There was a line I heard in a sitcom once, uttered by a NY snob. She said "EVERYbody in NY wears black - until something darker comes along".

Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. It's YOUR vacation!

So I guess I should lose the cut offs, Hawaiian shirt, ball hat and Chacos outfit for Mrs Kal's birthday dinner in May at the Rainbow Room? =-O

That is very cute, but as a lifetime NY'er I can assure you that blue jeans are everywhere! The black is for clubs, but with 3 million people in Manhattan alone, you will see people wear everything.

Anything will be fine, jeans, sneakers, etc....

Kal, don't forget the Walmart bag on your head in case it rains.

(Weren't you trying to get Essex House, hopefully w/a park view, for that May trip? jvrab just got back and got upgraded to a 10th fl park view room there, didn't she use priceline too? she posted on the "nicest view from your hotel room")

your jeans will be fine, but I would make sure your other clothes are simple/classic/streamlined. Don't wear the big blousy parka, glowing white sneakers, fanny pack, baseball cap, etc. I actually find it easier to spot a tourist based on his/her coat, rather than jeans. Suburban coats tend to be more sports-oriented purchases, and look like something you'd find at LL Bean or Eddie Bauer. Urban coats are wool, leather, trench, etc. Of course, this is only important if you care that people will know you are a tourist. People in NYC generally like tourists and go out of their way to assist them (provided they are not blocking the sidewalks), so even if they think you are dressed oddly, they'll still be nice to you.

Bugswife said it all, have a great time.

emd,
I have a little class. I use a Barnes and Noble plastic bag. It goes better with my white tennies.

We wound up getting the UN Millennium.
Should be interesting.

Sounds like your daughter has NYC confused with Paris! People wear anything and everything in NYC!

On the subject of NYC fashion, I'm invited to an evening "classy" wedding this summer. Would a black silk dress be appropriate?

I am a 26 year old female who will be visiting the city during Memorial Day weekend - What do you suggest that I plan for my wardrobe?

twina- what length? what will you accessorize with?
wow, is it slow at work today...

Oh no, no, no--we are not getting into "is it OK to wear black to a wedding", are we?? That discussion will make the rest of this thread look like a tea party. One at which all the ladies wear hats, of course.

Casuale is fine - if its a little more sophisticated even better - just don;t wear shorts in midtown/downtown. And for male tourists = please no baseball caps or t-shirts with cute sayings.

Oh no, we are planning to go to NYC in the middle of June and are you saying that we'll look out of place wearing shorts while walking around Manhattan
Even if it is hot?? I was planning to wear shorts and maybe even sneakers. We plan to do a lot of walking and comfort is the key.

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry at this thread....Of course you should wear what's comfortable when travelling, but many of us are more comfortable knowing prevailing practices. I don't wear shorts in Europe because they make me feel self-conscious. (My husband does, so I can be conscious of him instead :-) )

I grew up in NY and return frequently, but I live in the Boston area now. Every time I go to NY I am struck by the difference in dress. NYers do dress up more than the rest of the country, as far as I can tell. Tourists don't, and you shouldn't if you don't want to (with the caveat that many upscale restaurants have dress codes), but if you want to blend in, you might. In certain parts of NY you won't see shorts except on tourists, and the truth is that going to the theater or a concert 99.9% of New York women will be wearing black. (I'm exaggerating, but not that much.) This isn't right or necessary, it's just an observation of what actually happens.

And I *would* wear black silk to a Sat night wedding in NY.... :-)

as a graphic designer, hobbyist stylist, and someone who has lived in nyc for 10 years, I would say the following about attire here:

global rules:
1) it's best to pack clothes that make you feel comfortable and attractive...if you like what you're wearing, you'll feel more confident and have a better time. you're coming to enjoy the city, not worry about your "coolness" factor. :)

2) think about the activities you're planning...most tourists can get by with casual clothes. just keep in mind that nyc casual is often different than your native city's casual.

while folks in nyc tend to dress up more compared to most of the country, particularly the south and suburban areas, you won't need fancy clothes unless you're planning a big night out (opera, expensive restaurants).
"more dressy" than most cities really just means that we mayl take more time with our appearance, put more emphasis on style. it's not really formal, more like accessorized & contemporary. the all-black thing is really a myth. the thing about nyc is the variety of style.

think about what you'd wear on a date, to church, or to a nice meal in a suburban area or southern climate. this is really about as dressy as you'll need to get.

honestly, in the summer, most nyc'ers wear shorts, capris, very casual skirts or lightweight jeans--paired with t-shirts or casual tops--and comfortable shoes. (except of course, for professional attire) it's hot, it's grimy, and we're walking everywhere.

I think the key here is that "jeans/shorts & a t-shirt" can look stylish and appropriate, or sloppy and scream "tourist".

