The Men’s Fashion Scene of NYC
New York is an iconic city for many reasons, and the fashion in the city ranks very high on the list of world’s fashion capitals. Everything from small-name pop-ups to international flagships can be found within its boroughs, and the semiannual Fashion Week attracts style lovers from all over. It’s a good thing that men aren’t excluded from all the fashion action.
A Structural Place
Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert said in her book that ‘ambition’ is the word to describe New York City. While some New Yorkers would agree, Gilbert’s observation is spot-on if the style is anything to go by.
Suits and neckties are common currency in NYC, thanks largely to the high density of offices based in the area. A lot of men have thus taken to adding personal touches to the old suit-and-tie combo to stand out from the throng; louder patterns like plaid and bright colored neckties have emerged as very popular options. You’re also going to see a lot of guys in NYC who have perfected the art of wearing the suit and knotting the necktie.
Even during colder months when the temptation to pile layers is greatest, the city still has a very strong affinity for structured, tailored pieces. Instead of chunky sweaters or comfy, baggy jackets, New Yorkers tend to prefer more office-ready, 3-piece suits, pea coats, and trenches. It’s a place where 24/7 power dressing is the norm.
Smart but Bright
There’s a false impression that bright, bold colors are juvenile and very casual; it’s only because so many guys do it wrong most of the time. New Yorkers correct this mistaken idea, especially in the drearier, gray-loving months of winter.
With all the people in the city, you can’t blame a guy for wanting to stand out. New York men do it with pops of color – a bold tie, a bright pair of socks or a strongly striped shirt – that gets one out of the crowd yet still lets one into the office. There’s a subtlety and a restraint in the way that the fashionable men of the city use standout colors. They don’t use a lot of those brighter hues, but every little item counts when they do.
You’ll want to pick up this trick from the New Yorker’s style book: build an outfit all from the classic colors brown, black, gray, navy and white. Pick up to two items, and then replace them with something in a painfully bright color, or with a patterned style piece in a sufficiently strong shade. You’d be sharp and smart at the same time.
Gotta Be Luxe
Living in New York isn’t cheap, and dressing for the city isn’t any more affordable. The guys of this area have a love for the finer things in fashion; just look at all the high-end brands that have established a presence in the zip code. If you’re like any reasonably funded guy, though, you’ll want to have just the basics of the luxe style.
A good pair of shoes will be the first thing you’ll want to invest in, not least because it will give you a lot of mileage in every sense. Styles like loafers or lace-ups can be worn with a whole plethora of outfits, so you can wear them for both work and weekends. The choice of brown or black is up to you (having both is always the ideal scenario) and what else you have in your closet.
For the better financed, a nice big leather carry-all should be next on the list. In this world of equal rights, men are entitled to arm candy too.
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