Live From The West Village: 8 Winter Trends I Can’t Walk a Block Without Spotting

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman's avatar
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West Village winter trends are showcased in a collage of street-style photos featuring women's winter outfit ideas. On the far left, a woman stands in a black fur coat, holding a black bowler bag. Next to her, a woman stands in brown sunglasses, wearing a tan trench coat with a long brown scarf wrapped around the shoulders like a cape, and carrying a brown bowler bag and white jeans. In the middle, a woman is wearing a black leather funnel neck bomber jacket with black trousers, black sunglasses, a black baker cap, and a black bowler bag. Next to her stands a woman wearing a black turtleneck sweater layered under a cream coat with a matching cardigan tied around the waist and black gloves layered over the cardigan. On the far right, a woman stands wearing oversized two-tone aviator sunglasses, a black leather bomber jacket, white jeans, a black bag, and a brown faux fur scarf.
(Image credit: @christietyler; @linhniller; @cocoschiffer; @thecarolinelin; @aniyahmorinia)
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One of the most indelible cultural influences on those who call Manhattan home (myself included) will always be the television series, Sex and the City. Even apathetic New Yorkers can admit they’ve gotten caught up in the fantasy, or rather, the fashion, donned by the series protagonists. The sartorial choices of characters like Charlotte York will likely live rent-free in the minds of fashion people because they were so reflective of the culture at the time. Moreover, over time, multiple generations have turned to the series as a source of inspiration, whether driven by a desire to move to the Big Apple to pursue their dreams or simply to escape through the characters’ style choices. It’s likely that the influence of this show will never diminish, but even the most devout fans may occasionally yearn for more contemporary visuals. After all, there's only so many times you can rewatch the show before it can start to get, well, stale! Thankfully, there’s one place you can turn to for new inspiration: New Yorkers themselves.

Frankly, there’s no better place to look for sartorial inspiration than strolling through the streets of where they shot the majority of the series, ahem, the West Village. You can't walk a block amongst the bustling restaurants or historic brownstones in this neighborhood without spotting someone donning one of the season's biggest trends. Living in the West Village is sort of like living on the set of Sex and the City; you think you've spotted Samantha Jones in the wild, but it turns out to be a super-stylish stranger on their way to Bar Pisellino. Of course, not everyone is lucky enough to call this part of town home, much less prance around in search of popular winter trends; that's where my expertise comes in handy. With over six years of residing in the concrete jungle as an editor, I've got a knack for spotting runway trends in the wild. Ahead, I'm sharing 8 winter trends that have taken West Village. Even if you don't call New York City home, adopting any of these street-style trends will surely have you feeling like Carrie Bradshaw.

#1. Pony, Up!

West Village winter trends are shown in a street style photo of a woman standing in front of a white building in her winter outfit, wearing a black pony hair coat layered over a black turtleneck and black wide-leg trousers styled with black pointed toe ankle boots, black sunglasses, and a cheetah print calf-hair clutch bag

(Image credit: @hannahlovey)

No matter your zip code, there's always one thing you can count on to come back into style when it's cold outside: ample textures. The most recent example of this phenomenon is New Yorkers' giddy embrace of pony hair. The winter trend was first spotted in the F/W 24 collections of Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and Khaite. Since then, we've seen other fashion houses release highly coveted calf-hair outerwear, footwear, and even accessories. With runway collections showing so many different ways to adopt this trend, it was only a matter of time before it took over the West Village—spoiler, it's done just that this season. Pony hair has become the texture of choice among the style set, as it's not only practical enough to wear on cold days but also posh enough for a new jazz bar in the city.

#2. Oversized Aviators

West Village winter trends are shown in a close street style photo of a woman leaning against a light pole in front of a restaurant in her winter outfit, wearing oversized two-tone aviator sunglasses with a black leather bomber jacket, white wide-leg jeans, a black shoulder bag, and a brown fur scarf

(Image credit: @aniyahmorinia)

It might be winter, but no wardrobe is complete without a pair of sunglasses. Every New Yorker can attest to the fact that the key to avoiding eye contact or any awkward encounter at the West Fourth train station is having a pair of oversized sunglasses in tow! Although recent runway collections offered ample trending silhouettes to choose from, it seems the only frame that's caught New Yorkers' eye is the oversized aviator. From Tom Ford to Loewe, recent collections revitalized this classic eyewear by incorporating '70s-inspired elements that felt reminiscent of Studio 54's heyday in Manhattan—think: curved edges, colorful lenses, and chunky frames. The contemporary spin on these sunglasses makes them the perfect accessory for one of those quintessential days in the city, when you start out somewhere in the village and somehow end up watching the sunrise the next morning.

#3. Unnecessary Gloves

West Village winter trends are shown in a street-style photo of a woman standing in front of a black doorway in a concrete building, wearing her winter outfit. She's wearing a black turtleneck sweater and black wide-leg trousers layered under a cream coat with a matching cardigan tied around the waist and black gloves layered over the cardigan styled with black square-toe ankle boots and a taupe clutch bag.

(Image credit: @thecarolinelin)

If the notion of wearing sunglasses in the winter seems entirely superfluous, then allow me to introduce you to another popular styling trend: unnecessary gloves. Yes, you read that right. Despite dismal winter forecasts, fashion people have decided that the best way to wear gloves this winter isn't to wear them at all, but rather to use them as decoration. Although some of the origins of this styling trend can be traced back to the streets of Copenhagen and Paris, New Yorkers have a knack for making things, more specifically, trends their own. That's evidenced by the onslaught of social posts and street-style photos of locals adopting the styling trend by draping their gloves over belts or over the flap of a handbag. It's a reminder that the true litmus test for whether a trend is bound to make it everywhere lies in whether it can be spotted across the Empire State.

