Here in New York, Day-to-Night Style is Still A Thing
Especially for those with long commutes.
Inspired by a favorite look from Bally’s Spring ‘24 collection (a surprising hit that season), I embarked upon one of my favorite pastimes: endlessly scrolling through online consignments. I was searching for the perfect 20-year-old dupe of the ensemble’s red-cropped cap-sleeve sweater. The ideal piece would be fitted at the waist, loose at the bust, with a crew, almost mock, neck. And thanks to The RealReal’s vast collection of old St. John, I found it. More so, I found one more addition to my ever-burgeoning collection of pieces that can transition between the many facets of my life—a near-impossible feat.
Subverted by magazines into a buzzy cover line, the hackneyed phrase “day-to-night” dressing has more power than we credit it for. I often joke with my friends about the obscenity of daily rosters we dress for in this city. Once, it was an outdoor barbeque (in February) followed by a late-night birthday party at a heavy-metal gay bar. Another time, it was a sunny park hang before a dinner reservation, and later a birthday party at a cocktail bar. These are, of course, the more far-fetched occasions, but the sentiment applies most times I leave the house, even more so during the holiday season.
A more average occurrence typically involves a day in the office, followed by some sort of evening outing, whether it be an event of work or a personal nature. God forbid, I have a date, then I’ll surely obsess even further. Unfortunately, few items feel as relevant at 9 a.m. as they do at 9 p.m.
So much of my fashion philosophy toes this line between not looking silly, but still toying with the irony of design in a thoughtful way—you can have a sense of humor without feeling like an idiot. Think: designs Miuccia Prada or Phoebe Philo, who, in my opinion, is improperly billed as a minimalist. I am not the girl to put on a skin-tight dress first thing in the morning, I would, however, don a black velvet blazer on my morning commute. Are you following me?
So much of my fashion philosophy toes this line between not looking silly, but still toying with the irony of design in a thoughtful way—you can have a sense of humor without feeling like an idiot.
In my scouring, I have found some general winners in this category. Silky fabrics convey festivity, whether they manifest in button-down shirts, A-line skirts, or slip dresses. A jacket of any sort—blazer, collarless, tweed, cropped, etc.—exudes glamour. A luxe trouser in a vibrant print of sumptuous material. And then, of course, the foolproof combination of a pretty blouse and a pair of jeans. Footwear? Forget about it. Heels aren’t happening unless they have a height of below two inches (or a width above that). Aside from the aforementioned red sweater, I rely on a ruched black top from Another Tomorrow, a pair of printed trousers from Loretta Caponi, among others, and then fill in the holes with basics.
The key component in this equation is styling. Show a little skin on one side of the scale, even it out with a roomier silhouette on the other. Beading requires knitwear to find equilibrium. Today (sitting in the office awaiting a holiday party), I’m wearing a sequined purple Loewe pencil skirt, with a striped button-down, and navy knit dickie underneath. This week, I’ve worn a silk blouse with baggy jeans one day and a mini skirt and tights paired with a chunky knit the next. To make it through a full day, you have to offset the party pieces with the mundane—though that’s honestly the goal of most good outfits, anyway.
In general, I find day-to-night dressing is a result of a New York lifestyle, exacerbated further by long commutes.
In general, I find day-to-night dressing is a result of a New York lifestyle, exacerbated further by long commutes. (Friends of mine who live in the West Village have a bit more freedom than the shackles my Bedstuy address locks into place.) No car means no opportunity to go home and change. And I don’t have the wherewithal to pack extra items to swap during the day. New Yorkers (or at least those with an in-person job and without a car service) often have to dress in a manner divorced slightly from occasion and instead lace their “going out-fits” with practicality. Dressing for a multifaceted day requires a deeper engagement with your own closet rather than simply buying pieces for specific events.
In an effort to curate a closet full of things I really, truly wear, the concept of day-to-night dressing is often employed when shopping. The result is funky ensembles that temper the fanciful with the casual. Will I turn heads in the office with my sequinned skirt? Perhaps. Might I be too casual in jeans at the party? Yet another risk, but, as I often remind myself and anyone who will listen, the most important—read: coolest—people in the room are often the most casual.