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You're receiving this email because you may have missed it in your inbox last week. This week's edition will be in your inbox tomorrow.
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It's official—this week marked one year since my move from the west coast out east, and the two feet of snow outside my apartment couldn't commemorate the anniversary more dramatically. Despite entering an apocalypse upon my arrival, moving to New York was the best decision I ever made—although that doesn't mean I don't miss everything and everyone in California dearly. And while this past year has challenged us all, forced us to reckon with harsh truths, and subjected us to deep losses, the one thing I am lucky to always be able to go back to for solace and escape, and even a little fun, is exploring our ability for personal expression through fashion and style.
That's not to say the industry itself isn't rife with its own harrowing problems, but it is to say thank you for letting me share the better side of it with you, and (hopefully) allowing me to be the break in your week when you need it. It's also to say thank you for encouraging me to keep it up, even when creativity has felt fruitless and frivolous—something I know we're all struggling with right now. I can put a lot of feelings about clothes and trends into words, but I really don't know how else to say your interest in my little baby side project truly does mean the world.
So to get back to the respite we could all use (sorry, this is a long one!), I naturally had to use this week's edition to reflect on something I've been taking note of since day one—the iconic style differences between Los Angeles and New York City and the key pieces that define them. This isn't to make generalizations, but to examine the thing I find most interesting in any city: the commonality residents and passers-through share in the way we dress and move about our chosen homes.
For my fellow bicoastal residents, I'd love to get your take on LA versus NYC style, too—just hit reply!
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Los Angeles vs New York City.
To start, my last documented outfit in Los Angeles, versus one of my first (and only) documented work outfits in New York City.
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BLAZER Vintage T-SHIRT Zara JEANS Topshop BOOTS Lulu's
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PARKA Aritzia DRESS Jonathan Simkhai BOOTS Zara
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The Investment Blazer vs The Investment Coat.
You can’t really justify an investment coat in the nearly year-round Los Angeles heat—but an investment blazer will shelter you from a cool night out (or once upon a time, your office’s freezing AC). My first New York purchase, of course, was my fully functional parka, and once that's out of the way, it’s tempting to snatch up every outerwear trend and splurge on all the statement coats. Instead, I’ve been slowly trying to acquire quality, timeless coats, so that by the time we can really dress up again, I can indulge in the most dramatic coat of the season.
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The Knit Dress vs The Voluminous Dress.
Summer may be brutal on both coasts, but in New York, they get sticky. While I was always dreaming of knitted dresses I could style year-round in LA, the only thing I wanted to wear in the east coast humidity are airy, voluminous dresses—preferably printed to hide the inevitable sweat.
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The Casual Jean vs The Statement Jean.
LA girls are professionals at styling baggy jeans of every variety with crop tops of every kind, with wide-leg jeans being a recent favorite. But one of the most common pieces I've spotted on city girls are statement pants—whether they're printed jeans, cool cargo styles, or funky vintage finds. While they, too, work with crop tops in the summer, they're also key to letting your personality shine when you're otherwise bundled up in layers during the colder seasons.
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The Instagram Bag vs The It Bag.
Even in Brentwood and Beverly Hills, I never felt as much pressure to have a designer bag as I do when walking through the West Village or Soho. There, you can spot any brand, from the gaudiest versions to the subtlest splurges. Personally, I felt there were only a few obvious choices of designer bags popular in Los Angeles, whereas more mid-price designs and Instagram dupes could get you by just as well.
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The Matching Set vs The One Piece.
At this point, it's fully acceptable to wear your athleisure all day in either city—but I'd argue for different reasons. In Los Angeles, where wellness is a lifestyle, a cute set is considered dressing up for your typical activities: weekend hikes, matcha dates, and Erewhon runs. In New York, where functionality is key, workout wear that passes as regular clothing (like exercise dresses and bra tops) is the secret to wicking sweat and occasionally smiling during the summer.
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If you're still reading this, thank you. I'd love you even more if you sent it to a friend!
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