NYC shopping recap + style steps *long*

First - thanks to everyone for helping me with endless packing choices! I am so greatful for all the help, comments and inspiration. The travel capsule worked out as good as can be, but next time I'll try to minimalize more

I'm totally in love with NYC. I stayed a week May 2011 and a week this year. NYC has everything and at the greatest quality. Highlights this year was meandering Chinatown, Noho, Greewitch village and bus rides from downtown and almost all the way up to Harlem. I like passing by all the everyday stuff that’s happening. Museums were on the schedule, but headache stopped me from visiting most of them. Dining was also great.

As for shopping, I had a budget and happy shopping money from my mother-in-law + a list of wardrobe holes to fill. I followed the list and overspent a wee bit. I can live with the overspending because I felt like (almost) saving money all the way (shopping math, you know). The price of all this would have been multiplied with 3 at home! I got:

- Flat winter boots (Miz Mooz)
- Yellow cami (color splash)
- Dressy pants, LBD and pencil (Ann Taylor)
- Ballasocks ballerinas: patent black (classic), tangerineish (sporty color splash)
- Vintage cashmere sweater (1950's)
- Vintage clutch/handbag

I actually regret not buying a few items. Especially when I saw that my suitcase was more roomy on departure (due to putting my packing skills at work)

Style steps:
I realized a few things when shopping with others and looking at all the NYC styles going on.
- Although I always thought I could do preppy, I can’t (if I’ve understood it right). It’s just not me and I feel uptight.
- Too flowing, natural and organic won’t work because I feel “blobish”. I need some tailored item, or at least something to create a firmer or more streamlined look.
- Ladylike is great, but not all the way – then I just feel prudish, too polished and posh

What I like in an outfit is
- contrasts (new / vintage / second hand / DIY / high-end / designer items / hand-me-downs / childhood items /soft / strong / personal history / trendy)
- a bit of roughness and edge
- classic, timeless and versatile items, readily paired with a bit of whimsical and boho vibe

But I still don’t know how to label my style...

Photos - I haven't styled any of these outfits, so bare with me (and the stained mirror!!):
#1 Street shot NYC
#2 Shopping
#3 Dressy pants+ yellow cami
#4 Black pencil + vintage cashmere
#5 Pencil + teal cardi + yellow cami + tangerinish flats (Color splash)
#6 LBD + vintage bag
#7 LBD + winter boots
#8 Flat winter boots - they stop at the thickest part of my calves, with i usually avoid, but these were so comfy and worn with dark hose/tights I think they will work anyway. Maybe because of the elastic criss cross band??
#9 PPL?? Pant length ok or need hemming?? (Sorry for the poor pic quality - I'm always doing the photos in between kids, household and other stuff))

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13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Harmonica - you look wonderful! So glad your trip was a success. Your new items look absolutely perfect for your expressed style preferences and they're also extremely versatile.

Have you been following Diana's posts? I have a feeling her style might resonate a bit with you. She usually combines a flowy, feminine item with a structured piece and incorporates some toughness in her look as well. I don't know if she labels her style at all or has a rubric, but you might find inspiration there!

harmonica

Suz - oh, I LOVE Diana's outfits! Especially some of her latest post was just over-the-top-FAB

Good you see the versatility in the items I hope to get a lot of wear out of every one of them, though I'm struggeling a bit with how to make the dressy pants "me" and not "too classic". The wide legs are also a bit out of my comfort zone, but several of my friends talked me into buying, so I surrendered (and dressy pants were on my list!) I saw Angie had a post that was inspiring - something about dressing it down and adding edge and personal touch

modgrl

NYC is always so inspirational for me. Whether I spend a day or an hour there, I always come back with so many great ideas. It sounds like you had a big trip! I love the vintage bag especially. It's hard to tell whether the pants are ppl. Are you wearing them with shoes? It's just hard to make out the details on black clothes.

christieanne

Glad you had a good time! NYC is an exhilarating city for sure. Looks like you picked up some very versatile yet non-boring items.
Your fashion learnings are very interesting and I do think that will be helpful to you. I think you have an element of "mod" to your style - 60's modern as opposed to 50's retro - and your purchases in NYC seem to reflect that.
Not sure on pants as pic is too dark.

modgrl - NYC is mindblowing the vintage bag just "came to me" and I think it's even prettier in RL

#3 is without shoes and #9 is with heels -- I think I'll need better photos, because it's really hard to see anything. Yes black is hard to get right - maybe I'll try with lighter colored shoes to get a contrast.

