Summer In The City, New York Style

Posted by Styloko

Former Sunday Times Style Features Editor Ruby Warrington recently relocated to New York, where she’s now based as a US correspondent for the paper.

In her weekly Styloko column, Ny-loko, she dissects NY style through British eyes – will she ever dress like one of them?

A reformed shopaholic, her wardrobe mantra these days is ‘quality over quantity’ (check out her Lust List), while her idea of shopping heaven is her new West Village apartment, complete with walk-in wardrobe.

Carrie Bradshaw, eat your heart out.
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Flicking through a copy of Grazia magazine on my last Ny-Biza flight, I came across a shopping spread on ‘rain and shine’ buys – which I have to say was really quite refreshing. I’ve always found it sort of sad that British fashion magazines still fill their summer editions with flippy little dresses, short shorts and strappy sandals, when their readers are only too aware they’ll hardly ever get to wear them (witness ‘holiday shopping’ becoming something of a national pastime).

In fashion, the concept of ‘seasons’ is really about selling more clothes. The thing about New York is that it’s one of the few cities in the world that actually experiences four distinct changes in temperature – giving the women who live there a valid reason to buy, and wear, what the magazines tell them to. The looks are bright, bold, printed and patterned – in other words, a Grazia fashion editor’s dream come true.

In the UK, my summer wardrobe generally consisted of the same things I wore in the winter, minus the coat and scarf. Since moving to New York, I’ve realised I need a lot more flippy little dresses. Not to mention strapless jumpsuits, vests, skirts that work without tights – and pedicures. I’ve also realised all the ‘summer’ clothes I do own are only really suitable for weddings, festivals (weather be damned) or the beach – because those are the only times I used to wear them.