Designer Payal Singhal pens a love letter to the dynamic New York City — which has always influenced her style
The Big Apple, Empire City, the city that never sleeps — New York has many monikers. I, for one, will always call it home. My love affair with NYC has been an on going one — I’ve been spending my summers in the city for the last 20 years.
At 21, I spent one semester studying at Parsons, and that was my maiden experience of living in New York.Needless to say, I fell in love right away. As luck would have it, I also lived in New York for six years after I got married from 2004 to 2010.
There is something infectious about the vibe of the city. It’s extremely independent and self-sufficient, and there’s something for everyone. Ever so dynamic, there is never a dull moment. Its renowned cosmopolitan nature ensures that my two loves — fashion and food — are always well satiated there.
Living in New York exposed me to an entirely different point of view to Indian fashion. Living in a city that’s so eclectic and buzzing at all times, I saw the label organically grow into a more trendy and contemporary one. I think this also the reason that my clothes are so popular with NRIs — I got a first-hand experience of their lifestyle and what they’re looking for in traditional wear. I even had my flagship store at Gramercy Park in Manhattan between 2006 and 2008. The city’s street style constantly inspired me (and still does) in a big way, and New York has a lot to do with the muted colour palette (I use black in every collection) that my brand has come to be associated with. In fact, my debut collection at Lakme Fashion Week upon my return was called ‘New York New York’. Best describes as East meets West; it was a manifestation of my experiences as an Indian designer living in the city.
My personal style hasn’t escaped the city’s influence either. I used to be a boho/grunge dresser when here, but that saw a complete turnaround and evolved into more or a goth-hipster vibe once there. Even today, you’ll see me wearing black even at 6am and that’s all New York! Transitional dressing is a relatively new concept in India, but I learnt to ace day-to-night dressing while staying there — it’s such an inherent part of their culture. I also learnt to layer like a pro, even in the summers, as the weather is so moody.
SoHo and West Broadway are my favourite spots to shop in the city. You’ll find a balanced mix of high street brands, independent boutiques and niche multi-brand stores like Intermix. Barney’s, Saks, and Bloomingdales are always safe bets. Second Time Around is great for vintage finds, while the sample sales are perfect for bargain hunters. Spend a day in Brooklyn too — its newfound hipster status promises that you will chance upon some cool, local stores. Head upstate and make a day trip out of visiting Woodbury Common Premium Outlet mall if you’re looking to score great deals on designer brands.
Fashion students should definitely visit the wholesale market that runs between 28th street and 5th avenue and goes up to 42nd street on 6th avenue for a great selection of trimmings, buttons and accessories. If you’re in the city during NYFW, catching a show at those hallowed Bryant Park tents is a must — do what you need to in order to score passes! The campus at the Fashion Institute of Technology has ongoing fashion exhibits and retrospectives that connoisseurs will love. The same goes for the Met as well. I also make it a point to visit the bookstore Around The World, near Bryant Park Hotel, to stock upon on my fashion reading. All in all the city’s infectious energy continues to inspire me and my work season after season.
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