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Slobbish in Manhattan
Just got back from a weekend jaunt to the Big Apple. Most of it was fantastic...dinner at Roberto Possons, saw Curtains, drank champange at the antiques show, tried on estate jewelry and couture clothing. The bad side? I caught a glimpse of me in a window and was horrified.
So I wore black cords and black shoes. So far, no problem. But I also tossed on my favorite pine-green sweater. Here's where things get dicey. My coat is burgundy and my hat is burgandy with a little pink. And just in case I didn't look silly enough with these colors... My overnight bag is light blue and cream. OK, it's a Louis, but I've got to tell you. I looked awful! So. How do YOU travel in style? Got any tips? |
Hmm..I just refuse to own non-stylish clothes. Simple :-)
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Oh, E_M, you're too funny, I'm sure you didn't look THAT bad!
Sadly, I offer the most boring tip of all: I wear a lot of black, grey and white when I travel. I like those "colors" anyway, everything matches, and I do add the odd scarf or jewelry for a spot of color. I wish I could coordinate a variety of stylish outfits with flair, but together with all the other moving parts of travel, it's too much. |
To elaborate on my previous post, as a New Yorker, my "car" is my handbag, coat, and shoes. I tend to purchase neutral (black or navy) luggage, but I love color in my wardrobe. I tend to invest in statement pieces each season, so it behooves me to buy neutral items that I use less frequently, like luggage. I love these coats:
http://www.mackage.com/ And right now I'm carrying a red patent leather goldenblue parker tote as my work bag. When I pack, I definitely pack with whole outfits in mind and they are keyed to the activites that I'm planning to do while I'm traveling. I make sure that I'm carrying all the appropriate outerwear and handbags. If an outfit doesn't fit in with either, then it gets swapped out. I'm super vain :-), and I'm cranky if I leave the house feeling less than pretty. |
E_M: Happy to hear that you had a great weekend in NYC. You ask for tips so here are a couple:
1. Ditch the cords. Instead do a nice pair of black jeans or a dark wash. 2. Ditch the black shoes. Get a good pair of comfortable, flat,(one inch heel) black, leather ankle boots. 3. Time for a new coat: Try a neutral. Black, Brown. 4. With your black jeans, black boots, black or brown sweater(and maybe a blazer/jacket...cute jackets out there....) & black or brown coat try a stylish scarf that incorporates black & brown. If your coat has a hood you may not need the hat. Wear black or "brown/rust" leather wool lined gloves. Sunglasses & you are ready!! :) |
As you've seen, you can't have separate color commitments to your coat and overnight bag. Major pieces have to match or coordinate.
Most of us achieve this by using a lot of black pieces, especially shoes and bag. Personally I invested in a winter coat in my favorite color (coral red), a plaid scarf, and everything else including purse and luggage is neutral colors (black or cream). As you can see, this isn't so different from your burgundy coat and multicolor hat. But then you can't have a bag in a totally different color. |
That was a great coat site!
I know it's time for a new coat, mine is old anyway and needs to be replaced in a year or so. I love burgundy, and it goes with most of my wardrobe, but as I discovered, not all. I also love that it's a long coat, so it keeps me warm when the mercury drops, as it did this weekend. Actually, I've searched ALL OVER for a comfortable pair of 1 inch heeled shoes or boots that I can walk all over town in, but haven't been successful. I don't wear jeans. I know the Louis wasn't the most practical of purchases, especially since I don't wear anything cream or pale blue! But it was PRETTY, and it was retail therapy. Thanks for all the good tips! |
The Louis sounds gorgeous, so why don't you work with it? Purchase a gorgeous cream or winter white wool jacket.
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Because when I wear light colors, I become Pig Pen...I attract every piece of dirt and grime in the vicinity!
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What about a brown coat? Brown with cream and light blue? With a light blue scarf to pick up the color in the carryon.
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wow - are you Carson Kressley? Amazing outfit.
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I just got back from Vegas myself, and swore I would not look like the hordes who think velour sweats are OK to wear on an airplane and beyond (I know, they're comfortable ... but nice dark jeans that fit are comfortable too, and they don't look like you just got out of bed...).