Kirti

Fabulous purchases and I love your self analysis. I am now looking forward to a lot more WIWs from you

jen

Active Member

Hankering for a holiday, I LOVE NEW YORK!!!

Anonymous

Ah, the NYC post at long last. I really enjoyed reading about your shopping and thoughts on how your style is developing! As for your purchases, I think you hit the jackpot. Even if you had to leave a few items behind because of your budget, don't look back. Going just a teensy bit over is a good place to wind up. The pencil skirt looks amazing with the blue sweater (great sandals too, BTW)! The bright tops and shoes are amazing too. You will probably wear those boots like crazy next winter, and will no doubt find a way to make the wide legged trousers look like "you". I just got a pair, and I need to figure that out myself!

Traci

Anxiously awaiting your style labels. Your style resonates very strongly with me. The descriptions you hit on so far are very close to how I would describe my own style. I think I'll just sit here and wait for you to craft a fun label for it and then I'll jump on the bandwagon.

I adore everything you bought! Sounds like a great trip.

I am glad you had an amazing time and the city was good to you. I think you did quite well for yourself.

Nadya

You had a great shopping haul! I especially love the dress and those boots. You'll just have to come back soon and shop some more

Luv the city pic...the contrast of old and new buildings was framed nicely!

The clutch and LBD caught my eye right away! Great shopping spree!

goldenpig

Wow, what a haul! You've really honed in on your style and it paid off with your shopping--it's like you bought an entire capsule! Kind of urban sporty chic! Love the LBD with zippers paired with the black boots. So fab! That bag is so pretty too!

@Cristieanne: how would you describe the difference between "60's modern as opposed to 50's retro"? I'm not sure I know what it is. I've been drawn to the 1950's retro style of Mad Men, but after some reflexion, I think I can only do elements, like i.e. how a dress is cut or pairing a pencil with a shorter top (#4) - otherwise it will be too ladylike.

@Kirti: I'll get these in rotation asap, but working days are very casual at the moment, so I think at least the dressy pants will have to wait a wee bit
@jen: vacation dreams are always on my mind

@clairlyclair: So good to hear that you think all these items reflect me and that you believe in my abilities to make them mine as well Black boots, yellow cami and all the Ann Taylor items were about 50% off. I realized there are always nice stuff popping up, so I'll be satified with what I got and look forward

@Traci: I love your style, so I hope you can come up with a great label Titles and headings are not my strongest ability. But if I can find a rubric, like an abstract for what I'd like my style to be, I think it would be helpful - both in terms of bending rules and in terms of making good shopping decisions

@zapotee: the city was as good as can be! my last evening was spent at the Oyster bar at Grand Central Station (oysters -yummy!!!) and the fabulous jazzclub Birdland.

Ohhh... I love Oyster Bar. I have plenty of assignments in that area, That is one of my favorite lunch spots. I can't do oysters, I'm allergic, but their grilled salmon and mahi mahi are the best. I've never been to Birdland... I must look that up.

@Nadya: I'm very happy about everything I got and I really looking forward to start using all of it. I realized that I find it so much easier to buy for autumn/winter/spring, than summer. Summer here is cool (mostly high 60 -> low 70 degrees F = 18-22 degrees C) and the shortest season, but some years we've had weeks and weeks of hot temperature (mid 70 -> mid 80 F = 25-30degrees C). I'd love to come back to NYC, but as far as I know for now it will be some years

@AJ: Thank you! I was the one with the camera, so forgot pic's of myself. I've got a lot of city life pic's though

@goldenpig: Urban sporty chic - wow, great spotted! The fabric of the LBD with zippers is solid, though not wool blend (which I wanted), and I imagine it will be great when autumn and winter comes around, paired with opaque hose, boots, booties and wool cardis For the vintage bag -> it's placed on my chest of drawers in the bedroom just to make me happy when I wake up

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NYC shopping recap + style steps long