New York City is a mecca for ambitious business professionals, impassioned creatives, families, immigrants, and anyone inspired to live life at a pulsing rate. It’s like society on steroids: you live your whole life in public, maybe because your apartment’s a shoebox, or maybe because you actually like being around other people. Forget the stereotype: New Yorkers may be practical and straightforward, but they love being around one another, no matter how much they smirk. It’s an invigorating city to visit, whether you’re into the arts, food, fashion, architecture, history, media, parks and rec, business and industry, or just learning more about new cultures. People who live in New York are from all kinds of backgrounds, ethnically and geographically, and the style reflects that. Anything goes, and you should too.

How to dress

Locals who grew up in New York are used to the dynamic diversity, and those who had the guts to move there are confident enough to wear whatever they feel like. New York is a harsh town, and if you’re trying to impersonate someone else, everyone will know you’re faking it. When you’re trying to pack for one of the most fashionable cities in the world, always come back to your personal style. What do you love wearing, and what makes you feel comfortable but also confident? Pack your favorite clothes only, even if it amounts to just a few pieces.

Weather and fashion

After visiting New York countless times since I was a kid, I’ve come to the conclusion that the weather on that tiny island is different every time you get out of the subway. Depending on where you are in reference to the water, or maybe the weather on islands just changes more, but you’ve got to layer in New York, no matter what season. In the summer, it can be uncomfortably hot and sticky, but also suddenly very breezy and cloudy. Central air has permeated much of the city, but if you’re a visitor from the Deep South or a desert state, you might be surprised at how warm a lot of buildings are, either because they rely on open windows or don’t crank up the a/c enough.

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East Coast-style by Gabrielle Union. Photo credit: FabSugar.com

by Halee Watel

After what seems like an eternity of slaving over tests, papers and then finals, graduation can seem like a relief to most. But the stress is not over—the question still remains. What to wear?

East Coast

Schools on the East coast are notorious for their competitive academics. Like the concentration of smarts, these schools are also notorious fashion hubs. Students look as good as their GPA’s. And just because they’ve just finished a round of finals does not mean that its time to relax. Au contraire, these scholars take their graduation style seriously and so should the attendees.

Whether the commencement ceremony is indoors or outdoors, the perfect dress is key.  When shopping, think “polished.” You’re not trying to make a Lady Gaga-esque statement. You want to look good. A solid, or subtle-print strapless dress is perfect for under a gown or in the audience. It is cool enough to wear under the sun and can be paired with a light sweater or wrap for an indoor procession. If you would rather pair the pieces of your outfit, try a cropped blazer and fitted skirt.

The South. Michelle Obama. Photo credit: Firenze Jewels

The South

This unique style Mecca has laid claim to the charming sundress and necessary neckpiece: pearls. These graduations are typically not as formal as schools on the East, and many have their ceremonies outdoors. Graduates and attendees alike: pay attention to the weather! Nothing is more miserable than roasting under a gown and ruining an otherwise stunning outfit. Try light fabrics with few layers to ensure that you stay comfortable and fabulous during these sometime lengthy ceremonies.  Avoid layering.

In continuing with southern style, don’t be afraid to try a hat. A colored, straw hat or a straw-colored hat with a band or light scarf is instantly elegant and classy. Just be sure that 1. you can still see the stage 2. It does not hit your neighbor and 3. If you have to take it off, your hair is hat proof.

West Coast. Anne Hathaway. Photo credit: FabSugar.com

West Coast

When “Cali Style” meets commencement ceremony, graduates and attendees alike have the luxury of dressing up or down for the occasion. A sundress, wrap dress, or tunic are all appropriate.  To prepare for cooler temperatures and wind-chill, pair with a sweater or scarf. For an edgy look, pair a fitted blazer with cropped shorts.

Absolutely Necessary Accessory: Sunglasses

Wherever the graduation, you will be outside at one point in time. Sunglasses make any day-look instantly stylish, and if you are blessed with watching or graduating in sunny weather, great shades are key. Find a pair that do not overwhelm your face and compliment your cheeks and nose. If you find your current pairs are a loose, gently bend the ends of the arms (pieces that rest on your ears) inward. This tightens their grip on your head, and they wont slip or slide.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Average Days Precipitation Jan – Feb | 5 days

Admit it.  You can’t help humming a few lines of Will Smith’s “Miami” as you pack for your trip to MIA. South Beach, Cuban food, amazing shopping, and a cosmo winter escape…what’s not to get excited about?  Though it can still get a little cold, a few minor adjustments to your normal spring or summer wardrobe is all you will need to be comfortable and stylish in this Florida town.

