenery. I think NYC would be an awesome place to live as well. And as lynnie mentioned, it some place I hope to live someday (even if just for a short while).

kittenheels · Coach

That is awesome! I hope you have a great time - they are both wonderful places!

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

As mentioned by lyniee, DC is very conservative. It really isnt a place I would want to live. Whenever I visit my family there, I cant help but be happy I dont live there. Now NY NY on the other hand is one of my fav cities in the entire world. I have never lived there , but I go for business about 6x a year and have close girlfriend who lives in brooklyn that a visit every year for a week, and I think it is just a great place to live. My girlfriend moved there from CA about 6 years ago and she says it is the best decision she ever made.

as for cost of living in NY NY, there are trade offs. For example, in NY NY you dont need a car, or car payment or car insurance every month. So you can actually save a bit by using the subway ( and occasionaly a cab). Now rent is very high, but then you could avoid renting in manhatten and go to a less pricey neighborhood.

Anyways my vote is NYC!

PrincessPink · BCBG

I live in DC currently (grew up in DE, have also lived in Chicago, Philly & OH). And I LOVE it! I've been here since 99 and I think the city has changed dramatically and its not all that conservative anymore. Plus, its really growing into its own in terms of glamour and diversity. I have friends that range from super elitist preps to incredibly liberal to indie rockers and everything in between. Its just a matter of finding the right scene. The job market is great (what do you do - my company is hiring!) and the cost of living is definitely like a big city but far more manageable than NY, LA, SF, etc. If you want to PM, I'd be happy to give you the full run down. My sister and several friends live in NYC. I can't do it. Not my thing. I feel claustraphobic when I am there and I am in love with the Southern feel (and decent weather) of DC. Move here!!!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I looooove DC and would move back in a heartbeat. I think it has a great mix- it's a little more laid back then NY, but still has loads of stuff to do and great shopping. I also find it to be a little cheaper than NY. The only downside is that its a very transitional city and a lot of my friends moved away pretty quickly.

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Thank you sooo much to everyone who has responded! I think I'm leaning more towards Washington D.C., just because I think that I'll have the most opportunities there. Plus, when I was visiting universities years ago I loved the area, and I've never been much of a huge city kind of girl. I think I'd be a bit overwhelmed with New York. But who knows where life will lead?

VanGogh86 · Nine West

Ive lived in dc my entire life and dont really like it. I love nyc though. goodluck :) :) :)

erin · Chanel

i guess dc can be conservative, but i never thought of it that way when i lived there. there are outside-the-box things in any city, if you look for them!

i loved everything about dc (i lived in mt. pleasant, a very community-oriented salvodorean neighborhood). there were always free events going on at the many free museums, not to mention great showspaces (black cat, 9:30 club, etc) and lots of good shopping nearby.

i would move back in a heartbeat if the housing wasn't as expensive as it is. (of course i am spoiled living in cheapo central, pennsylvania)

littlebean · Kate Spade

Both cities are great in my opinion! Lots of other good pieces of advice have already been given but I thought I'd throw my own two cents in.

I didn't find DC to be conservative -- and I wouldn't consider myself conservative -- and I think that it's a great place because of
-its relatively low cost of living compared to other east coast cities
-the young, international vibe
-lots of free events and cultural attractions
-clean metro, ease of getting around

There's no place like New York and it is amazing because it has everything, it's so dynamic, it's so diverse/international and you feel like you're in the center of the world. I find aspects of living there to be pretty trying, though -- namely the expense and the hassle and the grimy subways. It seems like DC would be a better fit for you but I don't think you could go wrong either way. How exciting!

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

Well, I've only visited DC a few times, but have lived in NYC for almost 7 years, so obviously I'm going to be biased!

I would suggest visiting both places and evaluating how you feel when you're there. It does sound like DC would have a lot of opportunities for you, but I think one of the greatest things about NYC is you can literally do anything here. The opportunities are endless. You can work in virtually any kind of job and you can have any kind of lifestyle. There are some drawbacks as well, such as the expense and other things you might find personally annoying, but there are drawbacks anywhere. NYC is actually a very manageable city when you figure out how the subway works and the street numbering -- it may seem overwhelming at first, but it becomes a much smaller place pretty fast.