How Should I Dress to Move to a New City?

I’m transferring throughout the nation to a brand new metropolis quickly, and I’m attempting to organize for the tradition shock. Any recommendation on methods to adapt to the style norms of a brand new place with out compromising on what I really like about how I gown? — John, Philadelphia

Each main metropolis has its model stereotypes, typically many on the similar time. New York is darkish colours and conceptual shreds, banker suiting and Park Avenue bouclé. Seattle is fleece. (So is San Francisco.) Dallas is cowboy boots and diamonds. Los Angeles is leggings and Erewhon cups. Paris is blazers and completely draped scarves. And so forth.

I’m not saying that is true, you perceive. These are apparent clichés. However clichés exist as a result of they’ve some crucial mass in reality. And the reality is, everytime you get a concentrated variety of individuals in a single place, as you do in an city heart, a trend ethos will emerge. One with its personal language and staples borne of the dominant business of the place, its local weather, its worth system and the visible make-up of town itself: its colours, constructing blocks and historical past.

You’ll gown otherwise in a heat place with low stucco buildings the place you might be usually outdoors and may see an expanse of blue (sky) and inexperienced (grass) than you’d in a spot of concrete and chrome steel. Gown codes are additionally tradition codes, and each place has its camouflage.

So the very first thing to think about is how a lot you need to slot in. Or, conversely, to sign to these round you that you’re a transplant. In any case, if you’re new to a spot and undecided of the mores, and even the very best spot to get espresso, it may be helpful to let individuals know. And gown is a solution to handle expectations.

I get the need to be one with the gang (now we have all been via center college) and to keep away from the sticky prejudices that typically connect to coming from elsewhere — you’re a snob, or pretentious, or a hick. However don’t low cost the attract of being the brand new man on the town. Or of being a person in relation to model, which may recommend impartial pondering and creativity.

To that finish, it’s nice to stay with the wardrobe you could have, particularly if it makes you are feeling snug, no less than to start with. Transferring to a brand new metropolis generally is a shock and all the time requires a interval of adjustment. There’s no have to upend the way in which you telegraph your identification — which is, in spite of everything, the purpose of trend. Choices (particularly ones that contain cash) ought to by no means be made in haste and with out all obligatory data. Like a way of what everybody wears. And that occurs solely with firsthand expertise.

Within the meantime, small changes can usually take you far. In case your new place is extra informal than your outdated, put on a swimsuit jacket with denims as an alternative of matching pants, or a skirt with sneakers reasonably than heels. Whether it is much less informal, add a shiny scarf or just tuck in your shirt.

To a sure extent, wardrobe adaptation occurs by attrition. Items that will have appeared alien to you in your outdated house will, when seen usually sufficient, seem to be pure purchases in your new. A great good friend who moved from Brooklyn to Seattle a couple of years in the past informed me that she knew she had lastly settled in when she realized she may purchase her work garments at REI.

Your Model Questions, Answered

Each week on Open Thread, Vanessa will reply a reader’s fashion-related query, which you’ll ship to her anytime through email or Twitter. Questions are edited and condensed.