The Chic List Why I m packing some positivity - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Fashion The Chic List Why I m packing some positivity By Joanne Hegarty - January 23, 2022 Fashion columnist and influencer Joanne Hegarty on soaking up the joys of New York. You wouldn’t think an app that helps you test for Covid could lift your mood – but that’s America for you. The instruction video, full of promises of freedom and buzzy restaurant noises, accompanying the lateral flow kits we bought in a New York chemist, was so upbeat we were all smiling long before we notched up our negative results. Even under grey winter skies, the best look New Yorkers do is their positivity. And it’s a look I packed into my bulging suitcase when we flew home from our short family break. Upbeat vibes in the city, wearing a MaxMara coat, leggings by Cos, boots by The White Company. Bag by Celine. Because nothing makes us look, or feel, better than the attitude that life’s champagne glass is always half full. And even though the c-word was, as ever, dominating the news during our stay, you’d never have known it from the happy crowds in some of my favourite New York institutions– from Bubby’s diner in Tribeca to Emilio’s Ballato, an old-school Italian in Soho, to afternoon tea at the Upper East Side’s Carlyle Hotel. When on holiday, I love people-watching – and it’s never more thrilling than in New York. Even the pampered army of Big Apple dogs have their own wardrobes of coats, ribbons and rubber booties. My other favourite New York pastime is – obviously!– shopping. With every store you could ever want in this city, what sane gal could resist? Again, there’s that wonderful positivity, with shop assistants so much more on their game than at home. At Frame in Soho the choice of jeans dwarfs that in London. I ended up buying a pair the shop assistant was wearing because they looked so good on her. And, call me a fashion fool, but I love New Yorkers’ uplifting salutes. As their ‘have a beautiful day’ rings in my ears, I want to promise back: ‘I’ll darn well try!’ On New Year’s Eve, I went to Saks Fifth Avenue where history seeps out from the changing rooms. I watched a Park Avenue mum buying the most beautiful white feathered dress for her daughter and imagined their glamorous celebrations that night. The other thing I do in New York is fantasy house shopping. Some of my favourite haunts are Charles Street and Perry Street in West Village, both lined with dreamy brownstones. The former was home to Sarah Jessica Parker for nearly 20 years. She’s now living around the corner in an even more impressive address. Meanwhile, Perry Street is still full of tourists taking photos of the fictional home of SJP’s alter ego Carrie Bradshaw. The whole area is like a movie set – and when we were there, there was the added bonus of festive garlands and twinkling trees. So life-affirming. So chic. Just like New York. Cosy up in bold spring shades. Jacket, £190, arket.com Simple but gorgeous. Necklace, £180, monarcjewellery.com A chic wardrobe staple. Cashmere jumper, £79, johnlewis.com Team with a black knit or blazer to makea sleek statement. Trousers, £175, Ganni, matchesfashion.com Perfect with leggings and a blazer for pavement pounding. Boots, £190, cosstores.com Brighten up the season in apple green. Jumper, £89, arket.com Follow me on Instagram @thestylistandthewardrobe RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Rochelle Humes has launched a gorgeous new edit with Next Shop the YOU Magazine Instagram YOU picks the best new-in buys from M& S Popular in Fashion Laura Jackson has teamed up with Next for the chicest knitwear January 22, 2020 Holly Willoughby’ s birthday dress is another Zara bargain February 10, 2020 The Instagram-famous & Other Stories wool blazer is back in stock August 31, 2022 Lorraine just wore Emma Willis’ Next collection from head to toe March 17, 2020 The prettiest spring dresses under £100 March 1, 2022 Everyone is buying Holly’ s gorgeous gingham Oasis dress May 14, 2020 13 bargain dresses to buy in ASOS’ s extra 20 per cent June 10, 2020 This £20 H& M dress is set to be the social media June 26, 2020 Stacey Solomon x Primark is back for a third collection with July 20, 2020 Searches for this perfect heatwave summer top style are up 5000% August 10, 2020 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. 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