This is a rather funny question and doesn't help my cause as a Kansan (no ToTo jokes, please!) But I am traveling to NYC and my cousin lives in Manhattan. She says no matter how hard I try, I will stand out in NYC. Do you agree? What is the best way to dress to look like a New Yorker, if there is such a thing. I have a NYC map on my new phone and in a small book, so I know better than to pull out a HUGE map and look lost- haha. But I just wanted to know what you think! For example, I have a red quilted coat that I wear and a longer gray wool coat with a scarf that I wear sometimes too. I really feel ridiculous, but after an incident in Chicago that I had (I was in the middle of a huge fight in which three guns went off), I just want to NOT look like a tourist. Well, thanks in advance to your kind response to my silly question. In defense, some travelers from NYC called my city chamber office and asked if special shoes would be required to walk on our streets, equally ignorant! :)
2007-12-27 05:23:53 · 12 answers · asked by Ren 5 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ New York City
Please, please, please do not change a thing about yourself!
Don't change your dress, your personality, your smile, your coolness or lack thereof!
Come here and be you! As a life long resident of this place, one of the joys of being here is meeting people like you.
The attention you will get is smiles and courtesy (and perhaps the occasional rude moron). Don't let your Chicago experience color your opinion of NYC.
Your concern to fit in is not necessary. More than half of this city is from somewhere else and that's what makes this place fun!
2007-12-27 05:46:12 · answer #1 · answered by Goodache 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
NYC does not have a particular problem. it quite is like this whenever you reside in a vacationer holiday spot. San Francisco is terrible too - maximum individuals can no longer force the hills (even fairly community individuals), and those jogging look to think of that ordinary pedestrian risk-free practices rules ultimately do no longer prepare to them whilst they desire that photograph of the trolley - or although. The Golden Gate bridge being a vacationer website quite sucks. it quite is how we get from Marin to the city - so having it clogged with vintage firetruck excursion automobiles is tremendously painful. Its a bridge - you may locate it greater advantageous while you're actually not ON IT - yet all people has to circulate it. although if, i'm conscious that the $$$ tourism delivers facilitates save the city going. in simple terms in view which you reside there does not make it "YOUR" city besides. all people has a staggering to the sidewalk, and there is no minimum speed shrink for jogging.
2016-10-09 06:07:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with everyone who said "be yourself". Truthfully, that's good advice, whereever you go.
And as to the woman who said that New Yorkers don't make eye contact or smile or speak to strangers, she is wrong.
Okay, sometimes we don't make eye contact because we are busy getting from place to place. Outside NYC people drive from place to place, we don't drive, we walk. Walking is a form of transportation, and we are usually busy getting where we are going. We are not avoiding eye contact, we're just busy.
Not smiling? Well, a New Yorker will smile at a stranger if you engage him/her in conversation. But we deal with more strangers in a day than most people see in a year outside New York. We can't go out of our way to acknowledge them all. However, most New Yorkers love to give directions and answer questions. So don't take this as stand-offishness. People can be really nice and helpful if you give us a chance.
And as for talking to strangers, yes we do it all the time, in the right setting. But in such a crowded environment, we also like to give people their space. We can go to a crowded restaurant, and sit inches from another couple having a VERY personal conversation in public,and not even notice. But we can also strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger on a bus.
That's what New York is really like!
2007-12-27 11:59:28 · answer #3 · answered by LJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just wear your basic jeans and likely your gray wool coat. Look confident when you are walking down the street. I felt quite safe when I was visiting NYC (on 4 different occasions). I just wouldn't go to Hell's Kitchen or Central Park late at night. However, it is so busy around Time Square that it is quite safe.
2007-12-27 16:18:27 · answer #4 · answered by Christine H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from NC and know how you feel! I feel I always stand out anywhere I go thats "non southern"....especially when I have to speak...
I understand that most New Yorkers do not make eye contact when they walk, ride the subway, etc...
I think vistors stand out not so much by their clothes but with a look on their face of wonderment (and looking "up" a lot!!!)...and our "non city" way of smiling and speaking to strangers...
But I have always been proud of where I from...and take every chance I get to show that not only are we NOT ignorant, I DO wear shoes, have electricity (etc, etc, etc) but I act as though THEY are the sad ones for NOT being from NC...and I am quite intelligent, no matter what they may "think"...
Go to NYC, be PROUD of where you're from...and don't worry about looking like a "tourist"...hopefully, most of the folks you'lll encounter are tourists as well..or natives who are used to dealing with "out-of-towners"...
Hope you have fun!
2007-12-27 05:38:19 · answer #5 · answered by Toots 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The true New Yorker is almost invisible. You have to find him in his own neighborhood. They manage to avoid all the tourist traps and the notoriety that goes with hanging out in those dumps. And trust me we are a lot more caring than what you will be running into around Times Square and the other slop holes that make up downtown New York today.
I have been on this earth a while and I was born and raised in that city.
2007-12-27 05:50:26 · answer #6 · answered by happygael 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just be yourself! Don't worry about trying to blend in with everyone. New York City is a very diverse place.. You will see all types of people here, blending in isn't necessary! People aren't going to judge you or hold anything against you if you stand out! And if you need to pull out your map to see where you need to go, do it! Chances are, you might even have a few people try to help you get to where you need to go! Most people are very nice, and are more than willing to help you out. Go there, be yourself, and just have fun! You will absolutely love it, it's a fabulous city! =)
2007-12-29 14:45:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's all attitude. It has nothing to do with your clothes. Just try not to look like you care about anything or anybody and you will blend right in with the other 20 million zombies.
Have a great time, you will love it in NYC.
2007-12-27 05:31:02 · answer #8 · answered by john c 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry to much, NY is the safest big city in the US by far. Your gray coat is perfect, but black would be better. I'm sorry but we require that your comfortable shoes must be ruby red, its a NYC law for people from Kansas.
2007-12-27 05:37:14 · answer #9 · answered by hfrankmann 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
i live in nyc, and your cousin is an idiot.
everybody here is from somewhere else so you won't look too much out of place here. you can really tell who is from nyc by their manner of speech, and attitude, and also the amount of black and/or street clothing they are wearing.
the only tourists that stand out are those wearing i love america t shirts, i love new york t shirts, and other tacky stuff.
just be yourself and don't worry about anybody else.
2007-12-27 05:33:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