"She's more than a star or a face on the walk of fame..." Paul Alan - She's The Reason

Bonjour darlings, i'm lovely and rested so here is your more interesting post  as promised. One of the things that struck me on my visit to NYC was that they have their own Fashion District  (très cool).

Most of my family is American (which reminds me that its Thanksgiving tommorow) so i've been to New York a zillion times but never been old enough or fashion-obssessed enough to truly appreciate the awesomeness of the Fashion District and places like Soho (its literally like someone took the best and coolest, most stylish, quirky parts of London and condensed it all into a district).

There is something so inspiring about New York - or as my good friend Frank Sinatra said "if I can make it there, i'll make it anywhere" and you really do get that feeling everywhere you look. Its like an unspoken understanding between every single person there. They're all just trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. Its mutual respect and understanding that doesn't need words.

From high powered business men and women on Wall Street trying to become the next Donald Trump (seriously, how many buildings can a guy name after himself, I counted 4) to pretzel store vendors who you can just tell believe their fortunes may change at any minute.  New York is a city for the dreamers, the chancers, the risk takers. Yes, the dreams may not come true and the risks may not pay off but the simple fact that they were willing to try makes New Yorkers different to most people. You move to New York to better your life - simple as that. The hope is exciting, its contageous. Its the city where dreams are made - full of hope, potential, promise. Anything is possible. You can go from nobody to somebody overnight. Your whole life can literally change in a 'New York Minute'. New York doesn't promise you success but she teases you, hints at it, lets you know its a definite possibility - no dream is too great or too unrealisitic. New York, unlike other cities does not tell you "no"and I think its that "Just Maybe" that makes New York such an inspirational place and why people have flocked for centuries to 'make it' there.

I don't know if any of you have been to the Fashion District but they have a 'Walk of Fame' similar to that of the one in Hollywood except all of these are not movie stars but famous fashion designers who may not have been born in New York or even America but made their fortunes there. New York doesn't care where you came from, it only cares that you are there now and it rewards your loyalty hundred-fold. What really stood out for me, walking along the Fashion Walk of Fame was just how many of the designers I adore such as Marc Jacobs (if he wasn't gay I would marry him), Besty Johnson (fantastically quirky) and Oscar de la Renta (actually from Dominican Republic) who made it in New York and trust me, there are alot:

Oscar de La Renta

Ralph Lauren:

Calvin Klien:

Diane Von Furtstenburg:

 



Marc Jacobs:

Betsy Johnson:

There were like a gazillion others but those are the ones that inspired and surprised me. Being young and close to entering 'adulthood', i'm full of that excitement about the future - I can do, have and become anyone I want. No one knows what their future holds  - and no one knows this more than New Yorkers. But they can hope. And they do with all their hearts that "just maybe" their destiny is to become something great, that "just maybe" today will be the day that their fortune changes, that "just maybe" the person who has just bought a pretzel or jumped in the cab will change their lives for the better. Just maybe.

Stay safe and chic.
English Rose x