Post-Quarantine Street Fashion

Lead Editor: Kemi Watson; Deputy Editor: Gabrielle Fiorella

Who knew that people still have fashion sense post-pandemic. Now everyone is out of the house; we see the changing styles. With the addition of masks, streetwear in NYC is formidable. It is nice to know the technique being extended from clothing to covers. The creativity is astounding, and people further explore their ideas through masks. New York City is coming back to life, and a massive outlet of that is fashion.

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' by Rayiah Ross Reporting From New York, New York

I spend an awful amount of time staring down. I blame it because I am incredibly clumsy, but walking with my head down has always been the safest option. While keeping my head down in NYC is probably annoying to the other people walking around me (considering I never see what is in front of me and I have no clue where I am going half the time), it makes for some interesting sights. In a city where everyone is walking everywhere, constantly on the go, shoes are by far the essential part of anyone's outfit. You would think that comfort would be prioritized over fashion, but not that I have seen. People walk in sneakers, heels, boots, sandals, and if they are traveling far, they might even have a pair of backup shoes in their bag. The dedication of New Yorkers is applauded by me every day after the year we have had. Sweatpants sales have risen dramatically since the start of the pandemic, and now that the world is open again, we all have a new appreciation for how clothing makes us feel. Street style has made a massive comeback over the last few years with stylish tote bags, bright colors, and patterned pants. Strangely, the best place I have found to see some of the best street styles is not on the street at all, and it is on the subway. New York subways are my favorite place to spot a good shoe — There is a sense of sonder that comes with people watching there. Interestingly, people have their own complex lives, and they are on the subway going anywhere and everywhere… but the Steve Madden Cobra Black shoes are coming too.

Averee Nelson Reporting from New York, New York

Fashion trends in New York City are always in ebbs and flows because of how many people are introducing new looks on the streets and social media. However, in the wake of New York Fashion Week, people bring their best looks to the streets. In my hunt for street fashion, I took to Chelsea, which can be considered a fashion district in itself. Chelsea consists of luxury high-rise buildings and art galleries built in old factory buildings. This neighborhood is filled with art, class, and culture, contributing to a mixture of sophistication and downtown style in fashion. As I was waiting to step foot into the Starbucks Reserve, a jazz band was playing behind me, setting the perfect setting for my fashion watch. A group of women passed by me, offering a mixture of sharpness and Y2 K-inspired looks. One lady was wearing a simple slip dress but paired with a corset on top. Another woman in the group strutted down the sidewalk in a structured corduroy romper that cut off mid-thigh. Contrasting these looks, another lady wore a simple look of light-washed mom jeans with a black top and a structured blazer. Someone else walking behind this group wore bright yellow jeans with a floral crop top. It amazed me to see all these different looks in one group of people, but this is what our street fashion environment has transformed into. There is a semblance of simplicity mixed with high fashion rather than the pretentiousness of the early 2000s fashion that we remember. This revival of Y2K fashion allows people to twist the past with fresh modernity, allowing people to have fun with their clothes and embrace their personalities through their outfits.

Strolling Through NYC In Style by Gabrielle Fiorella Reporting from New York, New York

New York City is very much a walking city. Depending on where you are going, you can quickly get from place to place in just a short walk or a long stroll. On those walks, you will walk past some outrageous, simple, casual, and beautiful fashion, and that is probably all on the same avenue! Whether going out on a date or just casually to the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon, NYC street fashion is always something to keep a watchful eye out for. In two different areas of Manhattan, the Upper East Side and Tribeca, I saw this couple and then this woman wearing such cute and casual outfits for a day out in the city in the beautiful weather. When it comes to their shoes, it always makes me wonder what their days are like. Sandals show that she was on a short commute, but it still tied the outfit together well, and the boots/vans for the couple show that they were on a bit of a longer commute, taking in the sunshine and fresh air. The leopard print skirt stood out to me because it is such a popular pattern that is coming back into style now, and I have seen skirts all over the city like this. I love the way that New Yorkers mesh into styles but also break those boundaries as well. Seeing these cute and casual outfits makes me want to dress more like them and utilize the pieces I have in my wardrobe instead of just wearing the same parts and outfits over and over again because I become lazy. Fashion is such a fun topic and aspect, and I will never get tired of seeing the style choices around NYC.