Style Culture

Latin flair, hot weather, and international influences go hand-in-hand to produce a style culture that is sexy, sultry, and flashy all in one.  A no-holds-barred yet classy approach to dress both day and night are style benchmarks of this electric city.

Amy Gordon, style expert and founder of ArtfulWears.com, points out that “Miami style is heavily influenced by Latin culture and the hot weather. So you will see bold color, lots of prints, sheer fabrics, paired with fitted and minimalist silhouettes.”

“Nothing is ever too sexy,” says Lisa Lamy, public relations  and event sales coordinator for the popular South Beach hangout Mango’s Tropical Cafe. ”We have so many people from all over the world.  Our fashion is sultry with a global flair. There are no wallflowers in Miami.”

Weather

“Weather heavily influences style in Miami,” observes Gordon.

Lamy agrees.  “The heat allows us to show off all year round. We party on rooftops, yachts, and by the beach.”

Miami is pretty much the only major metropolitan area in the US with a true tropical climate.  That means hot, humid summers and warm, dry winters from late October through March, making Miami a great place to visit any time of year.

During the winter months, the occasional cold front that blows through will bring with it a little rainfall. Thanks to the Gulf Stream and sea-level elevation, Miami enjoys a moderate climate most of the time, rarely dipping below 64 degrees Farenheit all year!  (That’s a long-sleeve cotton top or light-knit dress and a light leather jacket or thicker cardigan.)

What to Wear in Miami

It’s time to break free of the winter mold when you visit Miami.  While the holidays still bring a bit of a wintery mood, the weather and general attitude is warm enough to let you experiment with spring early.  And it’s a great time to have a little fun with bright colors and prints!

“Lighter weight fabrics and simply less clothes [work year round]. For evening, women mostly will be in short dresses or denim and a cami.”  Silk, light cotton wovens, and light knits will totally work. And if you feel a bit chilly or don’t want to completely de-winter your wardrobe, top off your outfit with a leather jacket in winter white or black.

Bright colors and more skin also apply to evening wear, whether you are partying on a boat or one of the aforementioned rooftops.  For the occasional breeze, all you’ll need is a good cover-up.

“You have to have a great wrap at all times of the year.  It’s often hot outside and cooled by air conditioners inside. Plus, Miami has a great rooftop scene and it can get chilly up there.  A great wrap compliments an outfit, it can add amazing color, texture and great patterns,” advises Lamy.

“The latest trends are glamour / understated elegance, beachy boho chic, white hot [which] looks great on toned tanned bodies and against the backdrop of the blue ocean!” says Galina Sobolev, designer of the line Single and a current contestant on the hit Bravo television show “Launch My Line.”

As surprising as it sounds for a tropical place, boots are a fashion staple when the temperatures even dip a little below normal. “It’s all about boots, demi boots, and shoe boots. In Miami even our footwear is sexy,” says Lamy.

Concurs Gordon: “Bling and embellishments are in style everywhere, but especially in Miami..and while peep-toe booties aren’t feasible in northern climates, in Miami they are the perfect style.”

ISABELLA OLIVER "The Roma Dress" $213.75

Dereon "Iconic" $49.99

ISABELLA OLIVER The Wrap Cardi $195

DELIA'S "Vera Floral Top" $39.50

WILSON'S LEATHER "Black Rivet Rouched Leather Scuba" $179.99

MAX STUDIO Over-the-Knee Boots $413

LUCKY JEANS "Lola" Skinny Jeans $99

Single | Bravo’s “Launch My Line” contestant and designer Galina Sobolev gets to the heart of Miami style with her sophisticated and fashion-forward designs that will help you feel so Miami.  You can find her stylin’ tops and dresses at places like Lord and Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s.

Plum Flower Creations |  Local designer Meiling Bansee incorporates her love of nature with a line of eye-catching jewelry that is as delicious as its name. Perfect for day-tripping around Miami or a hot night out on South Beach.

Biscayne Blvd. | Centrally located in downtown Miami, stores like Downtown Divas, featuring “metropolitan high fashion,” and Kore known for its cheap chic clothing and accessories, are fabulously stylish examples of what you’ll find without the haute couture prices.  Visit Aventura Mall to feel right at home with all your favorite designers and a few new ones that will be your new Miami favorites.

Design District | According to their website, “going to the Miami Design District is a journey not only of place but also of emotion; imagine the delight of discovering something around every corner — a fascinating piece of art, an exotic dish or a chair you never knew you had to have.”  Check out the list of fabulous places to eat, shop, and browse for true Miami splendor.

Village at Merrick Park | Shop in a true Miami setting in this lush and quaint village of shops and eateries in Coral Gables featuring all “the shops you know and love.”

Miami Fashion and Style Examiner | Native Jewel Figueras shares her insights and ideas for everything fashion in Miami.

