So I didn’t really mention it beforehand
but for anyone that didn’t know I’ve just touched down from five fabulously
festive days in the big apple. Ha ok… so from the moment I found out I was heading
to the city that LITERALLY never sleeps, I may as well have dangled a pretzel
in the face of anyone who would listen (namely poor Saz and Maz)!
Before I knew it I was sitting on a plane
in my treasured and dreamily comfortable Kooples joggers and the MINKPINK ‘Some
Place’ tee (£28) all set for a magical city that I had only ever imagined with
the help of Home Alone 2. Well with the Sex & The City movie playing on my
little TV and a glass of fizz in hand I was ready to take notes from Miss
Bradshaw on the concrete jungle that awaited me…
Of course I had already done my research on
this wonderful city and among the ‘Must see NYC’ and ’20 ultimate things to do
in NYC’ guides, there’s countless articles entitled ‘How to dress like a New
Yorker’… I find it hard to believe the latter is a guide many refer to, as refreshingly
this melting pot of a city doesn’t seem to have any set style rules, but in
between bagels and Broadway I noticed a few sartorial standouts…
It’s bloody cold but oh my does New York
know how to embrace the chill. This city truly comes into its own in the winter
with ice-skating, twinkly lights and the scent of roasted chestnuts filling the
air. At the top of my packing list was a warm coat, boring it may be but after
merrily bumbling along through our mild British winter in my Rains jacket, I hadn’t
quite anticipated how grateful I would be for a down filled number. Of course
at every turn you could spot a Moncler or a Canada Goose but without a shadow
of doubt, a Vero Moda beauty would have looked just as worthy on 5th
Avenue. The Betsie Parka (£84) is filled with a combination of down and sleeping
bag technology so it’s not heavy like a full down coat (perfect for packing) yet
still traps the air for extra warmth. The multiple pockets are a must
for storing your phone in between snaps, while the faux fur adds a hint of luxe
to this functional style.
Pretty much all of the major sights of NY are outdoors and with the
thrill of these iconic wonders come photos, but if you’ve only brought one coat
then that holiday blues Facebook album will look like you did the city in a
day. My top tip is to mix things up with different scarfs to vary your look. I
brought last year’s Vero Moda blanket scarf, which not only doubled up as a
cosy wrap on the plane but also created a snuggly cocoon when temperatures plummeted.
Check out this year’s beautiful pink and grey versions (£26). It can also be a
real faff piling winter gear on and off in between the sensations of the city
but a lighter number like the Becksöndergaard Sivel (£65) is a welcoming bundle of warmth thanks to a wool
and cashmere blend yet without the heaviness of a big scarf.
I noticed that true New Yorkers didn’t seem to be channelling the same
Michelin man style layering a la tourists, yet they also weren’t exhibiting any
teeth chattering movements either- I mean how does that correlate? Well I
assumed prime position at the top of the Empire State to soak up the
architecture suss out the street style of these apparently untouchable
locals. My findings were blinking obvious really-it is all about clever dressing.
First stop is gloves and whether you’re enjoying a fleeting taste of the
American dream or you’re living it, you’ll constantly be clutching your phone,
albeit for photos or the latest news. Fingerless gloves are a must and these
Becksöndergaard dreamboats
(£22) are super functional but will gain you major street cred from the
multi-tasking moguls of the city.
One
thing you’ll never catch a New York woman without is her handbag. The Amette
bag (£109) from Becksöndergaard
is made from super soft goat leather and also abides by New York’s cardinal
style decree that ‘black is the new black’.
I also used the Becksöndergaard
Louella
Toullier tote weekender (£32) for travelling, which proved to be perfect for
holding all the essentials for an eight-hour flight.
The biggest lesson I learnt from this wonderfully
vibrant city is that confidence is the secret to style. The pavement is a New
Yorker’s catwalk and from the Bronx to Brooklyn, it’s clear that Sarah’s motto
of ‘it’s not what you wear, its how you wear it’ is going transatlantic.
Rachel x
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