Anyway, most of my wardrobe basics are neutrals (black or tan), but I love color. So, I picked one color - RED - to go with all my neutrals, and went with it for the entire weekend (it also happens to match my rollaboard). So, red leather jacket, red loafers (with 2-inch wedge heel), red silky tops for evenings, red handbag, etc. For cooler weather locales, I also have a red wool car coat (as well as black, chocolate and tan coats). With the boring basics in neutrals, it's easy to pick the POP color. (It also made it easy for me to justify the purchase of extravagant red suede boots which caught my eye...) As shoes go, check out zappos.com. You can search by type of shoe (e.g. black boot w/ 1-inch heel). A lot of people are leery about shopping for shoes online, but with free returns, it's easy to buy several pairs, try them on, and return the ones you don't want. |
My tip is to concentrate on where you are rather than yourself. I live in NY and we get over 45 million visitors a year and we do not take names and photographs to see who is dressed well and evenly proportioned. While looking in the mirror you miseed one of the greatest cities in the world.
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Aduchamp, take another look at the original post -- she caught a glimpse of herself in a window, this wasn't some vanity trip.
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Tess, LOL ;) Glad you like the outfit!
Now what shd we wear on Day 2? |
Velour sweats are NOT OK to wear on a plane? Uh oh...I better talk to the fashion police before I fly next time. I may be in big trouble!
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wow - velour sweats for day 2? :S-
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My mother-in-law has a saying that she likes to use, especially when she travels...it's "Nobody knows you, nobody cares." It's worked many a time. :)
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Aduchamp, take another look at the original post -- she caught a glimpse of herself in a window, this wasn't some vanity trip.
3/4 of the posting was about her. Please go back and re-read it. |
Geez, just because she chose to write THIS post about travel clothes, shouldn't suggest she "missed the city". In fact, if the "critic" would care to, one could easily click the screen name and find many other New York posts she's posted on numerous times. Of course doing that isn't as much fun as insulting posters, is it?
If someone goes to Paris and writes about the food, does that mean they missed the museums and architecture? Give me a break. I think some people just like to run others down here. |
I think the velour sweats are a generational thing. I work with several twenty-somethings, and they wear them quite a bit, while I wouldn't be caught dead in an airport in what I still think of as gym clothes. Besides, there are velour sweats, and then there's Juicy... ;-)
Patrick, I agree with you--some people here will grab at any opportunity to be snide, and whatever for?? |
I personally will take your photograph and ask you for your name if you are not well-dressed and ill-proportioned. So there.
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If people want to wear sweats on the plane -- and beyond -- fine for them. There are certainly plenty who do. But it's not for me.
Anyway, E_M wanted to know how others travel in style. Not really a call for the reverse snobbery of suggesting that people who care how they look are somehow missing out on the travel experience. |
Tess, JNY does a nice black, comfy pant w/ zip jacket (not a hoodie) & a little, black sleeveless thing to wear under the jacket....w/ the black leather ankle boot, the scarf, jewellery(some interrsting neck piece), the sunglasses & the black(or brn...I choose black) coat (wear this on the plane).
Carson K. |
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Oh, thank goodness. When I saw the title I was afraid someone had seen me in New York last weekend in my light blue microfiber parka and was going to paste a link to a photo here on Fodors. I was at Roberto Passon also, and I was sure I was the most slobbish person in the place, especially compared to the stunningly beautiful young people at the long table along the side of the restaurant.
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Actually I'm surprised that E_M and Nikki also weren't attacked for eating in one of those horrible restaurants near the theatre district -- in this case the very popular Roberto Passon. Haven't they also read the locals' reports that there are no decent places to eat there and you're supposed to travel away from that convenient area so you can eat at "good" restaurants?
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E-M, don't worry, you dressed like most native NYrs on a casual outing.
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Sorry, don't mean to get on the OP's good experience at Roberto Passon. But, I'm biting on the locals comment by one poster here.
I'm a local and I will stand by most other locals who all think that Roberto Passon is a below average place by our standards, especially for the price they charge for those bland dishes, and for the most boring wine list anywhere west of 5th Avenue. |
OK, when traveling on the plane - if the weather is appropriate, I wear velour sweats. Tough if you don't like it. [-X They're not cheap. They're either Juicy (yes, I'm blonde, thin and look great in Juicy - so there! :x ), Ralph Lauren or some lovely pieces I've purchased at Nordstrom and I don't remember the brand.
