What the people in my world wore from April to June 2024.
There wasn’t much of a gradual transition into spring this year in NYC. I was already sweating in a blazer in mid-April and by June it felt like death to wear anything that wasn’t sleeveless or linen. Last quarter I said layering was key, but we’ve entered the portion of the year in the city where fashion is often thrown out the window in favor of survival. Who wants their pants clinging to them when they stand up from the subway bench? Or do their hair only for the humidity to intervene immediately? Yet somehow, my friends, coworkers, and classmates found ways to look and stay cool.
What I wore:
It’s always funny to distill three months’ worth of outfits into just thirteen photos and see what they have in common. In my head, my wardrobe is a lot more colorful than this, but I resorted to a lot of white and cream this spring. It’s partially because some of my most lightweight, breathable shirts are white and partially because it’s so versatile. Next quarter I’d like to experiment with more interesting color and pattern combinations, especially because summer often lends itself to loud neons and tropical florals.
My favorite look is the blazer with the red velvet ruffle skirt (the third from the last photo). As with many of my outfits, I was inspired by old Ralph Lauren editorials, where the female models often pair luxurious fabrics and long, voluminous skirts with menswear elements like a tie, hat, or sportcoat. It’s this unique marriage of westernwear, equestrian influences, and prep that feels so glamorous it should practically come with a horse and a sunset to ride into.
What the people in my world wore:
So many fun moments! I mentioned in my last quarterly report that a handful of rings was certainly popular but I think the accessory game was stepped up even further in the past few months. From Zane’s layered gold necklaces (picture 7) to Nick’s Snoopy and Mickey Mouse rings (picture 15), there are a lot of nice jewelry moments to admire. I also adore Alex’s plaid pinafore skirt from HEIHEI (pictures 9 and 10) with heart-shaped hardware and tulle ruffles + a bow in the back.
Trends I noticed:
- Party in the back
When I’m trying to buy a t-shirt these days, one of the most frustrating things that can happen is the designer opting for the route of a tiny pocket logo in the front and a big badass graphic in the back. But that design choice did originally have much cooler roots in the days when novelty shirts or uniforms were lovingly embroidered or chain-stitched on their pockets, yokes, and backs. I spotted some great examples of these shirts this quarter, both modern and vintage.
- Brooches and Pins
Enamel Etsy pins and old-school buttons have been around for a while, but their higher-fashion equivalents have been seeing a resurgence as of late, particularly in menswear. At this year’s Met Gala, Jeff Goldblum wore an array of glittering brooches, Mike Faist sported a massive Loewe turnip pin, and Adrien Brody had a bird-shaped brooch made of hundreds of diamonds. For those of us not invited to the most exclusive night in fashion, the look can still be recreated with vintage pins easily sourced from antique shops or eBay.
Final thoughts:
Dressing masc in the summer is a challenge for me. I have a very petite frame that is easier to balance when I can wear long pants and a jacket with structured shoulders, so figuring out how to dress a.) fashionably, b.) masc-presenting, and c.) in a way that doesn’t give me heat stroke has been difficult. My solution has been to find a few clothing items that fill all three requirements and sprinkle them into every outfit, so if you see me outfit-repeating a white polo, white ribbed tank, khaki wide-leg shorts, and leather slippers, no you didn’t.
Speaking to NYC as a whole, contemporary fashion and trends are in a good place. Many times in my life, I’ve stared at street style and trend reports wondering what the masses were thinking. Plastic flower crowns, skater skirts, galaxy leggings… I shudder to remember those days. But now, even the tackiest, ugliest trends have been repackaged and resold as their best versions. Did I think there would ever be a time when the Y2K foam platform flip-flop and gaucho look seemed chic? No, and yet the youth have pulled it off. There are some prevalent looks that I despise (ill-fitting, boxy vests as tops with nothing underneath, usually paired with hair so slicked back it makes the wearer appear to be bald) and some that have run their course (Adidas Sambas and Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s), but overall, we haven’t had it so good in a long time.
Backseat Driver 
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