Sarah Saxty, a trend researcher and sourcing brand manager for Australian label Forever New, talks New York fashion

NEW Yorkers are renowned for their trendsetting sartorial ways, but being fashionable in the Big Apple isn’t as clichéd as donning expensive stilettos . Here’s how to blend in.

What cool New Yorkers know about style

IT’S been a long time since New York’s most stylish women hailed cabs in Manolo Blahnik kitten heels and satin floral corsages.

New Yorkers are renowned for their trendsetting sartorial ways, but being fashionable in the Big Apple isn’t as clichéd as donning hard-to-walk-in expensive stilettos and toting a ubiquitous logo-emblazoned designer bag. New Yorkers are adept at mixing high and low fashion, combining cheap and designer clothing and accessories to look hip without trying too hard. Today, the coolest New Yorkers will tuck an H&M T-shirt into a pair of high-waist Acne jeans, and accessorise with layers of fine gold jewellery and an Alexander Wang backpack. The look may sound casual, but when combined with freshly manicured nails and a natural looking blow-wave, it’s a modern take on big city glamour.

Monotone dressing, white on white, is big.

The key to capturing the city’s cool look is functionality, says Sarah Saxty, a trend researcher and sourcing brand manager for Australian label Forever New who has called the city home since 2012. “‘Normcore’ is a buzzword in fashion right now,” says Saxty, whose job involves analysing retail trends, and forecasting the colour palettes and fabrics we will all covet next season. “But I think it epitomises the true “cool” New Yorker style. It’s effortless, it’s simple—and mostly in flat shoes.”

Saxty says that living in one of the world’s busiest cities means the New York girl is always on the move, and an outfit needs to take you from morning to night, transitioning from work to drinks, dinner and bar hopping, no matter what night of the week. “New York girls have a full calendar, and they dress for that lifestyle,” says

Saxty, who is also co-founder of OVERTNYC, a new line of essential accessories. “We walk a lot in New York, so that has to be considered; if it’s not a train, it’s a Citibike or a cab. I can guarantee that if you see a girl in heels, she is either not from here, or she has a pair of flats in her bag.” This need for practical footwear has seen the chic trainer become a New York staple.

Saxty, who is also co-founder of OVERTNYC.

“The Nike trainer set the tone in this space, but this summer saw all and any designer or brand taking part; Chanel and Dior through to contemporary brands like Phillip Lim and Isabel Marant, as well as high street stores like Steve Madden,” says Saxty. “This is definitely a trend set to stick around.”

Saxty says that while black in the New York uniform, this summer it has been all about easy, airy white. “Monotone dressing, white on white, is big,” she says, citing white denim in particular as a new staple in a New York girl’s wardrobe. “The white shirt is a great piece for work and play. It looks hot styled back with denim for a relaxed look, or paired with black for a sleek finish.”

Also cool in the Big Apple are backpacks, which Saxty says have truly come into their own this year. “I feel like they have been on trend over the years but this year they have become a basic,” she says. “It really is a must have for life in the city.”

Prints and colours help you stand out from the crowd.

While New Yorkers are donning backpacks in varying sizes, shapes and colours, some of the most coveted include leather versions from Alexander Wang and local designer Loeffler Randall. Saxty’s own label has also created a bag to cater to this need. OVERTNYC’s first product is the Noho Bag, which is not just a backpack but also a tote, yoga bag, travel bag and a clutch. “Our brand epitomises New York life, and was inspired purely around the lifestyle of those in the city,” says Saxty.

Asked which brands best represent the cool but comfortable New York look, Saxty cites Alexander Wang. “The brand is New York,” says Saxty of the minimalist, sportswear-inspired U.S. label. “And despite being a Swedish brand, Acne’s simply cut, often oversized designs are in line with a New York look.” She recommends visiting the brand’s men’s collection to find the perfect boyfriend jean or white shirt.