dumb question: I was taking blue jeans to New York next week--and my daughter said "no way---they only wear black clothes in New York"
How accurate is she?

Please see this post: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34453724

love
roxy

Putting it in the simplest terms: Tell your daughter a helluva lot more tourists wear jeans than wear black in New York City!

Your daughter is wrong. You will see more blue jeans than black during the day.

I'm a stickler about proper clothing - and see no reason not to wear blue jeans in New York during the day - as long as you're not going to lunch in an upscale restaurant. Yes, you will see lots of black - but lots of jeans too - especially on wekends.

Hello - Melting pot - Not only for people from every walk of life, but style too. Wear whatever you want. Like previous comment, just don't try going into upscale with ratty looking stuff on. Won't work.

Have fun and enjoy. If you don't, it's your fault.

As a NYer who oftens wears jeans, the black thing is somewhat neighborhood - SoHo, Tribeca, etc. are much more neighborhoods of just black, where as the Upper East/West Side are a little less so.

However, I would follow these rules anywhere :
Dark sneakers are ok; white sneakers are NEVER ok unless you're going to play tennis. Indeed, walking around all day you're probably going to want to be in sneakers.
Jeans are ok but should be what is "in style" - that means a dark blue, not light blue jeans. Frankly, I think that designer jeans are more in style for people under 30 than pure black is (outside of very trendy places or expensive/fancy places).

But the idea that EVERYONE in NY going out to pick up a book at Barnes & Nobles or a cup of coffee at Starbucks is dressed up rather than just in jeans and sneakers is a bunch of bull.

Never wear white sneakers? What a bunch of bs! Dark blue but never light blue jeans? More bs!

Thank you HowardR about clearing that up for me. I am looking forward to going to NYC soon and didn't realize there would be a dress code. Dressing nice for an upscale restaurant is just common sense but for just touring around I thought as long as we look respectable that should be fine. If I have white runners I don't see what would be wrong with them.

I readily admit the no white sneakers or light blue jeans sounds stupid but I think it is accurate. In the end, of course, wear whatever you're comfortable with, nobody else will care -- I often end up overdressed in other parts of the country on vacation b/c I am wear clothes appropriate for NY. But I was just answering the question she asked.

I live in Florida but work for long stints in NY. I found people wore jeans in NY more than in Florida. My own casual observation was that jeans are much more acceptable in NY all year round than they are almost anywhere else.

great jeans, nice slides (Prada or somesuch), a great shirt and a Chanel jacket will get you in almost anywhere except the haute cuisine type places....you better be buff, however. I am assuming you are female...

Black is never wrong and helps to make you fade into the woodwork. I like the anonimity of black camouflage when in NY. LMF

Jeans are absolutely the norm here at all times of the day on any day. It just depends on where you're going.

vacationdreamer is on the nose as far as style. White sneaks with jeans are a little weird these days but I've seen plenty of people do it and it doesn't stand out as much as one would think - especially in the day time. And I agree that dark jeans are more *in* than light ones.

Black is always popular at night, but bold/bright colors and the right style shows more confidence imho.

NYC is so diverse in so many ways, it almost doesn't matter as long as you feel good in what you have on!

Sorry it does matter what you have on. If I have to see one more 45 year-old size 18 tourist who thinks she's Britney wandering around the city in a mini-skirt and tummy-baring top I swear I'm going to get a gun. And their equally large and unkempt hubbies with the rumpled jean shorts, tatty t-shirts and baseball caps are just as bad.

I know tourists want to be comfortable - but if you are not neat, clean, pressed and attired appropriately for you age and size you should be turned away at the airports and bridges/tunnels. this is a world capitol - not the local WalMart - at least try to dress like an adult human person.

This question should be posted over in the Europe forum, shouldn't it?

I don't mean to shock vacationdreamer, but we New Yorkers (male and female) wear white sneakers and light blue jeans. Yeah, and we also wear black!

"..if you are not neat, clean, pressed and attired appropriately for you age and size you should be turned away at the airports and bridges/tunnels".

Hmmmm.
That comment has me stunned.
Isn't NYC still in America?
Did I miss it when Kim Jong Il bought it and moved it to North Korea?

In NYC, if you can't find a way to successfully break all the "rules," you have no style.

rwilliams - sorry if I was a little strong - but these people make me nuts! If they can afford to come to New York they can afford to buy decent appropriate clothing. this is a vain attempt (since I'm sure they're not on this board - but maybe someone they know is and will tell them) to upgrade their attire a little.

I don;t care what they wear at home but when they're here and I have to look at them it's so frustrating - because I don't believe they're trying to break the rules or make a statement (If that's what it is I'm all for it) I believe they just don;t know any better.

I don't wear blue jeans in New York because when I leave my hotel in the morning, I dont usually come back until late at night. If I wear blue jeans, it may keep me from being able to go some restaurants.

Blue jeans just complicate my life.