What To Wear In New York

How To Not Look Like A Tourist In Nyc: 20 Tips From A Local

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My first visit to New York City was for my 16th Birthday, and I have to admit my mom and I totally stood out as tourists.

We had a marvelous time, but looking back we both made some seriously touristy mistakes on our first trip to the city.

I think we can both look back and laugh at the lessons we learned on that trip. For example, pedicabs are not actually a cheap way to get around Times Square quickly.

When I moved there at 18, I had a lot to learn about fitting in with the true New Yorkers.

There was a bit of a learning curve, but I can finally say Im a true New Yorker after calling the city home for over a decade.

If you want to fit in with the locals on your next trip to the city, just follow my advice below on how to not look like a tourist in NYC.

Do Refer To New York City As The City

We do not refer to New York City as New York City. To native New Yorkers it is simply the City because it is the only city that really matters to us. We love our city and think its the greatest city in the world, so we dont feel the need to call it by its full name. So always say the City and well think youre a local.

So there you have it, a locals step by-step-guide to becoming an Invisible Tourist in New York City. Leave the ultra white, high top sneakers at home. Instead, throw on a pair of Timberland boots and a Yankee hat with a straight rim, with the sticker still on, and youll be good to go.

What To Wear In Nyc In February

My hubby and i are visiting NYC for the first time in February for our 10th anniversary and i have no idea what clothes to take. We will be there for 2 weeks. We are from Australia and we will be leaving our summer to arrive there in winter. We are coming into our cold season now so now is the time to buy winter clothes but i want to make sure i get the right kind of stuff for the both of us. We plan to do a lot of sight seeing and a broadway show or two and a special dinner out. How do we stay warm and yet look stylish? What footwear should we bring? Is it likely to snow?

No ! NO! NO! We just got out of the deepest winter in years. Huge snow storms followed by monsoon type rains. And now, you antipodeans want to bring us back to all that. Heck no – we won’t go. It’s Spring in New York. I have shed my layers and won’t go back. MWAHAHAHAHAHA.

It’ll be the middle of winter in NY, and chances are it will be cold. Most likely 30 to 40 degrees F during the day, and 20 to 30 at night. Snow would not be unusual at all.

I would say dress warm, and wear whatever you are comfortable wearing. People wear anything and everything in NY – many people will be very nicely dressed, others can be difficult to describe. I can’t imagine anything that would make you stand out.

Edited: 11 years agoEdited: 11 years ago

As if sight seeng you will be walking a lot.

For your special nights out you will want to be looking your best. But if you are planning shopping you don’t want to overpack.

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For Keeping It Casual

Girls and guys can stay sophisticated on the go with cozy cashmere sweaters from Everlane. Just throw a trendy puffer or classic wool coat on top, and you wont have to worry about NYCs harsh temps. One area in which function beats fashion: footwear. Grab some sturdy, waterproof boots to avoid slipping and sliding all over the city.

Things I’ve Worn Nonstop Since Moving To New York

Most Wanted is a weekly series in which one editor, staffer, or influencer shares their top 25 must-haves or current wish-list items.

When I moved from L.A. to New York last spring, there were some pretty obvious changes I was anticipatingâthe polar vortexâlevel winter storms, for one, and differences in my work and social lives. Other things, though, were a bit more unexpected: a pandemic descending on my second week of living in NYC and, no less surprising, my own wardrobe. Okay, I could have predicted the latter would change, but with several years as one of Who What Wear’s resident editors already under my belt, how much could my wardrobe really change? It turns out, quite a bit.

Pandemic or not, life in NYC is just too specific to simply copy and paste everything I was used to wearing on the West Coast. Little did I know that a year later I’d be retiring and prioritizing plenty of style staples in order to adjust to city living. Keep reading to see the items I now consider must-haves.

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What To Wear In Nyc In Spring

Spring in New York City means chilly mornings and evenings that are even colder. But it’s worth itthere’s nothing prettier than a view of colorful tulips with a background of yellow taxi cabs and soaring skyscrapers. Wondering what to wear when it’s 60 degrees outside in New York City? The mild daytime temperatures mean you can easily get away with wearing your normal spring staples, but you’ll also want to add a few layering items:

• 3 pairs of jeans

• 1 optional pair of shoes

New York City Look : Brunch

ProductsHatBagRingEarringsDressBoots

âOn the Upper East Side, we donât do breakfast. We do brunch. You know youve seen a show too many times when you can recall from memory the most irrelevant quotes.

If youre planning on going to brunch, a cute floral dress for fall will serve as the base for a perfect outfit. Miranda Priestly might even say Groundbreaking. Throw on a fedora and reach for a wine colored purse for dramatic flare.

