humanone

I'll be in Manhattan in a few weeks and want to feel fashionable walking around. Please please don't lecture me on dressing comfortably (of course), or wearing comfortable shoes (I'm not dumb) but let me know what are the current casual trends, especially in pants and tops. I wore short skirts and knit tops in Sicily last year and everyone was wearing long sack dresses (it was just too soon for the skinny pants and boots which arrived in the winter) and some women actually criticized my outfits. I want to concentrate on being in New York, so can do some planing before packing. I am fashionable in northern California, but know that New York is way cooler. Oh, and I am middle aged.

nytraveler

Well - Sicily is quite conservative - and I'm not surprised that a middle aged woman wearing short skirts and form fitting kit tops was criticized. Grown women there dress much more conservatively.

As for NYC - short skirts and knit tops are fine - based on your age and figure. But - you don;t want to end up like Ivana Trump - looking like she's wearing her daughter's clothes.

IMHO the length of your skirts should be appropriate for your age (don;t know what you mean by middle aged - 45? 60?) and the almost bare bosom look works on over 30's only if you're at a resort - or as evening wear.

Note: these rules are especially important when riding the bus and subway to avoid unwanted attentions.

As for style - assuming you're doing casual stuff you're fine wearing a skirt in an adult length, tailored city shorts (to the knee) capris or lightwieght trousers with a top that covers a reasonable amount and comfy flat shoes for walking. (Flats or regular sandals are fine, flip flops are a fall waiting to happen.)

If you're going to an upscale restaurant consider a linen or silk pants outfit with open toe pumps or wedges.

mclaurie

Skirts and dresses are cooler than pants and popular this summer.

humanone

I think I led you astray when I mentioned I was older (in Sicily the women of every age dressed super fashionably; the 20 year olds in the sack dresses as well). My question was more about "the latest hip fashion" styles. When I was a New Yorker myself I knew what was "in" just by looking around, but looking around here or looking in magazines doesn't give me the information about what a "with it" 35 year old is wearing right now for walking around on a weekend this summer. Any New Yorkers there to advise me?

wyatt92

The in thing for the summer is the maxi dress. I have a zillion of them and wear them nearly everyday. The organic long dress at gypsy05.com is very popular. If not a maxi dress, a cute knee length dress will do just fine.

Are you really 35? Yikes, I'm 34 and would never refer to myself as middle aged.

Austin

Wyatt, I guess if the average lifespan for a woman is about 80, then 40 would be "middle aged". 35 is a little young to be called "middle aged".

I* used to date a guy who's mom referred to herself as middle aged. He would say "Yeah mom, if you live to 120".

wyatt92

You're right Austin, I guess 35 could be close to middle aged but something about that phrase does not sit well with me. I think you're only as old as you act and feel so there's no way I'll be using the phrase middle aged to refer to myself for a very long time!

kangamom

Depending on where you are going, you would dress differently, but of course you know that.

Hmmm, well you could wear a maxi dress and french sandals (like bo'em brand) Or, maybe a shirt dress with gladiator sandals.

If I'm not working, I wear flat sandals, with casual summer dresses or skirts with tank tops. Accessorize with bangals, long necklaces, and straw handbags or a cute tote.

You can check out some store websites like intermix or scoop.

It is pretty hot here so leave the jeans/boots at home.

beckytx

I agree on lightweight dresses and comfy sandals/flip flops! I've gotten some really cute dresses at Target this summer for around $20, that I get loads of compliments on. For example:

http://www.target.com/Juniors-Mossim...3Adress&page=1

In person it looks like the T-Bags brand that is very popular and 20 times more expensive.

steelygirl

humanone...it's definitely hot here right now...I totally suggest dresses as you can wear them daytime/nightime and accessorize...Maxi dresses are very hot right now with flat thong sandals, gladiator sandals, strappy flats.
Also, empire-style short dresses are also very popular and comfortable and equally work with flat sandals.
Calypso dresses are very popular daytime and nightime and they are available in a beautiful color palette...I personally wear them with flat metallic sandals/metallic leather flip flops
http://www.calypso-celle.com/shop/ca...ge=collections
Also, if you want to wear pants or jeans, I would suggest light fabric denim or white denim with a wide trouser leg (JBrand,JCrew, etc.) they are comfortable and not heavy and will be very stylish with a cute empire style top or flowy tank top style.
If you like Tory Burch, she's very hot right now but I would definitely advise against head to toe Tory, her sandals are pretty and colorful; check out her gold gladiator sandals which go with anything. Her clutch purses are also very pretty.
For ideas, I would check out:
Scoop NYC, Tory Burch and Intermix.
Hope this helps you.