Dior brought New Yorkers and Street Fashion Together by Natalie Davila Reporting From New York, New York

I found myself at a Dior pop-up happening in the Meatpacking District this past Thursday. Immediately, I noticed how nice everyone was dressed and felt very self-conscious. That aside, I was taking notes on how I wanted to dress next. From dresses and gym shoes to tie halter tops and heels. I was only there a couple of hours, and I did get fascinating looks from all sorts of people. I was inspired to speak to women at this pop-up because I was curious whether or not they dressed up like this daily or specifically for events like this, where there are spots to take photos around every corner. I met two friends, a young woman that spoke with me for a bit. I even got to take their photos, and although I am no photographer, I am pretty gifted with capturing someone's beauty (ask my friends for reference).

Antonia's first woman wore a Black and White tie halter top with white jeans and heels. I have noticed how popular halter tops have become this summer, and Antonia mentioned how she started wearing them recently; it has become a staple in her wardrobe. The second young lady I spoke to, Christiana, was wearing a bodycon dress with Reebok gym shoes. In the past year or so, gym shoes have been popularized with every outfit, no matter how fancy. I believe it has to do with comfortability; Christiana believes the same. She told me she only goes out in gym shoes, and her feet have been thankful for that. These two women had very different looks and helped capture popular trends in street fashion lately.

Á La Mode, Á La Mainstream Fashion By Hannah Corbett Reporting From New York, New York

In the wise words of Carrie Bradshaw, "Every year the women of New York leave the past behind and look forward to the future. This is known as Fashion Week…." Ironically, this past week happened to be New York Fashion Week. As if the streets of Manhattan are not already seamlessly put together by men and women dressing to kill, this week was like a piranha waiting to bite. Moreover, to make it even better, we had more events smushed into seven days around the city than ever. Celebrities and influencers had no downtime to spare, heading to runway shows all over the city, the VMAs, and then the long-awaited MET GALA. Walking up and down sidewalks was the work of pure glamorous genius put onto bodies for the rest of the city to swoon over. Before heading out of my apartment building, I had all this in mind since my usual wardrobe would not do. Imagine running into Hailey Baldwin at Ralph Lauren's coffee shop in two-day-old sweats? A nightmare. So I started to brainstorm outfits thinking back to the street style that I observe every day on the city's streets, but kick it up a notch. And then it came to me; accessories separate regular attire into look cameras stop for. Anywhere you turn, you can see women with a pair of the trendiest sunglasses, layering gold necklaces, an endless amount of rings, and Steve Madden black loafers that could make even your Christmas pajamas look like a catwalk cut out. The effortless "cool" look we strive for that these chic twenty-something-year-olds carry is not so far out of reach. The dedication put into outfits each morning of this past week was borderline exhausting; it makes me wonder if fashion is more important than a good night's rest. Maybe that is why they call it the city that never sleeps.

The Bright Colors of the Miami Streets By Alexis Stovall Reporting From Miami, Florida

When you walk the streets of Miami, everyone is dressed in bright and tight clothing, as if they are about to spend all day at the beach. Although New York is known as the "city that never sleeps," Miami deserves that new title. Everyone is always out and about, and it seems as if no one is ever working, based on their clothes and their nonexistent work schedules. The clothing that people wear here is very revealing and open on the top and the bottom of their bodies. Although it is scorching, people have no limits on their fashion here. Personally, it was a dramatic change from New York because It seems like any clothing that is darker in clothing was an easy way to go. You could not go wrong with that choice. We had to prepare for actual seasons, but it is one season, a hot and sweaty summer. In addition, I believe that these bright colors come from a cultural upbringing or the Latin and Cuban community that is here. These cultures influence the everyday street fashion of Miami. I also have noticed that cosmetically, everything is more dramatic here. You see more people here than in New York or other cities having more cosmetic procedures to alter their looks, which I think plays a part of why they want to wear more revealing clothing than other cities.

