but what really stuck with me when it came to new york street style, was how much of it there was. growing up casual west coast, i’m not accustomed to so many stylish people in one city. don’t get me wrong, vancouver has come leaps and bounds in the last few years, but we are still a very casual culture. if i wear heels in the day, a hat, or something deemed as “out there” i get the major stares. and i don’t think it’s right that i’m the odd man out because i’m not wearing jeans and a tee. there were so many people in nyc rocking awesome personal style that adam and i left our vacation completely inspired; motivated to stay true to who we are and what we want to wear. i often succumb to the pressure of fitting into the vancouver scene, but after our travels i say bring on the side eye looks! i think that there’s something incredibly special about seeing someone with a look that is very true to them. and we all know that when you look good, you feel good!
how about you? what’s the street style like in your hometown?
Glad you were so inspired by the trip Alicia. Toronto is a pretty stylish place, and it's also a very accepting place so even if you dress "out there" nobody really stares (for too long). And we run the gambit, you'll see stuff right off the runways, to boho city, to aunties in sarees. I love the mix of our city.
~Natasha Fatah~
beautiful dress love the pictures.
gorgeous and perfect for NYC! you brought some of your west coast style with you. yeah, i'm over the laid back "style" … it's so much more fun to play dress up 🙂
pandaphilia style
style is very laid back where I am in Ohio too! My fiance always jokes that people constantly stare at me when I go out because of the heels i wear or even a dress. Its frustrating!
http://coffeebeansandbobbypins.blogspot.com/
It's totally the same where I live: everyone is laid back to the extreme. Heels or even low wedges make me feel overdressed. Yet, honestly, I've grown to love standing out in a funky hat, abstract dress, or bright red lips. It's fun to be different! I do get quite a few stares, though, haha. 🙂
– Samantha
http://samlovesmakeup.wordpress.com
It was definitely a shock moving to Van! So different from Toronto, but especially New York! It's like 24/7 fashion eye candy! Almost overwhelming, but in such a good way 🙂 Glad you had such a good trip, loving the photos.
xo
haha true, vancity is very casual but I've notice some dress quite nice…mostly clothes from aritzia 🙂
Great outfit by the way, and I wish someday I will visit NYC!
HEYLJ
http://WWW.HEYLJ.COM/
Wow that dress is sooo beautiful!
I like Vancouver's laid back style, it totally suits the city and it's chill, relaxed, beachy vibe! I did adore new york though for the amazing fashion, it was like walking through the pages of a magazine all day long!
xoxo Bree
The Urban Umbrella
http://www.theurbanumbrella.com/
The first (and only) time I visited NYC, I was struck with the style the people had in the city. It's unlike other places and I was envious too! I went during high humidity weather and the idea of putting on something and STILL look chic really inspired me (and in fact made me feel a bit envious since I was dying!).
I live in SF and while the style/fashion here is its own, I always have the "grass is greener" effect where I think other places have unparalleled style. But, I guess I'm accustomed to what I see here and change is always nice. =)
xo,
nancy
Well I live in Mississippi right now and you can only imagine the style here. I wore polka dot pants , lime green tee and a fidora to Target an pretty much you could have thought I was walking around naked. I was really embarrassed when I first moved here but once I started blogging it all changed for me. We are in the process of moving to DC so I'm pretty excited about finding some DC bloggers to chy with. Alicia u have wonderful style and I would never hide it! I'm sure people in Vancouver will understand ur style years later ! Lol
XX-Myrna
http://mybeatboutique.blogspot.com
The dress is gorgeous! And I love how you paired it with the black boots to give it some extra edginess 😉 I totally agree with you about dressing up in the streets of Vancouver. Sometimes i feel that I have to dress "down" or casual on purpose because I don't want to be too flashy (my bf feels a lot of pressure when I dress up haha). However, recently I realized that it really does take a lot of confidence to dress however you like and it really doesn't matter what other people think. PLUS – you have good style so you have no reason not to strut it!
