A Tale of Two Seasons

I was taking the 6 uptown yesterday when the chicest girl stepped on. She was wearing what I can only describe as a short-sleeved trench coat dress (it was not this cute Doo.Ri one that we found, but that’s your basic idea), with flats and an orange scarf. I was cursing myself for not having a camera with me, when a totally different thought struck me - isn’t she overheated wearing that?

We keep hearing about, and seeing, girls wearing tights this summer. And we’re even really digging the ones that Vogue UK wrote about today. A trench and a scarf in the middle of a New York summer, especially underground, seems even crazier.

What’s with the blurring of lines between seasonal dressing? Is it a sort of grass-is-always-greener syndrome: when it’s warm, we want to dress like it’s cold, and when it’s cold we want to dress like it’s warm?

Or maybe it’s because the weather has been so wonky. If Mother Nature is only giving us winter and summer, we need to work in our spring and fall dressing somehow, even if it’s a little weird and unpractical. File this under: “the lengths we’ll go for fashion.”

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

posted by kawiline

Jul 15, 2009 1:15PM

First of all, I'm OBSESSED with that trench.

Second, I think you're right on both accounts--it's the grass is greener effect AND the crazy not-summer we're having. I'm dressing for fall in July!

posted by mpw

Jul 15, 2009 1:24PM

I saw a girl on the subway today wearing black jeans, black jacket, a scarf, and boots. She looked cute, but I wondered how she wasn't a sweaty mess -- it's actually hot today!

posted by nycshoegal

Jul 15, 2009 1:38PM

my issue with what to wear in the summer is the fact that airconditioned offices and stores are SO incredibly freezing.
In college i was constantly sick in the summertime for that one reason - AC. So maybe your trench girl just works in a cold office. Because really, how many layers of extra clothes can one fit in their Speedy on a daily basis?

posted by guest

Jul 15, 2009 3:02PM

On the subject of tights- even though they're traditionally a fall and winter accessory, they really aren't hot to wear in the summertime, unless it's so hot that just sitting down makes you sweat. I think more people are thinking of it as another old-fashioned rule, like not wearing white after labor day. At least that's just my take on it...

Jul 15, 2009 3:37PM

I think nycshoegal is right - my office is like a meatlocker no matter how hot it is outside. I'm always wondering if I look freakishly overdressed on the subway myself. I'm going to guess that that's a yes.

posted by sam alex

Jul 15, 2009 7:57PM

i am sooo happy to see this. i feel so validated. i swear to something, when I first moved to nyc, my first thought was, "do new yorkers not sweat?!" no matter the temp there are people layering like it's the tundra. i think i'm actually just envious. i sweat if i just think about wearing a scarf.

Jul 15, 2009 8:53PM

I think it depends on the temperature and on the amount of time you actually spend outside. I often wear tights and scarves in the summer (though normally not on the same day,) as long as it's not significantly over 70 degrees.

posted by RashomonRebel

Jul 16, 2009 10:40AM

It might be different for the girls here but when I see guys with a scarf and those toboggan/beanie things or even worse, a cardigan, while wearing flipflops and a tee in 80º weather, I'm thinking dude, you are not European so quit mish-mashing all the trends because you are as white as the inside of the Guggenheim.

posted by darcykins

Jul 16, 2009 10:55AM

i'm perplexed rashrebel.
maybe things are different in new york but i've never seen anyone wear a toboggan in summer or in winter not even in europe, where according to you its acceptable? and why can't white people mix trends? as a white canadia-european i am offended.
toque?

Jul 16, 2009 11:07AM

#9, you were bored but I don't know about cute because I haven't received those pictures yet.

Jul 17, 2009 7:02AM

I agree, I don't even wear jeans in the summer... I get hot way too easily!