SocialMiami.com | Headed by pubisher and man-about-South-Beach Aaron Glickman, SocialMiami.com is “Miami’s go-to site for all things social.”

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Photo Source: eHow.com

by Laura Milligan

Average October Temps: High of 63 degrees, Low of 47

Average November Temps: High of 52 degrees, Low of 38 degrees

New York City is the capital of American fashion and is an international trendsetter, both practically speaking and in terms of its everyday residents. From the Jazz Age and Harlem Renaissance, to beatniks and hippies, to Studio 54 to power suits and the Wall Street boom, New York is a tipping point for starting fashion trends around the world. And while a lot of trends permeate well past Brooklyn, when you travel to the city, you’ll quickly realize that what you thought was “cool” back home is nothing compared to the edgy experimentation that New Yorkers love day in and day out. The Big Apple plays HQ to most big players in the fashion industry, including magazines, designers, and store brands, as well as home to many music, art and entertainment insiders, but most tourists to the city also notice the progressive style of “regular” New Yorkers. Add on top of that Fashion Week and resident celebrities, and you’ve got one of the most creatively sartorial places on the planet.

But unlike more flamboyant European or even West Coast fashionistas, New Yorkers keep everything natural and at least mostly sensible (SATC stilettos are not de rigeur here, unless you have a town car). New York requires everyone — even people who live there — to be out all the time, making comfortable, weather-appropriate fashion a necessity. And as a tourist, you’ll also be hopping from museum to park to shopping trip to bar (to bar, to bar), and most likely won’t see your crash pad except to sleep and take a shower. So what should you pack for a fabulous trip to New York?

Weather in New York City

Virtually every fashion expert we’ve talked to stressed the importance of dressing for the weather when you’re in New York. Stylist Alexandra Shlimovich of the Boston-based fashion styling firm Stilista lived in New York for 10 years and recommends that if you visit the city, “pack according to weather forecast, and try to visualize which pieces can be worn in multiple combinations,” even as the weather changes. New York City can have a beautiful fall with crisp days and colorful leaves, perfect for strolling in the park and drinking coffee outside. But since New York also has a real winter, fall is a season of serious transition with sometimes volatile weather including rain and fluctuating temperatures. And while the island itself is pretty small, you’ll notice that the weather feels completely different in each part of the city (WTW writer Laura likes to blame it on how close you are to the water).

What to Wear in New York City during the fall

Layering correctly is of utmost importance, as is packing the right shoes, scarves and umbrella in your day bag. Layering “is also a great urban look,” explains Schlimovich, so pairing “tees with sweaters and light jackets will keep you comfortable and fashionable.” Also pack  vests, blazers, hoodies and leggings to keep you covered. Leather jackets also make good staples that will help you fit in with the city’s edgy feel and transition from day to going out at night.

Lots of commuting New Yorkers leave the house with two pairs of shoes, but that doesn’t mean you have to run around in white tennis shoes all day. While shuttling around, slip on a pair of little flats by Fit In Clouds, which easily, discreetly fold up into your bag when it’s time to switch to your heels. Slip on a pair of these and don’t even consider putting yourself through the misery of painful blisters. Other good options: Converse, flat boots, and ankle booties with a low, wedged heel (see Chloe Sevigny, below).

Be sure to check out all that New York has to offer!

If it’s wet outside, you’ll want to pack an umbrella, but you’ll also want to protect your bag from getting soaked. RuMe bags are stylish, weather-proof reusable bags that can be used for shopping or as a day bag to stash wet shoes and umbrellas. They come in various sizes and about a gillion different colors and patterns.

Scarves are also a must, as Schlimovich explains, because they’re a “functional accessory that can be a great accent for whatever you’re wearing – and can be easily stashed in your bag if you get too warm.”

The most important thing to remember when dressing for New York is to avoid trying too hard (check out our past post on fitting in during Fashion Week, without going overboard). Stay true to your personal style, pack extra accessories for walking around in transitioning weather, and don’t be afraid to add a little edge or flair to your outfit by slipping on a leather jacket or cuff, or trying out vintage-inspired earrings.

Kirsten Dunst

Ashley Olsen

Chloe Sevigny

• Barneys: If you’re going to go the department store route, head to Barneys for choice collections from established designers and the new kids.
• Opening Ceremony: Great mix of hipster styles and basics.
• H&M: Lots of stores throughout the city for budget-friendly basics and trendy items.
• Soho: District short for “South of Houston Street” where you’ll find lots of beautiful people, terrific shopping and great bars, cafes and lunch spots, and possible a celebrity or two.
• Refinery29: “Independent Style, Defined and Refined.” Lots of great street pics, style news, party pics and more.

