New York Sophistication, DC Simplicity & Style
One of the biggest aspects of our trip out East was my
daughter’s budding fashion sense and chance to do her own shopping in New York.
Watching her as she dressed every day in the “ensembles” she
packed for our ten-day-vacation gave me a glimpse of her sense of individuality
and what looks good on her, very mature for only being a pre-teen. She had a keen awareness of what she wanted
to add to her wardrobe and what pair of colorful jeans would be the perfect
addition.
I kept thinking about the fashion magazines, runway books,
and what they try to market as NYC style.
I can tell you that it is very different from reality. Take Times Square, Manhattan, Central Park,
Harlem, Little Italy, Chinatown, Soho, Chelsea for example. I saw lots of simple skirts, jeans, t-shirts,
and flats.
NYC is a town where walking
is the order of the day, up and down city streets, on and off subways, from
women headed to work on Wall Street to the students headed to NYU, everyone had
a simple sophistication with their sheath dresses, slim skirts, tucked in
blouse, and flats or jeans and a simple t-shirt. The people were thoughtful, no one looked
sloppy, but I could tell that it was effortless, much like my daughter’s innate
ability to put together something simple yet sophisticated.
DC was pretty much the same thing. We stayed in DuPont Circle, not far from
Georgetown University, Embassy Row, and lots of Washington Interns. I would say the style had a bit of
simplicity, skirts with simple flats or soft heel sandals. The styles in both places, especially DC, was
made for walking so lots of messenger bag cases slung over shoulders for men
and women.
I noticed that in DC there were more women in simple summer
dresses and skirts, perhaps paying homage to the southern spirit of the city
and the easy walking style. It was
comfortable and not stuff, assured, classy, perhaps a lot like First Lady
Michelle Obama who now calls DC her home.
We had a chance to pop over to 5th Avenue, undoubtedly
the Manhattan Maven’s shopping venues.
We ventured upstairs to the haute couture floor in Sax and my husband
showed me a simple shirt that was priced at $4500! Nothing magical about the styling, it was a
summer skirt with eyelets, perhaps it was because it was on designer row, name
one, they all had their own little “room” in Sax. There was a socialite shopping and a
decidedly gay man styling the mannequin, it seemed to take him forever, and his
outfit was fabulous from the skinny jeans, fitted jacket, and huge flower on
his label and enormous glasses – he was probably the only one I saw in what the
magazines dub NYC fashions!
Shopping along Georgetown, Capitol Hill/Barracks Row, and
DuPont Circle/Connecticut Avenue was more my style. There were eclectic shops, vintage resale
shops (made me think that Mrs. Obama popped into one of these), and independent
stores from accessories to simple dresses featuring local designers, vintage resale, and unique items.
All-in-all, I would say that given the high cost-of-living,
small living quarters, walking lifestyle, and fast pace of both NYC and DC, the
style was more one of ease, versatility, and comfort. I did not see any of the frumpy Midwestern
“mom jeans”, gym shoes (except for the runners on Connecticut Avenue on
Saturday morning), and shapeless t-shirts.
My daughter definitely felt at home with her high top converse, peace
scarf, “business” jacket, and slim jeans as she swagged down avenue after
avenue.
We ventured into neighborhoods and where real people lived,
off the tourist path, and had a real sense of the history of the rowhouses (DC)
and brownstones (NYC) and in both places, felt right at home…NYC sophistication
coupled with DC simplicity and style...individualistic, unique, creative, alive...just like the energy of these great American cities!
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