nytraveler

35 is nowhere midle aged. Middle age is part oa dult hood - which for most women is rom 20 to about 80 - dividing the 60 difference by 2 and adding to 20 middle age would start at around 50 hence the comment about Ivana (60) wearing clothes that belong on her daughter - about 30.

humanone

I think I'm getting obsessive. I went onto the sites some of you mentioned, and saw no cropped pants (mid calf); are they totally "out"? Also, could I really wear a short black dress with straps just walking around town?

steelygirl

humanone...Capri pants are still in but I really don't see too many girls wearing them (other than out of towners) in the city...more on weekends out of the city...ie: hamptons, shore, etc.
I think I would reserve the black short strappy dress for dinner or late afternoon. Right now I see girls wearing much more color during the day. If you did want to wear the dress, I would pair it with light strappy/thong sandals, ie: silver, gold, etc. I would stay away from all black too heavy for Summer.
Hope this helps you.

wyatt92

I would most definitely wear a short dress just walking around town. Obviously, on a 90 degree day, black will be a little hot but other than that, it's fine.

Capris are pretty much out. People still wear them but they're certainly not considered super stylish.

Proenza_Preschooler

What is "around town"? I don't understand that. Manhattan is full of diverse and unique neighborhoods. The clothing you see people wearing on upper Madison Ave is not the same as you will see people wearing on Broadway in Soho or at the Green Market in Union Square.

I certainly wouldn't wear Tory Burch if I was getting on one of those big red tour buses to see the city.

I also wouldn't wear shorts and flippies to dinner at Aqua Grill.

Dress appropriately for your venue.

Honestly, sweetie, no one cares what you wear around Manhattan. The idea that EVERYONE in Manhattan wears Prada and Gucci is ABSURD. The OVERWHELMING MAJORITY DON'T.

Don't try to be a fashion maven if you are not.

Thin

steelygirl

Thin, very well stated.
I have seen some unfortunate "fashion diasters" at Aqua Grill! Yikes!

kangamom

Thin is right. Really, no one cares what you you're wearing. I promise you won't be the most fashionable and you won't be the least fashionable.

Of course, I'm sure you like to feel comfortable in any situation, as I do.

Why don't you just take a look once you get here and then shop in NYC? You can shop trends cheaply at H&M, Zara, Forever 21, and also get the real thing at many other places.

cherrybomb

Fashion is pretty accessible these days everywhere due to the internets. What you see at home is more than likely what you will see in a major city.

Half the people walking around anyway are wearing work clothes and are from Jersey/Satan Island/suburbs. A lot of it is not pretty. It also makes for diversity--there is no 1 thing to wear, and if everyone was wearing the same thing it would be rather boring.

Assuming you have your own sense of style, wear what you are comfortable in, fits well, and you think looks good, and you are set. Just because an item (such as a maxi dress) is a trend at the moment, doesn't necessarily mean you should wear it--they look like nightgowns/caftans/really ridiculous on many people.

Honestly, no one cares what you wear anyway--people are busy enough going about their own business, not worrying what you personally are wearing.

BTW 35 is NOT middle aged. While I like to say I'm old, I'm 34 and would NEVER call myself middle aged.

hikrchick

I'm 43 and I'm definitely not middle-aged. I'm also from the Jersey suburbs (Montclair) and frankly when I'm in the city I wear whatever I won't be fussing with. That is, I'll wear the thing that's cute and comfy so I'm not pulling at myself.

For instance, this summer I'm wearing cute flowy tops, or cute body-skimming tops, with either a khaki skirt or a denim skirt, or flared pinstriped khaki pants. I wear cute flats so I can walk and not have achy feet. I know no-one is looking at me and even if they do, I just don't care. Even though I'm not the trendiest thing on the street, I look cute enough and I walk around like I belong there.

As long as I'm not wearing shorts (a definite no-no) or a fanny pack or something like that, it's all good!

cherrybomb

People wear shorts all the time. They are not a no-no. Tailored shorts are common with heels. Gym-beach-casual shorts can be seen on the weekend everywhere, are casual shorts a fashion statement, no, are they worn, yes.

We live here and have errands to do like laundry, picking up dry-cleaning, groceries and the like, it's a misnomer that this everyone in this town is even remotely a fashion plate at every given moment.