Overview
If you are a true fashion follower, you can finesse all kinds of looks & trends. For everyone else who feels a bit of trepidation when packing, we offer you some advice by way of simple principles. After all, no one wants to look like a tourist

Fundamentals: The New York City style is understated chic. When in doubt, play it down. Leave home your rhinestone studded tops, embellished sweatsuits (all matching sweatsuits for that matter), cleavage baring tops and midriffs. Unless you are under 25 and blessed with magnificent legs, short shorts are out (save for the hotel gym or bike riding in Central Park) especially when paired with high heeled pumps. Stick to solid colors and well fitting current clothing. You can never fail with black but New Yorkers are no longer clad top to bottom in black, especially in warm weather. Jeans are always in style, but not your old beat up ones (or acid wash!). Wear dark blue slim leg (or skinny jeans) or the current bell bottom or wide leg version. Don’t be afraid to wear your real jewels – NYC women love to sport theirs. Or bring one pair of real or faux gold hoops and your fun summer bangles and you are good to go. Trade your baseball cap in for a charming wide-brimmed straw hat. Never wear your jeans with a jean jacket. And this can never be stated often enough – do NOT wear your fanny pack; you are not going to get mugged!

Tips for Summer 2008.

It will be warm. This is a city and you can expect temperatures to be in the 80’s & 90’s fahrenheit. This season little dresses and skirts trump shorts. Bold block prints in dresses and tops are very in, but again, if you don’t have an eye for what just the right print is, go for solids. Here are some suggestions:

For daytime walking & touring:

• Little summer dress(shift style); flat strappy sandals; large framed sunglasses
• Cotton summery skirt; solid tank or tee (not oversized or logoed); flat strappy sandals (gladiator or thong style)
• Long shorts; tank or tee; flat sandals

And a note about sneakers/running shoes: If you prefer or must wear sneakers, a bevy of cute affordable options are available and preferable to your white Nikes. Navy, red, taupe or patterned cuties by Keds, Van or others.

For daytime shopping, lunching, museums:

• Little dress or skirt with tank/tee; flat sandals, ballet slippers or platform sandals; straw or canvas handbag.
• Jeans (white or dark denim)or cotton pants (white or black); fashionable summer top (peasant style,  billowy, racer backed, embellished camisole style, unstructured or tucked in with wide belt) straw or canvas bag; flat sandals, ballerina slippers or low heeled shoes (metallic, skin and patent leather sandals are hot): gauzy scarf

For Evening – traditional dinner & theater

• See Daytime shopping options above. Pair with a cardigan or switch to a ¾ or long sleeve lightweight top (prepare for air conditioning); small handbag
• Simple wrap dress (Diane Von Furstenberg style), flat sandals or higher wedged or platform shoes (wooden heels are in): small handbag or oversized clutch

For Evening – trendy cocktails and dinner

• Well fitting current blue or white jeans; stylish top (sleeveless preferred if you can carry it); higher heeled sandals; small handbag or oversized clutch
• Sexier-style little dress (keep it simple. Nothing you would wear to a wedding!); flat sandals, platform or wedge shoes

(or come on a Shop Gotham tour and we will help you find these items!)

This entry was posted on Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 6:21 pm and is filed under What to Wear When Visting NYC . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.