Back in my dorm after a full day of orientation, I unpacked my clothing-stuffed suitcase and breathed a sigh of relief — and not just because I was exhausted out of my mind. Following years of conforming to Los Angeles trends, I was finally able to throw on the outfit I never thought I could wear back home: a cabbie hat from Hot Topic, a layered striped shirt-dress from Algonquins, my skinniest pair of black jeans and Tony Bianco boots that my friends jokingly call “Gru shoes.”
Thinking that I would fit perfectly in with the fashionably diverse crowds of New York City, I imagined finally walking down the streets without fear of being laughed at or looked at twice. However, I soon found that even in New York, there are some streets where dressing alternatively can still make you an outcast.
For example, on Broadway — lined with mainstream shops from Urban Outfitters to Aritzia — I self-consciously feel the stares of shoppers stick to me like flies. It is a teenage shopaholic avenue, vibrating with the same homogenous energy as the malls that I’m used to walking around in Southern California. It certainly does not welcome the occasional fashion outsider that walks through, so I’ve avoided this street like the plague.
Although fast fashion is prevalent in the city, the attitude that New Yorkers have towards it is drastically different to that of Los Angeles. Back home, it’s very common to hear the most stylish people say that they are wearing Shein. Here, on the other hand, fast fashion masquerades as luxury, and Aritzia cardigans are paired with designer handbags and a classic hoop to present an air of old money. The influence of cheaply made, trendy clothing may not be as loud in New York, but it is still undeniably strong.
I’ve also found that the city’s affinity for vibrant, secondhand clothes far surpasses that of Los Angeles, particularly when it comes to high fashion and on vintage craftsmanship. New York CIty gave rise to renowned designers such as Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch and Thom Browne, to name a few. Due to this expansive history, it’s common to see people on the streets donning second-hand clothing and dedicating hours to finding the perfect vintage piece in one of the city’s numerous thrift stores.
After searching endlessly for someone that could identify with wearing Baby, the Stars Shine Bright or Moi-même-Moitié in countless vintage stores, I found my community — but not quite where I expected.
Although it’s difficult to peel myself off my sofa after a long day of class just to go to a club meeting, over the course of the semester, I found a likeminded group of style deviants at places such as Club Anime and Static Magazine. As someone who had a hard time fitting into hobby clubs growing up, these groups showed me that people who share my fashion philosophy do exist in the city, but can only thrive with their individualistic spirit after stepping out of their comfort zones.
Although New York wasn’t as immediately welcoming as I expected, I’ve still found my people — people I wouldn’t have been able to find in Los Angeles. After some searching through streets from Broadway to the Bowery, I’ve managed to find my place, even as someone on the fringes of fashion communities, and would not have it any other way.
Contact Yuuki Lubin at [email protected].