you're so right. the first thing i noticed when i stepped off the plane arriving from Sydney, Australia in Vancouver was all the rain jackets/ski jackets that people wore as their winter coat – I was appalled to say the least but in the last seven years I noticed that it really depends on the neighbourhood or places you go where you notice good style. What I'd like to see in Vancouver is more unique personal style = I feel people are still following trends too much (me included) rather than being unique in their style like people in NYC and Europe – where I'm living now – people are so stylish in their own way and have absolute confidence in their outfits – I love it! btw. you look gorgeous and i think it's funny that the people behind you are sooo not stylish considering the subject of your post!! heehe! 🙂
Aw, so glad you decided to blog about this – I'm sure there are so many other fashionable women in Vancouver (like me) who sympathise with this 100%. Go out there in your fancy clothes and welcome the sidelong glances… it just means you're doing something right! Seriously in love with your dress, by the way. It literally could not be more lovely.
xox,
Cee
Living in Orlando it's really a melting pot – even if you go to a fancy restaurant there's a guy with a hawaiian shirt and shorts at one table and a couple dressed to the nines at another. I used to want to "fit in" with the surrounding but I've found I love staying true to my own style no matter where I am and welcoming those stares! If I need to dress functional/practical then I do (I have no idea how people wear layers in the ungodly heat either), and if I want to look fancy then I'll look fancy. Great post and super relatable, beautiful dress, too!
Stephanie
twenty-something
Cute cute dress! Demands attention
I just wanted to comment that that is so true about how casual the styling is in Vancouver. If you go to Montreal, the fashion is all out there. You can wear a hat there as part of your outfit…but if you wear a hat in Vancouver, everyone stares at you like you're crazy. LOL. I'm talking about hats, not toques or baseball caps.
"…and i don't think it's right that i'm the odd man out because i'm not wearing jeans and a tee." i love this quote! i feel the exact same way.
what a great post, sweet girl!
Love this! I feel the same a lot of the time – I live in a small city, which is very casual. Luckily I go to uni where there is a bit more 'street style', but still, heels and 'trends' are usually out of place! I try and find a balance between what I want to wear, and what will make me feel comfortable 🙂
Life etc
My hometown style is pretty casual as well but dips far into the hipster pool too (I can't say that I don't as well as times lol).
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Completely agree with you on the laid back and relaxed vibe in Vancouver. I've been fighting the yoga pants culture since I became a Mom!
PS: You look really good – very New York via Vancouver:)
Raj
Pink Chai Style
i love your watch and bag! :> look gorgeous!
Vera
visit me on:
http://www.veraspop-upworld.blogspot.com
I'm so glad you had a great time! I agree. Fashion is not understated on the east coast, people are never afraid to be who they truly are!!
New York has the best street style. No other city compares!
I'm jealous of your NYC adventures. I really need to get there more often – especially because, living in Boston, I'm only about 3.5 hours away.
Love your pretty dress, and I am obsessed with your ankle boots. I need a pair like that for fall!
xo,
Hannah
http://www.chillairandperfume.blogspot.com
Being from interior BC and having grown up in AB-I feel your pain. I live in TO now and what a relief. I never fit in in Calgary and always found it so repressed/restricted when it came to fashion. If you are wearing anything that's not club wear or lululemon, you're definitely an oddity. So it was-I was an oddity. Wear what you want, you're stylish and they don't know what they're talking about!
http://www.silkandsparkle.com
Your hair is soooo long. Holy crap. Stunning and long and gorgeous.
Your NY pics rocked my world. I want to go back asap. Seriously so amazing.
Melissa xo
Fashion has no rules, rock the clothes you want with confidence! You have great style girl!
http://koopdekour.com/
it is a beautiful dress.
http://jenalyenns.blogspot.ca/
I'm jealous of your trip to NYC! I have never been, but would love to go sometime! Love that dress too – it's so pretty!