In New York: The getaway

I spent most of last week in New York, mingling with thousands of sailors in their Summer Whites, because, as they have since the 1980s, the U.S. Navy and Marines send ships into port for Fleet Week, a  public relations exercise. It is not so much the sailors as what they do for the city: burnish a nostalgia that recaptures the mid-century promise of the brownstones, pocket parks and squares. 

And of course, people-watching. Every summer has a signature style; this is the summer of the midi dress or skirt, on women of all ages. It is adaptable—lengths vary from just below the knee to the ankle—segues from work to leisure, and you do not have to be twenty to wear it, unlike the bra-top summer.

I shot these passers-by in the West Village on a warm afternoon.

Left: Her monochromatic navy wafted in the breeze. I saw a great deal of black and navy; summer's swelter has not yet set in.

Centre: This was one of my favourites: the sheer off-white skirt and khaki linen shirt that (I hope) relieves linen-lovers from the pressure of "it must be crisply crease-free". I like linen the way she wears hers, a bit rumpled, as the Italians do.

Left: Another woman in linen, and so well-fitted: a pink print and white trousers.

The two smaller photos are here for contrast. Bottom left: Perhaps the jacket is required office attire, but I find it unbalances the outfit. Top right: An interesting print, though to my eye the neon overpowers all else. Those puffer nylon totes are everywhere, the bargain bag du jour.  

You can see where I was, across from the Jones Road store on Greenwich Ave. This is Bobbi Brown's heavily-promoted new line, so I went in to see the products while Le Duc had an espresso. Have you tried Jones Road? The prices are on the steep side for me (a committed drugstore shopper). The associate applied the vaunted Miracle Balm but it delivered only a ginger-scented, slightly sticky colour wash. I bought a Lippie Stick ($US 28), and would have liked even a tiny sample of the Miracle Cream, to see how it "lived" on me, but none was offered. Apparently you need to believe.

In the hotel's lobby bar, a woman and her companion sipped prosecco and listened to a jazz duo.  I heard her say to another guest, "See you at the party!" I could almost place her dress; there was something familiar about it, yet it looked completely current—so I asked. Aha, Diane von Furstenberg's famous wrap, this time as a python-print midi. I found it online; however, unlike the model, the guest was curvy,  and looked gorgeous in it.

In a completely different register, I dropped by Atelier to see designers not usually sold where I live: Rick Owens, Comme des Garçons and lesser-known makers of that school, as well as the last pieces we'll see from Dries Van Noten. My tastes have settled down since the days when I would splash out for such things (and spend months paying off the bill), but, had this CDG linen blouse been in my size, I might have reverted—it was special.

Tao Comme des Garçcons plaid blouse

I packed light, the boon of a mild-climate trip (and no parties), and felt just fine.   

Clockwise, left to right:
Lily wide-leg jeans; Yoga Jeans
Cotton dress, Kloke
Softstreme high-rise skirt, Lululemon
Larissa cotton shirt, Seasalt; these shirts are twisted after washing to air-dry, like those broomstick skirts. Brilliant for travel. 
Light cotton tee, Amor Lux (OK, a white/navy marinière.) 
"Harvest" tee, trèsnormale
Not shown: Löle "Piper" rain jacket; white leather sneakers, black sandals.

The trip was a last-minute caper driven by a narrow escape from serious injury when a large brick fell from the roof of a construction site and struck my head as I passed by. After first aid (no stitches but a good whack and a gash), a report to the appropriate regulatory agency, and a redemption of air miles, we flew to the spring delights of New York, the riot of heirloom roses and azaleas even more attractive than the sailors.  

My relief seemed to make everything more vivid—flavours, colours, music. Has that ever happened to you? 

On June 25, the Passage shutters for the summer. In the meantime, if you have a choice, please cross the street should you walk past an active construction site.