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Nyc Outfit #: Dinner & Drinks

If you have an evening planned wandering the halls of a museum like the Guggenheim before feasting on an ethnic fare in Chinatown or Little Italy, you might want to add a little more flair to your outfit of the day. A fitted dress or skirt and top combo in solid neutral colors, or minimal print says classic New York, chic and sophisticated.

Clothes To Wear In Nyc

What to wear in New York City in September is a big question! The city of New York is very trendy and edgy. Though it accepts people from everywhere with open arms, it wouldnt hurt to be part of the crowd while you are in NYC. Try to be in touch with current trends of the city, like in jeans including latest cuts, length, styles of wash, etc. You may want to bring two pairs of jeans with different cuts or a nice pair of slacks or a dress. Take a look at some of the clothes you can wear while in NYC.

Women Jeans! Yes they will come to your rescue every single time. The styles in NYC are so varied that you will easily blend with the crowd with whatever you wear. Take some floral dresses, and a light jacket or a lightweight cashmere cardigan along. Stay away from fur or shorts or sundresses during September.

Men Packing or wearing a nice watch is must. A high-quality belt that goes with the tone of your dress or shoes, white socks for casual shoes and contrasting dark grey or black socks for your white shoes will be required. For a casual outing, you can go for jeans and shorts.

Kids Children can go for light jackets and jeans. Shoes and sneakers are must. Funky t-Shirts look very cute.

Footwear Shoes weigh a lot, so make sure you take only what is necessary. Take a pair of comfortable shoes or dark-colored sandals for walking around in the city and a pair of shoes that works well with several outfits.

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Other General Travel Items That Should Be On Your Winter In New York Packing List

1. LIPSTICK-SIZED PORTABLE CHARGER

Raise your hand if you carry electronics with you while you travel?

Yup, this chicks hand shoots straight up in the air since I am most definitely, NOT Amish.

Yeah:

Just like the rest of my tech-addicted, social media crazed generation, I too would probably fall down a well or get eaten by a rogue shark if I wasnt using the GPS on my phone 24/7, 365 days a year.

Therefore:

Its beyond imperative that I keep my phone fully charged and ready to go at ALL times.

Because:

If the battery on my phone actually does die, its like a Defcon 5 level emergency.

And as a result:

Ill basically curl up into the fetal position while sucking my thumb and quietly rocking back and forth like a new born baby.

Yeah, not a good look.

But, fear not, because thats where this little miracle of modern technology comes in.

Not only can this nifty little gadget recharge multiple devices at the same time, but this device is so small that it can easily fit inside your makeup bag.

Yeah, you read that right.

Your make up bag!

Thus leaving plenty of space in your carry on for super important things like that Harry Potter wand that you just HAD to buy at Universal Studios.

I totally get it.

The Muggle Struggle is indeed 100% real 100 .

2. ELECTRONICS

Now:

Dont get me wrong:

Most laptops, cellphones, and cameras should be totally fine, but many hair dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners wont be since they dont support multiple voltages.

Therefore:

Now:

Also:

Which Bag To Pack

Youre going to be moving around a lot in the city and it is easier to carry a comfortable bag with you rather than go back to your hotel room frequently. There are two bags I recommend:

Nomad Lane Bento Bag

The Bento Bag is the ultimate travel companion for flights and business travelers. It can be used asa weekender, personal item bag or an everyday bag. Here are some of the cool features it has.

Use code FUNK to save $10.

• Opens down the middle like a suitcase
• Fits under most standard US airline seats
• Has a padded laptop sleeve that fits up to 16 laptops
• Has a trolley sleeve that slips over the handle of rollerluggage
• Includes a stretchy water bottle loop inside
• Offers a TSA-approved easy access charging port fordevices
• Comes with a detachable shoulder strap, clear toiletrypouch, tech organizer & 2 Shoe bags

High Spirit Anti-Theft Bag

Pickpocketing is a global issue and occasionally happens in NYC. The High Spirit anti-theft bag has secret compartments in the bag to protect your most valuable items. In addition to being useful, it is also very stylish and comfortable! This is a great bag for those traveling to NYC on a vacation.

Use code SARAHFUNKY to save 20%.

Average Temperatures: 44 to 27°F / 6 to -2°C

Weather conditions: Very dry

If you dont have a coat, consider renting one! I recommend using Rent The Runway for a wide selection of coats to rent so that you dont need to buy one. Use code RTRSFUNK for 40% off the first two months of the 8 & 16 item memberships.

