Clothing for New York
 

I've been reading the Europe forum for a few months and I've seen there are always lots of questions from Americans about what to wear to fit in in Europe. Well, I have the opposite question. I'm from Ireland and am going to New York for the summer - 2-3 months. I would appreciate some tips on what clothes to take, both for fashion and comfort purposes, as space in my suitcase is limited and I won't have much money for new clothes. I just don't want to stick out as a tourist for safety reasons, or cause any offence.

I will likely be working in a hotel dealing with guests, so what sort of outfit is appropriate for that? A white blouse, black pants and black smart shoes?
And what about casual outfits? I was thinking of these ideas:

2 pairs blue jeans
1 pair black linen capris
1 pair denim capris
1 denim minskirt (not overly short)
1 knee length skirt
1 dress
Selection of sleeveless tops/vest tops/T shirts
1 black sweater
1 grey hoodie
1 black cardigan
2-3 pairs sandals/flip flops

Are these clothes appropriate for the weather and city? What sort of heat should I be expecting? Are shorts appropriate? Sorry to sound naive, but I've only been to NYC in winter when everyone is in the big bulky jackets and scarves!
Also, if I go out to a niceish restaurant/bar, would would be an appropriate thing to wear?

sorry WHAT would be an appropriate thing to wear?

IrishGrl, I would ditch one pair of the jeans and one pair of the denim capris for three pair of black pants.

They will not show as much dirt, they will not have to be washed as much, they can be dressy or casual, and they match everything.

One pair flip flops, one pair sandals, and one pair trainers that can be worn with black pants, skirts, or capris.

Meant to add, NYC can be a dressy city and your clothes sound just a tad too much on the casual side.

Hopefully Lizzie will see this post and respond.

Thanks for replying. I was a bit worried about black pants being too hot for walking around the city which is why I was hesistant to pack some. I wouldn't wear them in summer in Rome or Madrid but maybe NYC isn't as hot? I have a linen pair I could bring, and the pair I will likely be wearing to work.

Would the shortish skirt be OK, as in appropriate for daily wear and perhaps in the evening? Would a floaty long type of skirt be practical? They're comfortable and take up little space.

I disagree wiht the generalization that NYC is a dressy city. Locals wear shorts, jeans, sneakers and the like on weekends, for shopping, movies, casual lunches, etc. I think Irish Girl knows better than to wear jeans to the opera, but for every day, I think they're fine.

Except: when it's really hot and muggy, which it will be! For me, jeans would be too heavy, so I'd suggest longer shorts, another pair of capris or a skirt instead.

I think your work outift sounds fine. You're smart to keep things in a nuetral color scheme, so everything goes with everything. I think you'll fit right in.

Enjoy your stay!

Also, are there plenty of laundry services available? How much would it be to leave my clothes in to be washed/ironed and pick them up another day? How much do the self service laundrys usually cost?
I'm really trying to pack light but don't want to spend lots of money on laundry or spend too much time doing it! (I usually handwash my tops in the sink/bath but can't really do it with pants)

Yes, black pants would be absurd for walking around the city in July. For work, fine, but for touristing about, no way, it will be much too hot. Your original ideas were right. I like the idea of the floaty skirt, as you could dress it up or down.

Sorry to sound so rude, but really, if one more person recommends black pants for New York, I will plotz.

NewbE, I've spent many weeks in July working in Midtown and have always worn black pants.

Go ahead, plotz.

Irish said she would be working in a hotel.

"A white blouse, black pants and black smart shoes? " is what the OP proposed for WORK. I agreed.

She then asked for ideas for casual clothes, and listed the denim capris and jeans you told her to ditch for More Black Pants.

If you meant them to be for work, you should have said so. Hanging out in the city in the summer during off hours in black pants makes no sense.

I agree Newbe

IrishGrl, Didn't the hotel you'll be working at give you specific guidelines for what to wear? Black pants/white shirt is fairly typical, but you never know. Are you sure there's no uniform?
Make sure you do have comfortable closed shoes (for rain) and that your sandals are suitable for a lot of walking and standing. Flip flops don't do it for me...

You need to realize a couple of things:

New York in the summer is nothing like Ireland - it's WAY hotter (think Spain for a better idea). I find jeans just too hot in the summer.

Sandals and flip flops are fine as long as you have some real shoes too - since you will run into rain (and in the summer we sometimes have thunderous downpours - not a gentle mist like Ireland). So - with flip flops you'll have wet, filthy feet.

Shorts depend on what you're doing and your age. Students wear shorts all the time. For adults - shorts are not really appropo for theater or restaurants beyond neighborhood casual.

Also- don;t know if you plan on any nightlife. For bars and casual clubs your things will work. For trendy clubs (if that's your goal) you need really trendy (not dressy - but trendy) clothes that look expensive/designer - even if they're not.

If you're working in a hotel they usually have required dress for staff - I would contact them to see what it is. (If not an official uniform they often require white shirts and black trousers or skirts with a blazer or equivalent jacket.)

And since dry cleaning is so expensive in NYC - don;t bring anything you can;t throw in the washer.

It gets very hot in the summer in New York, and the heat can feel magnified in the midst of all the buildings, sidewalks, etc. But when I am in New York in the summer I see all sorts of people dressed in clothes--especially jeans--that I would consider too hot. I think a filmy skirt would be excellent in the heat, as would a sundress or two, but people, especially young people, do seem to keep wearing jeans.

I think everyone in New York must use drop-off laundry services, as many buildings do not seem to have laundry facilities. My 24-year-old daughter in Brooklyn spends about $15-$20 a week on laundry, I think the rates are about 70 to 90 cents a pound.

