6 Items NYC Girls Would Never Wear
There are many reasons we’re particularly captivated by the women of New York City—their everyday fashion choices included. It doesn’t matter if they’re running to the grocery store or heading to an event—they inherently give off that cool, downtown-chic vibe. And while the specific items they wear contribute to that sartorial success (ahem, sleek ankle boots and moto jackets), we believe it’s the pieces they don’t wear that make them even more stylish than the rest.
To help fill us in on the items NYC women don’t wear (and what they wear instead), we tapped Womenswear Director Melissa Moylan and Director of Culture Heather Picquot from trend forecasting destination Fashion Snoops to spill on the style mistakes New Yorkers never make.
Keep scrolling to learn how to dress like a girl from the Big Apple, featuring the items they’d never wear—and shop must-haves that are NYC girl approved, too.
Never Wear Heavy-Stitch Denim
"New Yorkers tend to favor brands with more updated design details.” — Melissa Moylan and Heather Picquot
Shop step-hem jeans instead:
All of our editors love these jeans.Available in sizes 24 to 32.
Never Wear Bandage Dresses
"NYC women do wear body-con party dresses, but more often than not, they just prefer an item with more stylish updates than bandage material. Slip dresses are very popular for nights out.” — Melissa Moylan and Heather Picquot
Shop a slip dress instead:
We’d pair this with a slim turtleneck for the holiday season.Available in sizes 2 to 12.
Never Wear Oversize Sports Jerseys
"There are definitely sports fans among New York’s women. However, jerseys are reserved for game nights only.” — Melissa Moylan and Heather Picquot
Shop a sweatshirt instead:
Try pairing this sweatshirt with cool high-waisted jeans and ankle boots for the perfect off-duty look.Available in sizes XS to L.
Never Wear Unsophisticated Boots
"The Chelsea boot reigns supreme, looking great with jeans and dresses. Nothing says cool girl more. The block heel of a Chelsea boot is stylish and practical (New Yorkers walk a ton).” — Melissa Moylan and Heather Picquot
Shop ankle boots instead:
These look so much more expensive than they actually are.Available in sizes 35 to 41.
Never Wear Fleece Jackets
"While we recognize that this item may serve a purpose on the West Coast (with its ever-changing weather patterns), you will never see a New York woman in a fleece vest. Leather moto, fur/faux-fur jackets are a New Yorker’s go-to.” — Melissa Moylan and Heather Picquot
Shop a moto jacket instead:
Never Wear Floppy Hats
“Trilbies, Panama hats, and fedoras are the preferred hats of New Yorkers. You will see floppy hats on vacation or at Hamptons beaches, but not many in Manhattan.” — Melissa Moylan and Heather Picquot
Shop a fedora instead:
Shop More Items NYC Girls Would Love
We saw these jeans all over fashion week.Available in sizes XS to L.
The color here feels so fresh and cool.Available in sizes 35 to 42.
Found: the coat you’ve been looking for.Available in sizes 8 to 12.
Pair this sweater with over-the-knee or ankle boots for the ultimate fall look.Available in sizes XXS to XL.
Adding a bustier to your look is the simplest way to make your ensemble instantly more forward.Available in sizes XS to L.
The block heels make these incredibly comfortable.Available in sizes 5. to 11.5.
Every woman needs the perfect white blouse to layer with everything.Available in sizes 00 to 14.
For those of you who prefer to stand out.Available in sizes XS to XXXXL.
We may have just found your new go-to work shoes.Available in sizes 35 to 42. Want more NYC style inspiration? See the things one editor stopped wearing when she moved to New York!This post has been updated by Michelle Scanga.
We may have just found your new go-to work shoes.Want more NYC style inspiration? See the things one editor stopped wearing when she moved to New York!This post has been updated by Michelle Scanga.
Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retailers likeReplica Store, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront ofBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.
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