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What To Wear In New York City In Summer

Ah, summer in New York City. Humid, muggy, sweaty, and just plain wonderful. Hopefully, youll spend most of your time outside either in the park or walking the city streets. And that means losing some layers and showing some skin.

Shorts are completely acceptable in New York Cityif they look cool. Cut-off jean shorts still rule the Brooklyn borough and fitted hybrid shorts are more than acceptable for rooftop pool parties . Make sure you pack some lightweight pants though, since shorts arent a great look at night.

Bluffworks travel chinos are the ultimate city look for warm days since theyre still light and look great with a few cuffs around the ankle.

Tank tops are also still super in for day or evening wear. Seriously, unless theres a specific dress code you can always wear a tank top in NYC. Just get one that fits.

Ladies, skirts, sundresses, or your favorite travel dress will be just fine. Aim for something simple that moves seamlessly from day to night with the addition of an accessory or two.

Other than that, the only rule for summer in New York is simpledont wear sandals. New Yorkers dont wear sandals, even when its hot, for one very good reason: New York is gross. If you wear sandals your feet will be covered in grime, muck, and grit.

Seriously. Sandals are nasty. Stay cool with a lightweight pair of Toms shoes instead.

Oh, and always bring a swimsuit. Coney Island is awesome.

What To Wear In New York City In Spring

Spring is a tough season to pack for in New York City. No, really. Its a pain. You can get a very nice, warm spring day then watch the temperature plummet into a drizzly mess the next morning. The only way to really prepare a stylish packing list for spring is to expect the worst.

That being said, spring style tends to be a lot lighter in New Yorkalmost alarmingly so. People are usually so excited that winter is over that they wear shorts and a t-shirt the second it looks nice outside . Dont fall into that trap.

Obviously, pack one pair of shorts in case you hit that random sunny day, but lightweight fitted pants are still the way to go in spring. Roll your pants up if it gets sunny, and make sure you bring a lighter version of the layers I recommended for fall. A wool hat goes a long way, as well as merino shirts, light sweaters, and even flannel.

I wear my Edgevale shacket pretty much all the time from February to May. The pockets are awesome for stashing gloves and a hat, and it looks good inside and outside my favorite Williamsburg dive bars.When you visit New York in spring, bring a nice light, waterproof jacket for cold, windy, wet days, but remember to add some quality merino layers underneath. These are clutch. They look great and keep you sane while you shrug off the occasional rainstorm or sub-50 chill

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Where To Buy Coats And More Winter Clothes For The Whole Family In Nyc

Temperatures are usually okay until early December. From January to April, it feels like Im living inside a really big fridge! Oh, and then theres the colds best friend, the WIND! Thats why picking a good coat, preferably one that covers your neck in case you dont like wearing scarfs, is important. If you have plans to live here, make sure to purchase a long one, they are not the prettiest ones but they make things a lot easier when the weather gets really bad!

Here are some good stores to buy winter coats in NYC:

Burlington, Century 21, Nordstrom Rack, Bloomingdales Outlet, TJ Maxx and Marshalls:

What do they all have in common? Prices! The six stores mentioned above are similar to your usual department store and offer several different brands but for much more affordable prices! Youll not always find the current fashion or even the size or color youre looking for there, but its a great choice if you just want to save as much as possible on a good jacket. Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, DKNY, Guess, etc. are usually available. Nice and warm coats usually range from US$ 60 to US$ 100.

Macys, Bloomingdales, Saks, Nordstrom:

These are department stores that often have sales on specific pieces or on popular holidays. The cool thing about them is that they usually offer a wider array of current fashion and designer items. And, if youre lucky, you might even get a special deal!

Best Camera & Photography Equipment For Nyc

The best lenses for capturing New York, in my opinion are something wide like a 35mm and a standard 50mm lens.

A 50mmwill be great for all your food shots while the wide angle can best capture Central Park in all its glory! Or, a 24-70mm zoom lens is versatile enough to capture both.

I bring a professional DSLR camera and a couple lenses to shoot all the photos you see on this blog. I also bring my spare battery, battery charger and extra SD cards.

To keep everything organized, I use a memory card case and a travel accessories case so the wires, chargers and small things dont get lost. You can find all my gear here.

Visiting NYC Travel Checklist

New York City has 3 airports: John F Kennedy , the bustling international hub LaGuardia , the run down smaller airport near Astoria Queens and Newark Airport which is actually in New Jersey. You can check for flight deals here for your upcoming trip for better rates, make sure you include all 3 airports.

Be sure to visit New York with travel insurance. Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, or your phone gets stolen, or a delayed flight leaves you with nothing but the clothes on your back, travel insurance will help when you need it most. Get a quote for your trip here.

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