Three NYC Summer Outfits Inspired by The Sartorialist’s Shots of Women Riding Bikes in Milan
TBH, my outfit selections were were minimal and flowy and easy, yet urban and very much inspired by to The Sartorialist’s shots of women riding bikes in Milan.
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Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea (Late Afternoon), then straight to All Blues Bar (Downtown)
My goal with this outfit was to incorporate daytime/nightime, and also be more relaxed yet kinda hip.
dissh gaby mini dress ($169.99)
I have this dress in white and chocolate brown. I wore the chocolate brown one to the Gagosian gallery in Chelsea to see the Murakami exhibit (now closed) because I was going straight from that to drinks/quick bite and then onto the All Blues listening bar. (I feel like I keep having to say this, but the white dress falls longer on me and lands an inch or two above my knee, making it less ‘beachy’ looking for these purposes and more versatile IMHO. I have worn the white one in both urban settings as well as on the Cape for various activities.) The beauty of the chocolate brown one is that it will transition well into fall (adding a short cardigan sweater).
Aside: I have been eyeing this chocolate brown Faden dress by Rachel Comey, too, but there’s no way I’m spending over $700 on it. Also great for summer into fall. It’s fab, right?
As you can see, the dress has a deep V and also the arm holes are a deep cut. You can’t usually see any lingerie, but I wanted to make sure that underneath it I wore something I wouldn’t mind somebody getting a glimpse of (just in case). Since I was wearing chocolate brown, I wore the leopard bralette shown below (and matching panties).
Understatement Underwear Lace Plunge Bralette in Leopard ($103)
As an aside: I first learned about the Understatement line from following this cool body positive woman, and.bloom, on instagram. She is, to me, a much more realistic look at a ‘real life, but cool, sexy and hip 50+ woman’ than soooo many other sites. (I could do a whole column on the various 50+ women on instagram who I follow - some of whom often vex as much as inspire (looking at you, @paulinaporizkov and @graceghanem. (Actually, I think I will do that column. Also a column on lingerie brands I love, now that I think of it. Stay tuned.))
Anyway, I’ve gone on to buy a few lingerie pieces from Understatement and I find them fun, sexy and comfortable.
My Own Vintage Necklace from Lisbon
I wore my hair down and my only jewelry (at all - no earrings, no rings, keeping with a minimalist look) was a large chunky gold necklace that I got at a vintage store in Lisbon a few years ago. It kinda sorta has the feel of this one from Amazon in that it has large gold circles and the length is adjustable to accommodate a jewel or v-neck. I think the gold necklace brightened the look up a lot, and I happen to love the chocolate brown/gold combination for an urban summer look.
Since I would be out all afternoon and night in the same outfit, walking quite a bit, I wore this Birkenstock Papillo collaboration — I think the chunkier style can make it read a little hipper and edgier and funner (depending on what I am wearing with them). I like the neutral color because in my fantasy world it extends the eye and makes my legs look as long and lean as India Hicks’s.
Birkenstock Papillo Arizona Suede Sandals ($144)
I wear these sandals a lot. I wear a lot of white linen and cotton in the summer and think these work with most everything …
Members Night at The Metropolitan Museum, Plus Dinner at Chic UES Private Club
This was my first night and my flight was delayed landing in NYC, so I had to rush to my apartment to get dressed for a ‘Members Only’ viewing of the Sargeant and Paris show, followed by dinner at a chic UES private club. I threw on the outfit below.
I know that the outfit doesn’t look like anything special, but I am sharing it because I couldn’t believe how many strangers complimented me. The dress might look like a simple tailored number in these shots, but while I was waiting for my friend to arrive at the Met, three separate New York women left the line they were in and walked over to me, standing in my agreed-upon meeting spot under a tree, to compliment my dress (and ask where I got it). It’s the detail of the pleating around the neckline, I think, and the fact that it is such a crisp Italian-made poplin that looks easy but pulled together. It’s so versatile, too. I dressed it up by wearing my hair in a french twist with the fancy pearl earrings I show below, but it works just as well with a pair of white canvas sneakers for going to a farmer’s market …
I wore my hair up in a loose French twist. (It took me about six months of practice to be able to this effortlessly and I learned from this video. I use these for a full French twist.) Four women, between the museum and dinner, asked about my earrings. The flats are so basic, but I was walking ten blocks up to the museum, then twelve blocks down afterward for dinner so I needed basic flats. My goal for the shoes was to ‘not detract’ from what was intended to be a sorta’ relaxed elegant look.
The Celia Dress from Ann Mashburn ($350)
Anita Berisha Mini Mermaid Earrings ($300)
These are handcrafted summer ‘statement’ earrings that I wear for dinner when I am trying to add pizzazz to an otherwise simple outfit. In addition to the dress above, they look great with the chocolate brown dissh gaby mini dress (above-above).
French Sole Jigsaw Leather Napa Flat ($200)
Basic, feminine, the color blends in with whatever you’ve got on and highly walkable.
Diane Arbus at the Park Avenue Armory, plus Dinner in the West Village at Bangkok Supper Club
The Line by K Ritsu Skirt ($219)
I’ve had this Ritsu skirt for a couple years, and I told you about it last year when I was packing only carry on luggage for a three week autumn trip that incorporated St. Tropez, Porto (Portugal) and Madrid. It was bonkers useful for day and night on that autumn trip, and I wore it again for this summer day/night in NYC. The fabric isn’t cotton - it‘s a silky nylon blend that is both cool for a warm summer day, as well as versatile for day-to-night wear. It has pockets!
Flore Flore Anna T Shirt ($119)
I wore it with the Flore Flore Anna t-shirt that I already told you about when we had that whole exchange on versatile summer t-shirts in Letters No. 202 and 203. (I shared three favorites in our regular Three Things I’m Crushing On column, and then you wrote in with yours, which we added to No. 203 - thank you!) The Anna is from their lightweight line and it is a wonderfully delicate, thin cotton for a hot day and I love the upscale, feminine, fitted cut and longer sleeve that really dresses up a basic cotton t.
My own vintage pucci scarf around my waist
The scarf tied around the waist diagonally is a hotly trending look right now and since my outfit was so simple (and all one color) I thought I’d try it. Here is a photo of the vintage Pucci scarf I already owned that I wore.
Here is a shot of ’the look’ from @filipabags.
Serpent Leather Flats from Rondini’s in Python (eu250)
I had these fitted to my feet (as they are famous for doing at Rondini’s) when I was in St. Tropez with friends last fall. But really, I wouldn’t think it was worth it to order them online (how would you ensure fit and returns, if they even accept them, would be a hassle to France) — it was a fun thing to do when I was there. I thought that the animal print with the all black worked great with my outfit. You can get this look from a lot of retailers. This one, for instance, is $105 and looks comfortable and the same strappy, upscale look.
To finish the look, I wore only a pair of thick medium-sized gold earrings, which I have no idea where I got and you probably already have (or could find anywhere).
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