Again, I believe the key is for you to be comfortable in your own clothes and your own skin. if you're not a trend-conscious person, you don't need to suddenly adopt a different way of dressing to visit nyc. if you feel that you want to "blend" more or kick it up a notch, I'd suggest the following guidelines:

--make sure your jeans/shorts are well-fitting, and on the dressier/contemporary side. if you wear them to clean, garden, etc., you'll look messy and not chic.
--pair your jeans with heeled sandals or pointy shoes for evenings out. pair your jeans/shorts with colorful shoe-sneakers for the day. if you use the sneakers to exercise, they are functional and not fashionable.
--avoid baggy t-shirts, t-shirts from vacation spots, t-shirts with tv characters on them, etc. if you wear it to sleep in, clean in, run to the store, etc, you'll be sloppy not stylish.
--younger people can wear baby-tees, "ironic" tees, close-fitting shirts
--older people may want to instead wear a plain colored newer t-cut shirt (something simple that you can get from the gap or old navy is fine if it fits well)
--a simple trendy belt, pair of earings, or big bracelet will help you look more together

...if you don't have any of these things and you're panicking you'll be a glamour don't. relax, there are plenty of cheap places to shop in nyc, use it as a chance to get some stuff.

...if you really want to "be stylish" but haven't kept up on trends, pick up a copy of Lucky, Bazaar, etc. to be really safe, you can always visit the Gap, Banana Republic, and Urban Outfitters sites for some outfit ideas.

3) for god's sake, wear comfortable shoes

4) don't bring flashy or expensive jewelry unless you're planning a very fancy evening...you don't want lose it or have it stolen

I hope that helps.

I've lived in NY for all of my almost 45 years, most of them in Manhattan. News flash - I wear jeans, I wear t-shirts, I have sneakers, New Balance 991's if it matters. I no longer own a suit or a tie. I don't do designer. Sometimes I wear black.

There are 8,000,000 people, in this city and not all of us dress alike.

Wear what will make you comfortable. I and my friends are much too busy paying the rent to worry about what you're wearing. We'll know you're tourists. We don't care.

Come here, have a great time and enjoy what the city has to offer.

I was hoping this thread was dead for good b/c I am a little embarassed at my original post - I think brie's answer was more what I wanted to say at first. I think that the general truth (and I've heard this from other people that come to NY) is that people dress "up" or more stylish in NY than is most places in the US, but no one else is going to care what you're wearing. It is an issue of whether or not you are more comfortable trying to fit in with the prevailing local culture (not wearing shorts in European cities being a good example).

Don't wear shorts in midtown or downtown? Bull!
Only wear black for dress-up occasions?
Bull!

I didn't take the time to read all of the above posts but I heard one New Yorker on TV say that tourists try too hard not to look like a tourist and wear black too much. I would wear a pair of white jockey shorts and cowboy boots.

jor, are you sure about the cowboy boots? Are they ok, really? Or are you just making that up? I've been reading these N.Y. fashion comments closesly, on this thread and others and I'm getting the same picture as you.

Can't wear my baseball cap (Pirates). Apparently, not even a Yankers or Muts cap! Can't wear my t-shirts with cute sayings (ILNY, VA is for L, etc.). Can't wear my white sneakers.

That means that I will HAVE TO pack light: just black socks and jockey shorts. Are black socks ok? Thank goodness that jockey shorts are ok. Jockey shorts are ok, right?

Jockey shorts are okay, but they must be black. They have underwear inspections at the bridges and tunnels before you enter Manhattan.

Tomorrow, if you see a tourist that's about 6'4", 250lbs (ok...maybe 265) wearing a Hawaiian shirt, Levis shorts, tennis shoes, New Orleans Voodoo, Kauai No Ka Oi or Betty Ford ballhat, carrying a camera bag and listing slightly to the left, please feel free to buy me....errr uhhhh, "him" a drink.
;)

jor, are YOU the Naked Cowboy?! Why, I've seen you on TV!

No jeans in NYC?!?!?!?! Oh my gosh! Tell that to all the people here buying jeans that range anywhere from $175 - $450!!!

I saw Brittney Spears in NYC wearing the perfect outfit, black motorcycle boots, yellow cutoff sweats rolled down at the waist to the hoohaw and a black motorcycle jacket, topped off with a jaunty cap. I say if she can wear it so can I (fat, forty, fabulous)!Who knows maybe it was a wedding outfit!

Black jockey shorts? I don't have any of those. Back in the 1980s I washed my NEW black socks with my shorts. The shorts are still kind of grey. Do think they will be ok? Or do they really have to be black?

harman, I would go to The Gap and get a few new outfits.. casual, still in style and you could dress them up w/a few accessories if you were going somewhere nice.

Personally, I would never wear white sneakers either.

let's just bury this deak horse. Its been beat to death.

After 9-11 and we are all very sorry for it. Can't imagine the pain people are in.

We were there 9-26 and noboday cared what we wore as long as we were spending money. The airport and hotel empty. It seem we were the only nuts there.Everywhere we went we were thanked for coming. Back to reality now.

Wear what you want and be happy. Don't worry about what people think. You won't ever see them again anyway.

By the way I am ironing after this to go to New York for the weekend. No jeans but will definetly take sneakers.
Whatever color comes out of the closet.

