THE LOOK

The New York Uniform

As we wave goodbye to summer and welcome fall, a lot can be said of what will be in style for the season. You can expect the typical autumnal hues and layers to come back out from hibernation. A cup of PSL will be our morning hand accessory accompanying a scarf or hat. Fashion can be very subjective and is bespoke to everyone’s personality but there is one style that unites us all New Yorkers and that’s the ‘New York Uniform.’

We’re not talking about the navy pants and blazers from prep school – this is an unstated rule that we seem to adopt since childhood and take with us through adulthood in the city. Men, women, young and mature, real New Yorkers have a few style staples in common beginning with dark tones.

New Yorkers Wear Black
Is there anything more New Yorker than sporting black head to toe? Sure, in the summer we rebel and have a little fun with color and that’s because Vitamin D impairs our thinking and does something to us where we become playful and experiment with prints, cuts and bright hues.

But as soon as Labor Day passes and the temperature starts to drop, the seasonal depression kicks in and we revert to our black staples. It’s like an opening scene straight out of The Devil Wears Prada. Is it coincidence that Meryl, Stanley, Emily and just about every employee at “Runway Magazine” are dressed in black or is this the most accurate depiction of New York’s unspoken dress code? This scene is a clone of just about every other office building from FiDi to Midtown and it’s easy to see why. Black is a neutral that pairs well with just about anything. It’s a practical color, it’s functional and it also exudes strength, confidence and timelessness. Black is a no ‘BS’ shade, and if there’s one thing that unites us New Yorkers it’s our straight-to-the-pointiness, down-to-business directness. Orange or green wouldn’t quite hit the same with our attitude. 

Our Bag Game Is Strong
What pairs well with black? A bold and functional bag of course. Long before the ‘Bag Waste Reduction Act’ kicked in, our diverse array of bags in the city have been a staple piece in our day to day. You can partially blame that on the fact that we New Yorkers have places to go and things to take with us, and the other part to the equation is that they serve as a canvas for personal expression. Whether it be totes, backpacks, handbags, and even Birkins, it’s a rare sight to see a plain, boring bag that doesn’t have a spec of personality. From patches, scratches, monograms, charms, to silk ribbons, even hand-painted details, New York’s streets are a living museum of portable carriers with unique stylish nuances reflective of each neighborhood. It’s not a coincidence that the biggest names in bags were founded here – Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Telfar and so many more – the inspiration comes from the soul that keeps the city moving, New Yorkers.

Our Shoes Were Made for Walking
Lastly, our shoe game is strong and while footwear is an excellent vessel for self-expression, New Yorkers have mastered the balance between style and comfort. Whether it’s wearing traditional sneakers or Vibram-sole lined shoes (and even heels), our shoe game combines aesthetics with support and that’s partially because we’re a city on the-go. Where else in the country could you live where walking 10,000 steps is another day at the office? Try doing that in blister-educing, heel-peeling shoes. You may do it once, but rest assured you’ll be reconsidering the next time you step out. Functionality and comfort are very much a key component of our footwear criteria. Real New Yorkers know better, and we also know that white is a ‘proceed with caution’ decision. A trip down the subway or 10-block stroll down Lex, or a visit to ‘The Garden,’ will have you second guessing yourself if you actually bought white shoes to begin with. This is a city of action and with action comes bumps, scuffs, charcoal marks, and many unexpected surprises that make shoes feel as if they have a chameleonic effect as they suddenly begin to match our sidewalks. Maybe this is why back to point number one, black is such a fundamental component of the ‘New York Uniform.’

While all of the above are common trends we tend to see among us locals year after year, the reality is that the uniform that really unites us beyond these style details is our attitude, resilience and confidence - that’s the real style formula that sets us New Yorkers apart.