But, while in the city, I usually wear black slacks, comfortable and stylish shoes and a pretty top with a jacket for layering, depending on the time of year. Other times, it's a tailored look and other times, it's dressy. It depends on the occasion. |
LOL, sally is my idol. cameltoe rules! i wear pink sweat pants (juicy knockoff) that says 'jui say' on the hiney.
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E_M and NIkki - perhaps we were ALL at Roberto Passons on the same night? Funny if we were but did not know it? I was there on Saturday at 6 for pre-theater and LOVED my meal, as always - even though I do in fact (gasp) eat outside the theater district/hells kitchen on many other occasions :)
But, I always enjoy their white asparagus, prosciutto, poached egg ,brown butter, parmesan and the veal piccata.....garlic spinach, capers, lemon......and a nice glass of wine and those profiteroles - certainly not what I'd describe as standard - and at fair prices in my mind. E_M: as far as your original ? - If you saw me this weekend, you likely would not have noticed anyway......black pants, black boots, my favorite black travel coat (maxmara) , and on any day/night: either a taupe sweater, creme tops w/ black cashmere cardigan - various color shaded pearls and a strong lavendar scarf for a dash of color (black bag, black gloves.....black fur ear warmers....) boring and black - My travel outfits are always based around either the black, the brown, or the cream/taupe basics with some color in a sweater or jewelry/scarf - mostly b/c it is easier packing - small weekender bag - and leave my mixing/matching/other outfits for when at home. But personally, I don't care what anyone is wearing as long as it is clean and as long as they have a smile on their face and are enjoying themselves ! |
Escargot, we arrived Saturday at 7 PM, just as the pre-theater folks were leaving. I was the one standing in everyone's way with a large group by the coat rack as we were coming in and you were leaving. I tried to get out of your way, I really did. Then my group sat at a long table in front of the bar. I wish I had known.
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Escargot, if you were there at 6, then we definately saw each other! I was sitting at a little table by the window with my sister. Unfortunately, I looked like everyone else...wearing a black dress!
Just out of curiosity...if BB doesn't like Possons...where else can you recommend? Oh, and Lizzie...so that was YOU who took my picture? ;) This thread is really quite...entertaining. Though I concur with the poster who said that because I posted THIS thread about clothing doesn't mean that's all I thought about on my trip. Anyway...I like to look nice. Not a crime. I just love Max Mara, too. I still regret not buying a coat there in Rome two summers ago. Now, I am on the hunt for a new winter coat. |
Escargot - You were back in Manhattan for your Jan trip?? We had to skip our's this year. Sigh. Any cupcakes?? Did you stay at the Michelangelo? All of you have made Roberto Passons sound fab.
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Here are some Italian restaurants that are downtown not Little Italy
Caci e Pepe-romano I Coppi-tuscan Supper-Northern Italian-small and crowded Perbacco-small dishes each better than the previous one Barbone I Trulli And most expensive-L'Impero (Near the UN) That should get you started. |
EM and Escargot, if only we had been wearing Fodors pins! What are the odds?
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I travel with washable all black clothes, a little bottle of Woolite and a plastic hangar....one suitcase =10 days. I use silk underwear and layers to adjust to weather changes. Add color like the French with a scarf, gloves, depending on the season...for me its all about the accessories but the feet gotta be happy.....I like brightly colored wallets/bags because I'm less prone to walk away from them (yup, I am a blonde) or lose them in the room. BTW my coat is red, easy to spot and fairly forgiving with dirt. Be comfy...it will show on your face!
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Oh if only we had known ! Birdie you are right, this is just like what happened last year to us in the Michelangelo lobby.....
My daughter and I were at RP's from 5:30 until about 7-7:15 when we left for the theater and we did have to scoot past a large crowd by the door - maybe it was you Nikki !! EM, so you were along the front window and my daughter and I were along the one long brick wall running between the front windows and the back ...opposite from the entrance....so close! BIRDIE !! :) - YES, we were back for our Jan gtg with friends and were at the Michelangelo again - no cupcakes this time but GREAT food and the best choc chip cookie on one of the food tours - I know you'll enjoy it so here is the report: http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35099570 but I went back again just this past weekend for a mother/daughter wknd, again at MIchelangelo and we went to a great place - Lady Mendl's - for tea, if you like that put this on your list for next time- and here's that wknd highlights: http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35105078 |
Escargot, that was our group for sure. One real tall guy and six women. Five of us all lived in a house together in college.
This is my writeup of our weekend: http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35104493 |
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