photo by Ravie B.
It's been almost 3 years since I landed at LaGuardia with two large duffles and a huge suitcase with a snowstorm approaching. Coming from FL to NYC, I had prepped myself prior with trips every year to my future home to make sure I knew what I was getting myself into. But a snowstorm, especially on my first full day was my first wake up call about my wardrobe. Looking back at my first year, NYC taught me a lot and the one thing I never thought was that I'd adjust my sense of style and my wardrobe drastically.
My closet in Florida was already filled with pretty comfortable clothes, but it went from "easy and breezy Florida comfort" to "walking down avenues in any kind of weather" comfort. The "always ready for whatever" kind of cozy. Of course, in addition to needing to be always ready for whatever, at the forefront of my mind was the simple little fact that New York is the fashion industry's mecca. I not only master the everlasting cozy, but I didn't have the opportunity to look slobbish either. Wearing even what I have to wear to work has to get me through whatever I might wanna do after or at least whatever I decide to change into has to fit in my bag. Which is major too, walking down avenues everywhere with a huge tote is now an actual pain in the ass. Even carrying the right bag is essential, too.
But when I'm out of work still looking "cool" means still being cozy, because one thing I've realized since living here is that Florida and NYC have a few things in common -- the major one is that once you get to know some people, the world becomes even smaller and you never know when you'll see them.
Here's 5 things (in honor of it being Cinco de Mayo) I hold near and dear now after really testing out the highs and lows of NYC environments. I'm including a little shopping list too, with some favorite staples in my closet.
5 Things I Hold Tried & True After Moving to NYC
drawings by me
- Comfortable shoes So this is a pretty obvious-- if you've ever walked around New York, it's either you're wearing sneakers, flats, sandals, or heels with minimal height (flatforms are also an exception). Heels have been out of the question for me since I moved here and the only time I ever even think about wearing them is if I take a lyft home. Finding your pair of comfortable shoes to stay cute and cozy is important so I always strive to look for pairs I can wear with jeans or sometimes with a skirt or dress.
- Great and Versatile Bottoms You won't fight me on this but as a woman, wearing a great pair of pants can change the whole way you feel about your outfit. Culottes help me stay cool, coveralls keep my simple looks simple but still fresh. I have a trusty pair of leggings for work I can always layer or help me switch up my look to look cute and not drab, and to my favorite pair of trousers, dressing them up or down is really key. Moving to NY I also realized that light colored pants are an official dub -- white pants? Gone! Cream culottes? Nah uh!
- Versatile Jackets This is super important. I make sure to always buy jackets that will always look chic with what I wear for work so that after I at least don't look like some crazy girl in strictly athleisure. So this has been a lifesaver in all seasons here in New York. Plus, my best winter coats I can layer or shed a layer underneath to keep it light even during transitional seasons like Spring and Fall.
- Small size bags or backpacks I hate having to carry a super heavy tote or like oversized backpacks, especially when I have to walk around everywhere. Back home when I had a car, my bag sat in the passenger seat until l was out hanging around barely having to carry my bag. I stick to carrying a tote only when I plan on spending the night at my family's house or if I have to shoot after work. During the day and when I go out it's a Supreme fanny pack or a small Supreme over the shoulder bag or even a small Louis V. over the shoulder bag I got from my mom. Either way you get the picture -- carry the necessities and keep it pushing.
- Layering tees Oh man, thin tees that I can layer over turtlenecks or whatever in the winter is the best! But even by themselves, or at least tees breathable enough to get me through the summer are important too. Hot and sticky trains taught me the importance of staying extra fly in NYC.
Some of my beloved items are linked and/or something similar to them. Every couple of months I switch a lot of the extras and even clean out my closet to donate the old and make space for some new, but these 5 things remain tried and true.