By: Angelina O’Connor

Someone recently relayed to me that they love going out because it’s like playing dress up, and I couldn’t agree more. For those familiar with the New York City nightlife scene, you may know that the dress code is anything but universal. A black mini skirt paired with high heeled black boots and a black leather jacket may not be cutting it unless you’re spending your evening bar hopping in the West Village. If you’re someone who’s looking to get past New York’s most exclusive velvet ropes, you have no choice but to dress the part for the place. 

The main idea to keep in mind about going out in NYC is that nightlife is not just one scene, but rather contains a plethora of many micro-scenes, each with its own vibe, soundtrack, and aesthetic expectation. What you wear going out is not just fashion – its social signaling with themes of identity and can be tailored to specific neighborhood subcultures. 

The good news is, you don’t have to be a celebrity to get the looks, and odds are, you or a friend probably have items at your disposal to create a fabulous ensemble to donn for a night out on the town. The key is to know how to dress for where you’re going, and some important absolute no-no’s to remember when getting ready for the night. 

Before you even choose an outfit, there are some mostly unspoken rules we must cover to ensure your success at the door. First things first; your goal should be to align with the vibe of the neighborhood you’re heading to, not just whatever your friends are wearing. Sometimes, being the only one not wearing a Revolve corset is a good thing. Second; do not overdo a trend. You would not want to be caught dead in the same Edikted micro mini shorts as the girl standing next to you, especially if your plan is to go to an East Village bar which could only be politely described as grimy. That brings me to my next point which is to give your feet a little reality check before walking out the door. If your feet already hurt as you pace around your apartment looking for that one Pink Whitney shooter you saved for a rainy day (i.e. your bank account has less than $100 and you still want to pregame), take those puppies off and try again. You honestly can never go wrong with a good pair of boots with a thicker heel. Finally, the confidence rule; if you feel like you’re in costume in the wrong way, you are. Pick the outfit that feels like a hotter, slightly delusional version of yourself which also could match the vibe of wherever you’re going. You’ll know it’s the right one when you give yourself a once over in the mirror and immediately smile as you exclaim, “Damn, I look good!”. Now, you should be ready to hop on the train towards downtown…or into an Uber Black if you’ve just gotten paid.

Ideally, you’ll know where you’re going before leaving to go there. But, if you don’t, that’s ok. Just try to convince your friends to go to the one aesthetic archetype of the many I’m about to describe that most closely matches your vibe for the night. These are my observations from four years of going out in New York City…and trust me. I know my stuff. 

Making our way downtown, walking fast, faces pass and you’re club bound! 

The West Village has two very distinct vibes; one being an offshoot of the historic LGBTQ+ population of the area, the other being a product of transplant gentrification resulting in what is known as the “West Village GIrl” aesthetic (iykyk). In preserving the original essence of the queer scene of the neighborhood, places like Henriettas, Cubbyhole, The Stonewall, and Playhouse seem to operate on a “come as you are” basis. The aesthetic is basically anything other than sweatpants and homophobia. 

The second side of going out in the West Village is more along the lines of ‘The Soft Luxe Girl who moved here to work in social media marketing and takes Tracy Anderson Method workout classes on the weekends’. For anyone seriously married to the black mini skirt and boots combo, this is a safe space for you. With cozy yet expensive looking basics, probably paired with a designer bag and a dirty martini, the vibe you’re aiming for can be found in spots like The Spaniard, Due West, The Parkgate and Do Not Disturb. 

Next up is the East Village. In this microcosm of New York nightlife, Indie Sleaze has been resurrected (again). If you’re not familiar with this term, just think of the messy haired, smokey eyed, vintage grunge club images which came out of Tumblr in the years between 2006 and 2012. This resurgence of the style looks like thrown together thrifted chaos, the black tights that ripped that one time but it looked kind of cool so you kept them just in case, and LOTS of metallics and eyeliner. This style shows the doormen of places like Joyface, Nublu Classic, Studio 151, and Wiggle Room that kind of “didn’t even try” energy which in reality took one hour and approximately 97 Q-Tips to retouch your smokey eye.

Venturing to the Lower East Side (LES), we see a more reformed look that will surely last until the wee hours of the morning at the after party. The fitted black mesh, oversized coats, high heels. and slicked back hair are the way to go for this part of town where nightclub energy thrives on techno music and exclusive doors. Wearing a chic yet not “trendy” outfit is a safe bet for attempts to get into spaces like The Box, Outer Heaven, and Little Sister. 

Fashion has always been something which has worked as a social marker of status, taste and identity expression, and nightlife fashion is no different. It’s true that wearing the right pair of vintage Rick Owens boots or a Christian Dior saddle bag might work in your favor as you wait impatiently for the doorman at Jean’s to notice you while you pretend to smile in 40 degree weather. Style tends to indicate more than what’s trending on Tik Tok. As sociologist Pierre Bourdieu suggests, “Taste classifies, and it classifies the classifier” (Distinction, 1979). In other words, what you wear is not just clothing, but it serves as a marker of social belonging. You just have to know where it is you want to belong for the night. 

The good news is, you don’t have to be a celebrity to get the looks, and odds are, you or a friend – or the shelves at TheRealReal – have items at your disposal to create a fabulous ensemble to don for a night out on the town. The key is simply knowing how to dress for where you’re going.