San Diego to New York

(Last holiday post) My mum gave me the idea to compare the style in San Diego and New York!

                                               

San Diego is a very beach oriented city with the stereotypical surfer style. Surfing is huge is San Diego - they even get taught it in their P.E lessons! Therefore it's not surprising that the fashion reflects this popular interest.

Everyone I saw on the beach looked effortlessly chilled. Swimwear is essential. No one wears underwear, bikini tops replace the standard bra. All clothing worn on top had to be light weight to cope with the heat and I to deal with wet swimwear.

Straw Hat (Target) Crocheted Top (Cherry Red - Shop in my own town, now closed), Bikini (New Look) Shorts (H&M) Sandles (Target)

Holey and crocheted items are very popular as no wet marks are left, they are airy and allow you to show off your bright bikini. Sandals are also a must as they stop your feet boiling up and stop sand getting in a shoe you can't get it out of. For the beach, if you're just going to lie about I'd go for a cheapy pair of spongy flip flops so that they're easy to kick off. If you're walking more, I'd choose sandles with straps that attach the shoe to your foot because when you're walking in the sand or through the water a shoe can easily slip off and float away towards the horizon. No one wants that!

With the California sun, hats and sunglasses are must. They're needed for protection but that doesn't mean they can't be pretty. I really like the soft colour of the straw hat and crocheted top which let's me add splashed of colour like the beads on my hat, my bikini and shorts. A brilliant chance to combine minimalist clothes with elaborate extras. I usually get cheap sunglasses because I break them so easily. Oops.

So, New York. Wow. Where do I even start? New York is an absolutely amazing city with its towering skyscrapers contrasting with it's old fashioned apartment blocks with roof gardens, its lights and, of course, its endless supply of yellow cabs. My amazing mum booked our hotel in the middle of Times Square! So we were slap bang in the middle of the action.

It was extremely difficult to spot a particular style that was common in New York especially in Times Square which was filled with tourists. However, I quickly figured out a way to spot the locals. They would generally be walking purposefully, usually had a moody expression and were the fearless individuals who would dodge the oncoming traffic to cross the road instead of waiting for the green man.

The locals I saw in Times Square generally seemed to be there for work as they would be would be wearing staple outfits like suits and smart shirts. Although simple looking, they were effortlessly stylish. Many also brightened up their basic work clothes with a bright primary coloured shirt and/or a statement pair of shoes.

I also noticed that bright patterns were a huge hit. This may only have been because of the gorgeous summer weather in New York but I loved it either way.

Blazer (New Look) Shirt (H&M) Belt (New Look) Jeggings (Dorothy Perkins) Shoes (New Look) Bangles (Oxfam)

I've tried to recreate the stylish basic work look that I saw in New York but also tried to make it more casual for every day wear by adding a pair of black jeggings to do so. Sticking to the block colour idea, I added this simplistic bright blue T-shirt which compliments the black and isn't too in your face. I bought this blazer originally for school but I love wearing it casually as well. It creates a smart element to the outfit but, by rolling up the sleeves, it doesn't look to interview-like. It is also warm enough to act as a jacket in mild weather. The plaited belt adds a little splash of detail that stands out against an otherwise rather plain outfit. These are actually my prom shoes! I barely wore them for most of the night (it's not easy dancing in six inch heels with a dress that touches the floor!) They are the same shade of royal blue as my dress and match the silver sequins on my dress so I had to have them! They simply add an extra statement to the outfit and heels are always great for making your pins look fab.

Kimono (New Look) Top (New Look) Shorts (Target) Shoes (Peacocks)

Ok, this might be a bit of a pattern clash but I love it. It's easy to wear either a statement dress or mix and match patterned pieces. Both the shorts and kimono are a light material so are similar in the way they way they lie against the skin. The shorts have a combination of colours including black, blue and white, therefore surprisingly compliment the kimono. The lacy vest top I added is of the same shade of burgundy that runs subtly through the shorts. Finally, throw on some rope wedges with open toes to add an elegant but summery touch!

Dress (H&M) Shoes (Peacocks) Earrings (Accessorize)

If you're not a fan of clashing patterns it's easy to buy just one statement item like this dress. The pink and green are a great combination and the zig zag pattern is much more interesting than standard straight horizontal lines. Horizontal lines are great for lengthening your figure and making you look taller. I thought these earrings added a nice touch but with a dress like this you really don't need many accessories as the dress speaks for itself! Again I've chosen my trusty wedges. Heels make your legs look great as well as aligning your body and improving your posture. The wedge makes the outfit slightly more casual and also more practical as they are easier than stilettos to walk in. It's also possibly to wear dolly shoes or plimsoles with this dress if you want to really tone it down. A dress like this is so great because it's very versatile and can be worn for numerous different occasions!

Speak soon! Love, alice