It’s Holley’s turn to take over the keyboard today…sharing tips on “What would Holley wear in NYC?” 

This weekend, my husband and I are going to New York to visit our youngest son, Chris. After finishing graduate school in 2010, he moved to New York to work in artist management. During that time, he has lived in Harlem, Brooklyn, and Washington Heights. He recently made his 4th move to a new apartment in Mid-town East at 51st and 3rd (cue in The Jefferson’s theme song….Movin’ On Up).

Though unlike the Jefferson’s apartment, it is not a “deluxe apartment in the sky,” but a third floor walkup. Chris says the best part about his new apartment is that it is a 5 to 30 minute walk to almost anywhere I would want to go in the city.

Two things you need to know about me:

1. The main reason I go to New York is to see my son

2. And the shopping and fashion inspiration are an added bonus!

Since I love to walk, especially when I’m traveling, I am so excited about staying in Chris’ new apartment this weekend. Just think of all the places I can walk to in 15 minutes or less…Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Zara, Bergdorf’s, etc. Are you starting to get the big picture?

Shopping (including window shopping) plays a big part in what I love to do in the city.  Though I’m not into consuming a lot of stuff, I do like the challenge of finding that one awesome piece that makes a statement — like a handbag, belt, or a unique piece of jewelry.  Sometimes, it’s a classic jacket or blouse I will wear for years. But mostly there’s a story I can share and even though my fashion find may not be expensive or couture, to me it is priceless!

My main focus though is…what to pack! In other words, “What Will Holley Wear in New York?” Believe it or not, this is always intimidating for me. Okay…I know, nobody is looking at me and nobody knows who I am, but if you are a fashionista, I’m sure you can totally relate to this dilemma. The good news is that it is not Fashion Week…because that would cause me to have a total panic attack and melt down. The other good news is that I can basically wear all black and fit in.

If you are following all of my Pinterest boards, you may have noticed most of them are fashion related….51 out of 67 to be exact. There’s a different purpose for each board but my board “H” is the best example of how I really dress or aspire to dress. For me, being creative is the best part of fashion and that’s the reason I gravitate to neutrals and separates. Separates give me the opportunity to create more outfits and neutrals give a more sophisticated look, which is the New York look. It also helps with packing and getting more bang for the buck.

So here is an example of some wardrobe choices I plan to take to New York:

running shoes and workout clothes for long walks in the mornings (a 15 minute walk to Central Park and a 5 minute walk to the East River)

• Three pairs of boots ..my Aquatalia boots (knee high and water resistant), my Trask boots (in gray and water proof) and a pair of Steve Madden booties.

black, burgundy, and gray jeans and a gray sweater

• Two flowy blouses…black and off white

green bomber jacket

For walking around town during the day, I will wear a pair of jeans, my knee high Aquatalia boots, a gray sweater, burgundy jeans, Gucci belt, my Hammitt cross body bag, and a reversible puffer jacket (can’t remember the brand or designer name but remember I got a great deal on it at TJ Maxx last year). By exchanging out jeans and tops, this will basically be my uniform for the weekend. Something else I do when I travel is I always wear the same outfit on the plane coming and going. I learned a long time ago that saves a lot of room in my suitcase and allows extra room for the items I purchase!

In case you haven’t been to New York in a long time, just know it is like everywhere else you go….very casual. You don’t have to get “dressed up” to go see a Broadway play or to a nice dinner or to a fabulous speakeasy. Though you do want to have a New York vibe. While we are there this weekend, Chris is taking us to meet some of his colleagues for drinks at The Waldorf. Since I do not want to take up a lot of extra room in my suitcase for a dressy outfit, I will make a few easy substitutions. My plan is to wear a pair of black pants with a flowy blouse, add a suede Milly bag, a green bomber jacket, black booties and I will complete my dressy outfit with a cuff bracelet, necklace and earrings.

Holley’s accessories

But the most important accessory I plan to wear when I land in The Big Apple is a smile and all the fashion confidence I can muster.  Because even if nobody is looking at me or knows who I am, the way I feel about myself is what matters to me the most!

Be sure to check out Holley’s updated Pinterest board which includes these and many more ideas for your traveling.

Holley Williams is a personal stylist specializing in closet inventory, seasonal shopping, closet organization and wardrobe consultation.  Contact Holley at [email protected].