East Coast vs. West Coast
A perhaps biased take on it from a New Yorker!
There’s always been a slight secret competition between the East and West Coast. Whether it is in music, when people spent hours debating who the best rapper alive is, Biggie or Tupac. Or perhaps the dispute has been between who has the best food. However today I am here to talk about fashion! This is in no way an actual competition, more like a celebration of cities and a mere observation from
an East Coaster that abandoned her puffy coat and snow boots and came to live in sunny San Francisco.
I was born and raised for the most part in the Bronx, New York and I absolutely love that city. It is made up of so many different people and cultures. You could pretty much find a neighborhood for every type of ethnicity. I feel as though that is important to note because it has an influence on the fashion as well. Washington Square Park is that there is a simultaneous blend between cultures and fashion that makes for greatness.
The underlined theme in a New Yorkers life is to always look good when you walk out that door. This is why we are always in a rush and always appear to be running late somewhere. The reason is, we took way too long getting dressed and now we have to sprint across the city to get to where we are going. It doesn’t matter the weather, a sunny day in spring or a snowy day in winter, if you come to city you are bound to see someone looking chic and fabulous walking on the sidewalk as if it were a runway. From fur coats and over-the-boots to maxi skirts, crop tops and wedges people there are always putting thought to their outfits.
In September I moved from NYC to San Francisco and what a change that was. Not in a bad way at all, just in the way that I had to re-adjust my thinking. San Franciscans and their fashion are extremely laid back. Coming from a city in where I felt like I was running in the 5k race every time I stepped out of my house, I had to slow down a bit here. In weekday mornings in NYC especially around the financial district, you see a lot of suits and heels; meanwhile in the financial district in San Francisco you see lots of blazers, jeans, and flats. While the weekends back home are for dressing up and showing out, here they are more for lounging. On a Saturday morning you are bound to see everyone on Polk Street eating in cafes, sporting their yoga pants or sweats with matching Nikes. Comfort is more the underlined factor here.
On a Saturday night during my first couple of weeks in the city, my roommate invited me to a birthday party at a lounge. I thought to myself, “I know this is San Fran and the scene here is more chill.” I wore a T-shirt dress with a leather jacket over it, some black pumps, and a black hat because that would be considered laid back at home. When I arrived at the place and looked around, I felt so overdressed (a feeling I eventually got used to) everyone else was wearing jeans and flats or combat boots. All her friends kept asking me where I was from, a question I have gotten so much since living here. When I answered New York City, they replied “Oh, I totally get that!”
Here's a little video based on what people had to say in both places. Enjoy!
