Fall Weekends in NYC: What to See, What to Wear
My Favorite Season for Getting Dressed + Going Out in My Favorite Town
This weekend is the Fall Equinox and what I consider the most glorious time to be a New Yorker. The weather is crisp, the trees in Central Park are breathtaking, everyone puts that extra effort into getting dressed before it turns freezing and you have to bundle up in a coat, and there is so much to do. Unless I’m going upstate (stay tuned for that upcoming post), I usually center my weekend activities around a gallery or museum and choose the other places in that area accordingly. What’s on my list?
A Chelsea, West Village Day. Ruth Asawa at the Whitney/Wolfgang Tilmans at Zwirner/Edmund de Waal at Gagosian. Ok, I already went to see the Tilmans and Edmund de Waal and loved them enough that I will go back. I find de Waal fascinating, he is not only an artist who works in porcelain, he is also a writer whose book The Hare with the Amber Eyes documents his family’s history through a collection of Japanese netsuke. (Proust created Swann’s character based on a member of Waal’s storied family.) My daughter and I saw the exhibit at the Jewish Museum of the netsuke, if it ever comes around again and you have the opportunity, don’t miss it. I digress. I also always love anything by Ruth Asawa, so that is top of my list. Post gallery and museum hoping, it’s either a Negroni Bianco at Bar Piselinno or dinner at Buvette (both owned by Rita Sodi and Jody Williams).
Outfit: White on white. Apparently it’s a thing right now, as you can see from above. But I also think tonal dressing fits right in with an artist vibe. Can you wear a blazer or winter coat now? Doubtful, but perhaps a trench. I might opt for my Toteme one.
These AGOLDE jeans have the bagginess of the Wardrobe NYC ones without the exaggerated drop crotch (not a fan). I also think you can get away with a summery pair of pants like these from Matteau. A basic Uniqlo white tee (get the U crew), these A. Emery for Matteau Silba sandals (worn mine all summer, love) and their Everyday belt. Or your basic sneaker (I still wear Stan Smiths often). I found the Wadrobe blazer on sale in an XS (quite sure it runs large). Comes in other colors here. Alex Eagle coat here, but I have a really good one coming up from Nells Nelson in real camel hair. I want to try these new Khaite X Oliver Peoples sunglasses. I’ll finish my outfit off with my XL Silver Mariner Link bracelet and necklace.
Midtown Manhattan Day (or more likely evening). MoMA’s Ed Ruscha exhibit is a must. Either followed by a cocktail at the forever classic Pool Lounge in the Mies van der Rohe designed Seagram Building, or the newer Le Rock at Rockefeller Center, it’s a pretty sexy space. Martinis and a burger. Or The Polo Bar if you can get a table. There isn’t a lot in midtown that I like to do beyond that, but MoMA is a lot for one day, so keep it simple.
Outfit: Vintage denim, upgraded accessories. My vintage Levi 501s (which I get here), my sleeveless and slightly sheer black Frances de Lourdes Brando tank (and my black lace Hanro bra I wrote about here), a black blazer, my Bottega mini Jodie bag, some Bottega black pointy kitten heels (these new Miu Miu’s are a great option) and my South Sea Pearl Earrings (fyi, I do these for clients with freshwater pearls, same size, same look, almost half the price, reach out if interested).
Uptown afternoon. Looking forward to the Manet/Degas exhibit at The Met that opens on the 24th. I’ll also catch the Cecily Brown while I’m there. A walk in Central Park is a must and most likely a panini and tiramisu at Via Quadronno. If it’s in the evening, I’d go for a drink at Bemelman’s Bar, but it’s become cool again, I’m not waiting in line on the weekend. Also on my dinner wish list, Caviar Kaspia, it’s super splurgey so I need something to celebrate to justify an evening there.
Via Quadronno Tiramisu Outfit: My Fall Five that I posted already. You know, fewer, better things. I will be wearing this outfit a lot. (Haven’t read, need a refresh, it’s here.)
Soho afternoon. I might be tempted to go see the next (there have been so many) Warhol X Basquiat exhibit at the Brandt Foundation that opens November 1st, but I might be more inclined to back (three times a charm) to tour the Donald Judd home on Spring Street. I feel like so many people miss this when they come to NYC, and if you love Judd like I do, it’s a must. (You have to book your tickets ahead of time, though if there is a no show, they will let you in.) The tour guides rotate, each time I’ve learned something new (and they are very knowledgable). Then I’m bookstore browsing—at the newer, expanded McNally Jackson on Prince, and then to the more art oriented Dashwood Books on Bond, next to Goop. Then, a coffee and pastry or cardamon bun from La Cabra. My family is a bit obsessed. They are from Denmark and now have two locations on 2nd Ave bt. 9th and 10th and a newer one on Lafayette. Get a loaf of bread to go if you can.
Outfit: My Nili carpenter jeans and a basic tee. Nili really knows how to pull at my emotional heartstrings when it comes to clothes, because her inspiration vocabulary is one I am very fluent in…Jackie O., CBK, Lauren Hutton, and she often riffs off (sometimes literally) their iconic outfits. I bought my jeans last year and am so thrilled to pull them out again. You can go total CBK mode with a Frances de Lourdes tee, the same Matteau sandals, Saint Laurent cat eye sunglasses and a real 90s throwback Prada bag. Me below in spring in FDL and the jeans and my fave Del’ep phone and eyeglass cases!
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Very happy that I subscribed because your posts are excellent!
Jennifer, so glad I subscribed as well and as always, love your outfit suggestions. Curious as to you thoughts about the Wardrobe NYC line?