#4. Funnel-philos

West Village winter trends are shown in a close street-style photo of a woman standing in front of a glass doorway in a concrete building in her winter outfit. She's wearing a black leather funnel neck bomber jacket with black trousers, black sunglasses, a black baker cap, layered silver rings, and a black bowler bag.

(Image credit: @cocoschiffer)

Unlike the aforementioned styling trend, there are some pragmatic winter trends that have taken over the city—case in point: funnel-neck jackets. Long before every cool girl from the Upper West Side to the West Village was donning this outerwear, we saw it surface in the F/W 24 runway shows of Phoebe Philo, Bevza, Proenza Schouler, and Brandon Maxwell. Over the last few seasons, designers have subtly tweaked the outerwear trend through oversized silhouettes, unexpected colors, and thicker textiles like leather. The latter, paired with a high neckline, makes this piece the ideal item to pull out on a frigid winter day. It's no wonder, then, why so many New Yorkers have become certified funnel-philos, for there's no other outerwear that's as functional and fashionable for the season.

#5. Faux Fur Scarf

West Village winter trends are shown in a close street-style photo of a woman standing in an elevator taking a selfie in her winter outfit. She's wearing gold earrings with a long black coat, a brown fur scarf, and a red structured handbag

(Image credit: @annadzhenderson)

The descent into freezing temps in the city always brings back one controversial trend: fur. Love or hate it, there are few other textiles better suited to New York's climate, which is why it's remained a must-have staple for the city's most stylish residents. But don't be fooled; New Yorkers have found a way to make this contentious winter trend feel approachable by taking styling cues from runway collections. It's all about embracing faux-fur accessories, as evidenced by Miu Miu, Fendi, and Michael Kors' shows, which gave the fuzzy treatment to almost everything. For most New Yorkers, that's meant embracing fur scarves as a way to dress up everyday staples, such as tailored coats, baggy jeans, and even sweater dresses. Its wide embrace by residents this winter proves that the secret to looking stylish, or at the very least looking as if you live in the West Village, lies in taking a few sartorial risks—fur scarves are the perfect place to start.

#6. White Jeans

West Village winter trends are shown in a street-style photo of a woman standing in front of a white, glass storefront in her winter outfit. She's wearing a tan trench coat with a long brown scarf wrapped around the shoulders like a cape, styled with a brown bowler bag, white baggy jeans, brown loafers, and brown sunglasses

(Image credit: @linhniller)

Fur accessories aren't the only hot-button winter trend that's taken over the West Village; white jeans have too. I know what you're thinking: "white denim in the middle of winter, really?" It might seem a little diabolical, especially considering that there are so many other denim trends that adhere to conventional styling "rules" around wearing this shade. But alas, you gotta give credit where credit is due! New Yorkers don't let what's arbitrary dictate their wardrobe choices, as evidenced by the surge of white denim outfit ideas on social media. From styling them with scarf-coats and sock boots to trench coats and timeless loafers, they've shown that this "controversial' denim trend is the key to achieving the downtown girl aesthetic as you trapeze about the city.

#7. Pillbox Caps

West Village winter trends are shown in a close selfie photo of a woman leaning out the window of a black car driving down a street in New York, wearing her winter outfit. She's wearing a black pillbox cap, oversized gold earrings, and a black coat.

(Image credit: @chanelmckinsie )

For those who find white denim too casual for their taste, there's a fancier winter trend that's all over the West Village right now: pillbox hats. First popularized in the '60s, the posh accessory made a comeback a few seasons ago in the runway collections of Chloé, Alaïa, Celine, and Altuzarra. It's remained an accessory of choice among creative directors, as luxury houses and indie labels have some of the most sought-after pillbox hats with slight updates each season—more recent examples include faux-fur finishes and fun colors. While one could argue that its continued presence in collections is what cemented the polished accessories' popularity, in truth, New Yorkers were among the earliest adopters of the trend. You can't walk into a trendy café, a cool gallery, or really any corner of the city without spotting someone donning a pillbox hat; it's one of the few trends that keeps residents' heads turning.

#8. Bowling Club

West Village winter trends are shown in a street-style photo of a woman standing in front of a glass doorway of a concrete apartment building in her winter outfit. She's wearing a long black fur coat over a black button-down shirt and skirt, styled with black pointed knee-high boots and a black bowler bag

(Image credit: @christietyler)

Hats off to those who have the wherewithal to buy every new handbag trend, but that's not a reality for most people paying rent in Manhattan. Being part of the club that calls this city home requires being strategic about what to invest in each season. Frankly, there's no other style better suited to the task than bowler bags. Ever since the bag was reintroduced in the runway collections of Miu Miu, Khaite, Jacquemus, and The Row, it's been on a strikeout. Unlike other trends, it has a winning advantage among West Village residents because its oversized shape makes it functional enough to be a commuter bag, yet chic enough to carry for a night out. It also doesn't hurt that there have been highly coveted adaptations of the style, including Coach's adeptly named "Empire Bag," which is so recognizable that you could nod to a stranger at a coffee shop who's carrying it too (speaking from experience). All that is to say, there are few accessories that are as indicative of having an Empire State of Mind, but this bag surely makes the cut.

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Freelance Fashion Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. What began as a pastime (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a lifelong passion for unveiling the connection between fashion and culture on the internet and in real life. Over the last decade, she's melded her extensive edit and social background to various on-staff positions at Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. More recently, she’s become a freelance contributor to other publications including Vogue, Editorialist, and The Cut. Off the clock, you can find her clutching her cell phone as she's constantly scrolling through TikTok and The RealReal, in search of the next cool thing.