Yes - older brownstone buildings don;t have laudry facilities (1890s to 1910 pipes often won;t take the water pressure). But many larger buildings (even like mine from the 1920's have a large communal laudry rooms with a unch of washers and driers).

But we still do many thing at the cleaners (they do washing by the pound too) - we drop off in the am and they deliver back within a day or two depending on your needs.

i just moved to the upper east side [from another state], and it seems that everyone takes their clothes to a wash and fold place to have them done. there is a min # of pounds...usually 6 to 8 pounds. the place i go to charges me $6.50. they smell REAL nice. comes folded...no ironing.

A nice knee length - or whatever length you like - cotton skirt - plain - or simple pattern - will go almost anywhere. I think NY can be dreadfully hot. But a skirt is very versatile and easy to maintain.

Hi IrishGrl, I think your choices are great!
Thosw who work in hotels tend not to dress casually- so "business casual" is appropriate. it also depends on the type of hotel you will be staying and your position at the hotel. Slacks or a skirt with a top would be fine. No casual shoes in the work enviornment ( no sneakers, flip-flops) You migth actually just call the reception desk and ask someone who works there what kind of dress is appropriate.
For non -work casual activities, casual dress is very appropriate. New York can be very hot and humid in the summer time. Weathet tends to be in the upper 80s fahrenheit. We can have heat waves of tempratures in the upper 90s as well.

For elegant evening events, such as the ballet, "evening wear" is appropriate.

I think you will love NY in the summer! There is always a lot going on! Please elt me know if you have any questions!

Welcome to America Irishgirl! As you can see from the various posts, we are not all alike! Your choices look great and I would even suggest that you not over pack-you'll have lots of shops here and why not pick up a thing or two! Shopping is by the way part of NYC experience after all!

PS: gauzy cotton skirts are nice for the city heat and capris are always easy to dress up or down with heel choices.

I should have read your question better IrishGrl.

Your list is perfectly fine for casual wear.

NewbE, I live in South Carolina which is much hotter for a much longer part of the year than NYC and wear black pants year round.

Thanks for the replies. I was indeed talking about casual wear, I will likely have a dress code/uniform for work but am taking a smart outfit just in case.

I know NY is a lot hotter than Ireland (which wouldn't be hard - it's cold and raining here right now!). I have lived in Italy and wore jeans there in Rome, in summer, although I agree they aren't the most sensible choice. What about the evenings though? Does it cool down at all? In any case I'll probably wear a pair on the plane and bring another pair.

I'm 22, so I assume casual type stuff is OK. I have weirdly shaped feet and find most shoes/sandals uncomfortable so I was thinking of bringing my very padded, comfortable flip flops for daily wear as well as smarter shoes and sneakers. Do people wear those dark coloured Puma sneakers there or will I stand out as a Euro tourist? I'm thinking they are light to pack in the case, and suitable for both jogging and daily wear. They're probably therefore a better idea than Converse All stars, which have no support for your feet, and I don't own any other sneakers.

I don't intend to go out anywhere fancy, perhaps a moderately priced restaurant or a bar now and again. I don't have anything flashy or designer so I'm hoping all black with heels will be OK!

The laundry services seem a bit expensive. Are there many 'DIY' laundry places where you put in your own clothes and sit and wait until they're done? Or are they expensive too?

I think your ideas are right on. Many people will be wearing flip flops in the summer, and the Pumas sound perfect for when you need more support. The city doesn't cool down much at night because of all the concrete, and the main nuisance is the humidity, which makes it feel hotter. But of course it does cool down a bit, and the air conditioning indoors can be really cold, so an all-purpose cardigan, which you've listed, is nice to have. All black with heels will be just fine for going out, and you can be more casual than that at many places.

Sorry, can't help with the laundry questions...

Enjoy your stay--if you have time, let us know what you're seeing and doing that's fun.

I wouldn;t buy anything "new" since even your oldest clothes are going to seem "new" to newly-met people.

You will see absolutely EVERY KIND of clothing in New York...if you are even half as lovely as you sound what you wear will be totally irrelevant.

From observation of my 24-year-old daughter, jeans and "going out tops," ie, bare and dressier than a t-shirt, are the uniform of the young in bars and restaurants. She likes something with a heel in a going out shoe. I would say Pumas in every color are seen in NY. I suppose a coin laundry would be cheaper, I've just never seen one--they must exist, though? Maybe your building will have laundry facilities, if you are living in a bigger building.

summers are hot and humid, but can also be cool and rainy! prepare for both, and for moving from outdoor heat to indoor ac.

Ok thanks guys. Now I have an idea of what sort of clothing will be practical. It's tempting to bring all nice fashionable clothes but comfort is important in hot weather hehe and you have to consider that the stuff is going to be washed a lot. I'm sure I won't be able to resist buying a few items in NYC when I get there (so many nice things plus the US is really cheap for us right now) but I'm on a budget! Thanks for your help, I will definitely be posting soon about more important topics relating to my trip to NY!

IrishGrl, I wear my Pumas often in Manhattan and see them on others. You'll blend right in.

Pumas are very in- I have some myself-- though I am European and tend to prefer more dressy clothes than New Yorkers. You'll great! :)
In terms of weather- if the day is hot or warm, it will not cool down much for the night. I know exactly what you are asking- in Europe mornings and evenings are much cooler than midday. In New York, the early afternoon is the warmest part of day. Certainly bring a light jacket with you. However, if it is a 90 day, you will not be needing it!

You will have a great time! LL