Plus Size Fashion in Houston By Princess Raymond Reporting From Houston, Texas

Since I recently moved to Houston, the Plus Size fashion has been noticeable to me. There is an evident commonality of bold colors and prints. When I have seen fashionable plus-size women, I have seen in Houston wear maxi, midi dresses, or t-shirt dresses. A trend I have most specifically noticed is clothing pieces with newspaper prints or a collage of wording. There are also many graphic t-shirts, bucket hats, and bags that say "Queen" on them. In this picture, I found a plus-size woman casually hanging outside of an apartment complex in southwest Houston with a dress on that exemplifies not only one of the trends I have mentioned but several of them in one dress. This dress is midi with newspaper print and a bold print reading "Queen" on the front. Fast fashion is trendy here (and pretty much everywhere), but I have also noticed quite a few thrift shops. I even found a small thrift shop in downtown Houston with high-end second-hand clothing items that were all priced under $400.

Fashion: One of the Biggest Forms of Self Expression by Tess Schumacher reporting from New York City, New York.

The blog topic for this week is street fashion which I find to be most interesting, especially since I am a former student of the Fashion Institute of Technology. I was a jewelry major, and I have always been fascinated by different styles and how people express themselves through what they wear. New York City is one of the world's biggest fashion capitals, and I am lucky enough to say that I am a born and raised New Yorker. All my life, I have been exposed to different people, cultures, and ethnicities. I think it is essential for people to experience these sorts of things. In my opinion, accepting each other for who they are and allowing people to express themselves the way they want to is what makes the world go round. If everyone were to dress the same, the world would become a tedious and bland place. This is also a reason why I do not believe in school uniforms. I think children should learn from a young age that it is ok to be different and express themselves the way they want to. I went to a uniform middle school, and I was not too fond of that aspect of it. It may have saved me time getting ready in the morning, but that does not outweigh being able to be yourself. I remember once getting in trouble for wearing the wrong color socks! Ultimately, fashion is a majorly important factor of culture and being human, and I believe in self-expression all the way.

Below I have two photos of some people I took who, in my opinion, have a perfect fashion sense and are not afraid to express themselves.

Street Fashion During Covid by Kemi Watson reporting from New York, New York

We are so used to accessorizing our clothes, shoes, and jewelry, but in the age of Covid-19, accessorizing has now expanded to masks. I am a fashionista, and I love different forms of fashion, from business casual, casual, equestrian, and streetwear. Now there is a new style in town, and it's MASKS. I took a picture of a woman who incorporated gold jewelry on her masks, matched with Puma streetwear. The mask embodied streetwear because of the hanging gold jewelry. The mask reminded me of the 90's era when rappers wore gold accessories with their Gucci and Kangor outfits. Overall, the model's mask transcends time.

Minnesota fashion by Myah Lake reporting from Minnesota

Fashion in Minnesota is very different from fashion in cities like New York, Los Angeles, etc. Minnesota typically isn't known for having a fashion sense or even trends in general. Like plenty of other states in the north, Minnesota looks to clothing for comfort and warmth in fall and winter because the weather is typically always chilly or cold. People in Minnesota (Including me sometimes) dress pretty basic and wear plain patterns typically without designs. Fashion isn't put on such a pedestal in Minnesota like it is in other places. Usually, you'll see a pairing of a plain T-shirt, either a long sleeve or short sleeve depending on the season, paired with blue jeans. And for women, you'll see many jackets paired with plain black leggings or even oversize sweatshirts/hoodies. UGG boots are also pretty popular here because of the weather, and also they are pretty comfortable and protect you from the snow. You see a lot of people wearing boots and especially UGGs for women. But previously said before, New York and other big cities are typically known for their fashion and sense of style versus states like Minnesota and conditions in the north. In general, we aren't focused on fashion nor draw as much attention to fashion as other states typically do. You'll see someone with a bold outfit every once in a while, but that doesn't often happen here because people are usually plain and a little bit more basic.