• Fashion Schmashion: Papermag.com’s fashion blog, maintained by Julia Frakers, downtown It girl/model/stylist.
• Fashionista.com: Fashion news and industry blog from New York, featuring lots of NYC-centric parties and features.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

by Renae Virata

In a land where people are moving in and out of the city as much as they are up and down the ladder, it can be just as hard to pin down exactly what defines the style culture in DC.  Many locals used to lament profusely about the lack of style there that other major and international cities enjoyed around them.  But many have been doing something about it.  From the influences trickling down from The Hill to the rise of fashion institutions like DC Fashion Week, the style landscape of our nation’s capital is putting DC on the fashion map.

What to Wear and Pack | Style Inspirations | Weather | Resources | Shopping

Comments Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth in last fall’s inaugural issue of the hot new local fashion mag Fashion Washington: “Has the nation’s capital become a style capital, too? The sheer number of haute boutiques (Jimmy Choo, Barneys Co-op, Bulgari), up-and-coming local designers and luxury-loving shoppers suggest it has…”

How much has that translated to the streets from the generally button-upped and neutral fashion sense that seems to have dominated the scene?  According to many, more so in the past few years than ever before.

“I would probably define DC style in general as smart casual with a slightly conservative bent,” says Jodi, a former Georgetown resident. “It works best because of the prevalent political and professional environment all over the city.  You’ll probably see a lot more trendy looks and color on the street but definitely nothing overboard.”

Click on each item to learn more: Sweater vest, Freelance, $42; City short, $34.99; Peep-toe flat, Report, $57

Layers make the most sense as you can experience a swing in temperature from day to night, sometimes up to 15 degrees, before the cooler fall and winter temps start to settle in around mid-November.  It’s always a good idea to stick to natural fibers like cotton, silk, and wool so that your skin can breathe better if the humidity kicks up a bit during this time, too.

As a tourist, one of the most important things to consider is all the walking you will be doing.  Visiting the many monuments, memorials, and museums (not to mention all the new fashion meccas inside and surrounding the city!) will make for some very long walks and hops on the Metro.  A pair of chic but flexible flats, rubber-soled boots, or even cool street sneakers will get you through a slippery day full of walking.

Click on each item to learn more: Mixed media dress, Delia’s, $34.50; Platform sandal, Crocs, $54.99; Tote, Arturo, $264

More fun variations on basics will make it easy to pack and easy to get dressed.  Think of places like J. Crew and Gap for your wardrobe.  Solid colors that work well together like jewel tones with gray and black or simple patterns that will go with everything will help you pack and dress more easily.  Play with one fabulous textured piece to coordinate with your basics, like a boucle swing jacket or a tweed pair of pants.

For business, stick to conservative suits and dresses.  Always remember to wear hose or tights no matter how warm it is.  For nighttime fun, pair a glam top with your best jeans and some killer heels.  For business dinner, a simple sheath in a luxurious brocade or a simple seasonless wool with a brooch work well.  If you find yourself with an invitation to a black-tie political gala, don a floor-length number in a conservative style that will keep any potential negative attention away!

Click on each item to learn more: Lace inset vest, The Buckle, $52; Camisole, Kmart, $7.48; Straight-leg jeans, Current/Elliott, $244; Braided heels, Arden B., $49

Michelle Obama. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst.

Natalie Portman.

Katie Holmes.

As DC is an inland area on the East Coast, fall temperatures (as in the spring) are typically mild.  Being not too far north of those states that experience the brunt of hurricane season through October, you may encounter showers during your stay, especially this fall.

•    Shoe Designer Monica Favela George | Gigi Favela women’s shoes made in Italy – if this doesn’t prove DC’s new wave in fashion, what could?!

•    Connecticut Ave / Dupont Circle | Home of the Dupont Circle High Heel (Drag) Race, be sure to check it out the Tuesday night before Halloween.  Home to fabulous boutiques like Terra on Connecticut Ave.

•    Old Town Alexandria Boutique District | Minutes from Regan National Airport, this quaint colonial-style area boasts big labels like Nanette Lepore, Tory Burch and DVF throughout 19 unique specialty shops.

•    Chevy Chase, MD | Upscale shopping in the residential neighborhood of Friendship Heights, this is where a number of high-end stores like Gucci, Bulgari, and Barneys are finding their home in DC.  Major points for a FREE daily shuttle bus that will take you straight to shopping areas on town.

•    ProjectBeltway.com | A blog “celebrating style in the nation’s capital”

•    Fashion Washington | DC’s luxury magazine for fashion trends and all things style going on in The Capital

•    Washington Times fashion section | News on the latest trends in DC and around the globe

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!