Can I be honest? I think I’m having a smidge of a style identity crisis. Living in NYC has totally changed how I look at clothing and my personal style. From both a practical standpoint and also a personal one.
I think during the winter I actually fell into a groove. I felt pretty good in my good winter coats and scarves,plus a few good beanies that added a pop of color. Comfort also felt like it was key in winter to deal with cold and snow and I truly felt good about it all. Sure, I just wish the season was a bit shorter, but who’s counting the days to summer anyway…
But as we move into spring I am utterly confused in every way. I have been shooting with a photographer to share some of my latest looks and some of these outfits are being dragged right into the trash bin on my computer and may never see the light of day.
And some, like today’s, make me feel like I’m maybe onto something and things might be okay. This look in black shorts, and a go-to blazer, and my favorite loafers made me feel cool, edgy, and spot on to my personal style. It also was practical for NYC. It’s comfortable, easy layers, and a decent shoe for walking. A total win and one that went from camera to real life within 24 hours.
Figuring Out My Style In NYC
But I’m truly struggling and questioning so many things in my closet. And it’s causing me to have a bit of an identity crisis as I try to put looks together for my day to day. Including attending influencer events, meetings or just grabbing lunch with a friend, I’m definitely living a whole lot more here in NYC than I have in a while.
I think overall it’s making me work harder to fine tune my style, and also better understand how to dress for weather and seasons more appropriately. Something I didn’t really need to do living in Atlanta. But here are some of my current style struggles that I’m working through and maybe you can relate. And maybe we’ll make it through the style crisis together.
My Current Style Struggles
I think there are two parts to my current style struggles. And neither is really being in a style rut per se. I have been in a style rut before which I’ve talked extensively about here. And I don’t think I’m really in that phase by any means. I just think I keep putting outfits together that are fine but I end up being miserable due to the weather or number of steps I end up doing in a day. Or maybe my style is evolving and it hasn’t quite landed yet. It’s probably a mix of it all.
And yes, I’ll be going through some of the steps I discuss in my how to get out of a style rut post and also how to create your own style. But the below two pain points still feel like totally different (and new) beasts for me to tackle.
The Practicality Of It All
Walking
I knew moving to a walking city was going to completely alter my style and choices. And one of the main reasons was for the practicality of it all. Doing 20,000 steps in a heel is not an option for me. Maybe it’s your truth, it isn’t mine.
So sneakers or finding a comfortable flat (even though I hate flats besides maybe a chunky loafer) are really my only options. This can completely transform a look and is definitely causing me to flounder at times.
Sure there are days I am simply heading to an event and can wear a heel because I’m not doing a ton of walking. That’s fine and all. But it’s really the days I want to look put together, still look cool and also be comfortable that I am questioning it all.
The Weather
Not to mention the weather. This reflects shoe choices, layers needed and also accessories like an umbrella. It’s caused me to even question if my stupid umbrella reflects my personal style. I know that’s insane, but choosing a hot pink umbrella is not my vibe. See what I mean? The umbrella color choice is in fact, a style choice at the end of the day.
Experiencing real spring weather is also throwing me through a bit of a loop. The slightly cooler weather requires layers and jackets I never would’ve considered before. A part of me is excited for this because it allows for more use of the pieces I have and can play a bit more with them. So I’m trying to embrace it while I complain just a smidge because my word spring is COLD.
So putting outfits together while keeping these things all in mind is definitely creating a bit of contention between me and my closet. I knew there would be an adjustment to this new lifestyle, but I don’t think I’d realize how much it would also affect the personal style aspect of it all.
The Cool Factor
One of the best things about New York City is the individuality everyone seems to have. You can walk down a street and see some wild outfits, interesting looks, polished preppy vibes and more. The styles are endless and anything goes. It’s liberating honestly. And I think that has made me question if I’ve been dressing too safe. Or if there’s room for me to experiment and try things out.
This alone has made me want to shop but I’m going in blind almost. I thought I knew my personal style, and while there are looks I still create that I love from what I have, there is also a part of me that wants to evolve it a bit.
And I think that’s the hard part. Maybe it’s the fun part? But I don’t like the grey in-between when I’m figuring it out and having to shop for things and fine-tune things. It’s a bit of work to do all of that! Not to mention it also costs money to totally update some things in your wardrobe.
Being influenced by the incredible street style here in NYC, I think, is a great thing. It’s inspiring, and motivating and one of the things I love about being here. But I think it’s made me reflect on what the hell am I putting out into the world, especially on the insanely stylish streets of New York.
What I Plan To Do
No rocket science here. But I think it’s time to re-read my own blog posts. I’ll be re-reading this post and following the steps again to make sure I’m checking things off and editing my style. And I think it’s time to play dress up again in my closet through a new lens of now being in NYC.
And when I put on outfits like this one today which feels very much like me and works for my new life in a walking city, I need to find new ways to recreate it with what I have. Swapping out similar items and creating different variations of it. Taking mental notes, or screenshots of what is working so I can reference it later when I’m standing in front of my closet not knowing what on earth to wear.
I have a feeling you’ll be seeing a bit of a new look here as I slowly figure it all out and edit my own closet. Spring is definitely giving me a bit of a style complex. And until we’re up in the 75+ degree days, it’s time for a little more experimenting.
