New York Street Style: What I Saw

I didn't photo a lot of street style, because well, I don't have the nerves to snap peoples' pics in public. I'm not as adorable as Bill Cunningham, nor as bold as a paparazzo. But I do have a good memory! And I pay attention, unless I am making my way home from late-night ballgames at the Riviera Cafe and Sports Bar.

Just steps from our apartment, it became our local  : >

Here are some of the trends I saw in abundance, on college women of New York University, on urban Moms-On-The-Go, and even on some Women of a Certain Age (why not?):

• Skinny jeans, jeggings and leggings. I know the word is out that boot-cut jeans are also in style but you wouldn't know it from New York, people. And I love a boot-cut myself - but it was skinny, skinny all the way. If I had a dollar for every non-skinny jean I saw, I could not buy a cafe latte.
• Flat boots. Yay for this trend! Although I did spot some heeled boots in Midtown, in the Village I saw nearly all flats, slightly rugged, in shades of black, gray, brown and taupe. All heights, from knee to ankle, looked smashing with the aforementioned skinnies.
• Ballerina flats, too. The alternative to boots appears to be ballet flats (with your skinnies), mostly in black or animal print. These women know they need to walk and they are going to be comfortable doing it!
• Scarves. They seem indispensable. Mostly long, looped and wrapped (see Une Femme's tip for a cool style). Lots of McQueen-esque skulls on the younger women. It's the way to add color to an otherwise dark neutral palette, and style to a long-sleeve black tee.
• Big bags, but not as humongous as a couple of seasons ago. Remember when bags were bigger than the models carrying them? This year I saw lots of "good" leather bags in neutrals, big enough for city paraphernalia, but not overwhelming. The old style cliche seems true: a quality bag elevates a look.

Emma Watson works the look with classic flats and a
streamlined pea-coat.

Sienna Miller takes the uniform more bohemian, with suede booties.

A version for the 20-something, substituting tiny denim shorts

And for us mid-lifers, a sophisticated version from Eileen Fisher,
via Neiman Marcus

What I did not see much of:

• Skirts - although I frequently wore a knit midi skirt, I saw few others. I am behind the curve!
• Flannel shirts - I thought I'd see a lot as they're trending in online stores. Maybe a more West coast trend? 
• Brights - I saw some colored jeans, but in subdued tones like deep russet or gray. Toppers and sweaters were mostly dark neutrals with scarves providing the only color splash.

Are you wearing any/all of these styles in your part of the world?