Okay, so I’ve been wanting to nail that “New York style” look for a while now. You see it everywhere, right? That kind of effortless cool. I figured I’d document how I went about trying to capture it myself.
Getting Started: What Even Is It?
First thing I did was just observe. Not like, creepy observe, but I spent some time looking at pictures online, maybe remembering trips I’d taken. What stood out? Lots of black, definitely. But not boring black. It seemed like the cut of the clothes mattered. Things looked sharp, even if they were casual.
I noticed a few common threads:
- Good Outerwear: A really solid coat or jacket seems essential. Like a tailored blazer, a classic trench, or a sleek wool coat.
- Neutral Palette: Black, grey, navy, white, beige. Not a lot of crazy bright colors, usually. Makes mixing and matching easier, I guess.
- Comfortable Shoes: This was big. You see stylish sneakers, classic loafers, or sturdy boots. Makes sense, lots of walking in NYC. Heels seemed less common for daytime.
- Practical Bags: Totes, crossbody bags. Things you can actually carry your stuff in.
- Simple Base Layers: Good quality basics like tees, sweaters, simple blouses. Nothing too fussy.
Raiding My Own Closet
Alright, armed with those observations, I went digging through my own wardrobe. No point buying a whole new set of clothes, right? I pulled out anything that seemed to fit the bill.
Found my favorite black trousers – they have a decent shape. Grabbed a couple of simple crew neck sweaters (one black, one grey). Unearthed a white button-down shirt that I barely wear but suddenly seemed useful. I have a decent camel-colored trench coat, so that came out. And my trusty black ankle boots and a pair of clean white sneakers.
The goal wasn’t to buy New York style, but to build it from what I had.
Putting Looks Together: Trial and Error
This was the fun part, just mixing things up in front of the mirror.
Look 1: Started simple. Black trousers, white t-shirt (found a decent plain one), and threw on a black blazer I had. Paired it with the white sneakers. Felt pretty classic, quite comfortable. Grabbed my black tote bag. Yeah, this felt right. Practical but put-together.
Look 2: Wanted to try the trench coat. Put on some dark wash jeans (not ripped, just a clean dark wash), the grey sweater, and the trench over top. Added the black ankle boots. This felt very… versatile. Good for a slightly cooler day.
Look 3: All black. Black trousers again, black crew neck sweater. The key here, I thought, was breaking it up. Tried it with the camel trench coat, which looked pretty good. Also tried it with just a nice scarf to add a little something. Both versions worked, depending on the weather.
It was a lot of trying things on, seeing how they moved, swapping shoes, adding or removing a layer. The main thing was keeping it relatively simple and making sure the fit of each piece was decent.
The Real Test: Wearing It Out
Okay, so I wore these combinations over the next few days. Went for walks, ran errands, met a friend for coffee. Honestly? It felt good. Everything was comfortable enough to actually live in. The neutral colors made me feel kind of chic without really trying too hard.
The focus on decent basics and a good piece of outerwear really seemed to be the key. And comfortable shoes – cannot stress that enough! Nothing ruins a look faster than hobbling around because your feet hurt.
Final Thoughts
So, capturing that New York vibe wasn’t about buying specific brands or trendy items. For me, it was about focusing on well-fitting basics in neutral colors, having one or two great coats or jackets, and prioritizing comfortable, stylish footwear. It’s a practical way to dress, really. You look put-together, but you’re ready to walk, ready for changing weather, ready for anything the day throws at you. I’ll definitely be keeping these combinations in rotation.
