I'm Moving From SoHo to the UWS—12 Trends I'm Swapping Out and Bringing Uptown
In 2020, I packed up my apartment in Brooklyn and moved into an alarmingly small apartment in SoHo. I squeezed in over 50 pairs of shoes, at least 20 handbags, and around 15 coats, plus all my clothing. Two years later, after many dinners at Balthazar, shopping breaks on Sundays, and breakfasts at Fiat Cafe, I packed up everything once again. This time, I was moving out of downtown to the Upper West Side. I was excited until I realized how much stuff I had accumulated over the past 730 days.
Before the move, I knew I had to seriously downsize, which I always do without hiring movers. My boyfriend and a U-Haul were my only help. Instead of my usual donation routine, where I try everything on and make quick decisions, I came up with an assessment. Each wardrobe item had to feel elevated, versatile, and chic enough for the Upper West side, so I wouldn't feel underdressed when I walked around my new neighborhood. Whether it was a late lunch at Cafe Luxembourg or a leisurely stroll past Lincoln Center, I wanted to be prepared. Many pieces didn't make the cut, from boots to cropped tops and cargo pants. Saying goodbye to pieces like boots, cropped tops, and cargo pants was tough, but I was excited to say hello to new items, like stilettos, that would refresh my wardrobe
Scroll down to discover the other 9 trends that I left downtown and the ones that I'm bringing with me uptown instead.
Bringing: High-Neck Tanks
Leaving: Cropped Tanks
Bringing: Minimal Sandals
Leaving: Sporty Sandals
There was a time when sporty sandals were all I saw walking around SoHo, and for good reason. They're wildly comfortable and can certainly be styled in a way that makes them look unexpectedly cool. But in this move, I made a pact to myself to really pair down my wardrobe, especially my shoe collection, and sadly, those sportier styles didn't make the cut. Instead, I'm relying on super minimal footwear like this pair of thong sandals from Zara that look expensive but are actually quite reasonable at $80. I want them in green too.
Every spring and summer, Open Edit's shoes become a huge hit among editors. They are incredibly comfortable, and their price is unmatched.
Bringing: Dark-Wash Jeans
Leaving: Overly-Distressed Denim
I will admit that I kept one single pair of old, ripped Calvin Klein jeans that I'll never get rid of, but otherwise, my move saw the end of a lot of super distressed jeans On the contrary, plenty of dark-wash denim can still be found in all of my unpacked boxes. The tapering on this Madewell pair makes me think that they'll be added to my growing collection as well.
Bringing: Waistcoats
Leaving: Corsets
I used to adore my collection of corsets, and I wore them dozens of times over the years. Lately, I find myself reaching for them less and less. I chose to keep one in the move, but I've given most of that space away to my growing collection of waistcoats. They're easier to style and far more versatile, making them a perfect choice for my uptown wardrobe.
J.Crew's suiting has been top tier ever since Olympia Gayot joined the team as the brand's head of women's design. I particularly love the shape of this waistcoat and the khaki color, which is perfect for summer.
Bringing: Midi and Maxi Skirts
Leaving: Micro Miniskirts
I just popped into Zara to try on this set and man — is it good.
Shop the matching Tulle Top with Silver ($23).
Bringing: Gold and Silver Jewelry
Leaving: Colorful Jewelry
Even if you don't work in fashion, you probably know about the viral status of these Bottega Veneta drop earrings. They're everywhere.
Bringing: Timeless LBDs
Leaving: Cutout Dresses
Bringing: Lug-Sole, Chunky Boots
Leaving: Pointed-Toe, Sock Boots
A few years back, if you'd have told me that all I'd want to wear were knee-high sock boots, I would've rolled my eyes dramatically. Recent takes on them have been clean and classic, however, making them all too enticing for my new uptown persona. One boot style I'm not grabbing for regularly are those with a chunky lug sole. They're a bit too clunky for me and have a tendency to dress down an outfit, something I'm not looking for much lately.
Bringing: Neutral Sweaters
Leaving: Patterned Knitwear
In all my 27 years of living, I don't think I've ever said no to a new sweater. Because of that, I have far too many of them to keep every last one. So, rather than attempting to pack them all up, I decided to cut all of the brighter, patterned styles that I reach for far less often than my neutral, classic ones.
Bringing: Nipped-In Blazers
Leaving: Cropped Bomber Jackets
When it comes to mid-weight outerwear, I've come to the decision that I only really want to ever wear trenches, leather jackets, or blazers, specifically ones that are a bit nipped in and reminiscent of the '90s. My cropped bomber jackets didn't make the cut, therefore, I'm sending them off to be donated and enjoyed by their next owners.
Bringing: Sleek Trousers
Leaving: Cargo-Style Pants
Bringing: Classic Loafers
Leaving: Dad Sneakers
Next up: I Stopped By Gap, J.Crew, and Banana Republic—19 Finds That Genuinely Shocked Me
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
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