Every time I go to New York I am amazed again by the discussions people have here about how to dress. You see everything imaginable on people in New York. True, there are more stylish people per square block than there are in my home town in Massachusetts. There are also more totally unstylish people per square block. It is really hard to imagine any outfit you couldn't see walking the length of Broadway.

LOL, Loki "White sneakers are definitely "in", along with white suits, teal and pink T-shirts, and Members Only jackets. I'm Hungry Like the Wolf..." :-))...
As I am reading " The Andy Warhol Diaries" and came to a photo section, there he is standing in a pair of jeans and very white sneakers...yes, I know it was the eighties...

I'm still worrying over finding a truly decent hotel in NYC for the average middle class family.

I never really thought of NYC folk as high dressers. Hmmmm. Manhattan, I suppose. At least on Frasier. :) But, on "Mad About You" never saw any high fashion there. "Seinfeld" either. Obviously I've never actually visited NYC. More and more I wonder if I really want to - perhaps I'm just not up to it?

The only "native" New Yorkers I've known have been mostly Brooklyn or Queens transplants. Guys and girls seemed to dress the same - leather jackets, jeans for everything, whatever sneakers were fashionable at the time. Only difference was the girls usually either had really big hair or almost no hair. I loved their accents. They were usually nice once they relaxed a little.

Anyhoo, the one friend I did have who spent her career in Manhattan really was fashionable now that I think back on it. She was quite sophisticated, but friendly.

If men don't wear shorts in NYC then what do they wear? Here in the South, we ladies who tire of the classic "bermudas" wear gauzy skirts or preppy cotton skirts. Do guys in NYC wear sandals? We're usually khaki bermuda/neutral t-shirt people on vacation, color of sneakers is optional. Any more advice???

Fraiser was set in Seattle not Manhattan.

I am the fashion police and will ticket you for any or all of the below infractions:

Fanny packs
gold or silver lame worn daytime
faded jeans
white tennis shoes
jellies
keds
5 panel baseball caps
too long red talons
all black in June, July or August
athletic shorts
swishy suits
feet crammed into too high heel
ugly feet in open toe shoes
hose or tights in June, July, or August
Anything Brittany Spears
anything too small or too tight

Careful, GoTravel, some people might take you seriously!
For example, independencedaybaby, we New York men really do wear shorts in the warm weather!

Hey, you're right - Frasier was set in Seattle, wasn't it? Guess they just seem more like Manhattanites to me. :)

I will try to steer clear of the fashion police if this trip happens. I am seriously considering cancelling it because it's more difficult to plan than any vacation thus far, and I'm a darn good planner normally. I trust travel agents about as much as I trust lawyers, so......

So, men do wear shorts in NYC? My hubby has all sorts and would probably take his linens and rayons, that sort of thing. He also has plenty of neutral Polo knit and cotton shirts, that sort of thing. But what about his feet? Are sandals dangerous in NYC, out of fashion in NYC? What about the classic Boat shoes or dockers for casual???

Anything your husband wears will be fine. I've said it before and I'll say it again - no one will care about what he's wearing. Just be comfortable, enjoy the city and don't block the sidewalk and you'll be fine.

Yes, we men wear shorts and sandals, but keep in mind the streets can get pretty dirty - another reason white sneakers aren't a good idea, they don't stay white!

Oh, and I'm a native Manhattanite!

Khaki's and polo's are also appropriate and are actually my usual work attire (when I'm not wearing shorts and sandals - a perk of being self employed).

A typical New York summer is too hot and humid for jeans.

BTW, TV is just that, TV. The actors are playing fictional characters, they aren't NY'ers or Seattleites. What you see on sitcom du jour has no connection with the reality of living in NY.

Whenever I read these "what to wear on vacation" posts, I always wonder, "why does it matter?" It's YOUR vacation, YOU need to be comfortable. Wherever it is you are coming from is a place where you have to dress acceptably. So why would you have to dress differently when you visit, for example, NY or Paris? Do you think anyone even remembers what you were wearing 2 seconds after they pass you on the street, or see you in a restaurant? And in all honesty, out of towners in any big city generally act like out of towners, and rightfully so!

So everyone out there, go on vacation and wear whatever makes you happy!

independencedaybaby, if you're getting this worked up just over what your wardrobe should be, perhaps you should cancel your trip to NYC and go elsewhere. C'mon, lady, relax!

My husband wears his rainbows all over Manhattan during the day. He also wears jeans but doesn't wear shorts.

I always love these "fashion" threads.

As someone who has turned around and driven/walked back to the house when shoes and purse were not the exact shade of some color (I've done it more than once), I can only offer this advice.

Fashion selections should always be about ONE of TWO choices:

1.) Do I want to project a certain image?

2.) Do I want to be comfortable?

Pick either #1 or #2.

If you choose 1, find out what's proper and wear it.

If you choose 2, go to your closet and/or dresser and pick out what makes YOU happy and comfortable and strut proudly in it with no regard to behind-the-hand snickers you may encounter.

Attitude is 95% of looking good. :)