22 Comments
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Natasha Chetty's avatar

So very helpful, Amy! Thank you. I spend spring, summer and fall in Vancouver, and winter in Honolulu, with stops in New York and Calgary in between. I've been confounded by the dissonance between what I feel comfortable and happy in (Ring 1 and Ring 4) vs. what seems appropriate for the vibe of each city. This is a good decoding tool. I'll use it along with my copy of CP 2ed (thanks, also, for writing the book) to apply a more principled approach. I'm guessing structure and texture with more polish and fewer patterns that don't seem to coordinate with anything.

Noelle McAfee's avatar

Wow. I never would have guessed but it is true. I am in a little stucco house with red tile roofs overlooking the city and the sea outside Iraklion, Crete. I haven’t left the house in two days as I am reading and working on an article. I’m wearing what looks to my color blind eyes as a no color color ring 3 Tibi seersucker shirt over a black silk long sleeved T, old navy knit winslows, and old brown Tibi slides. This place is ring 3.

Susan Grant's avatar

Fleshed out with some input from Stephen Colbert this would be a great "bit" for standup.

So true.....wonder if straight men would get it ? A fun read that will stick in my head + more reason I do not care for Ring 4 color's. I am a Ring 1 girl trying to break into some Ring 2.....

Lily O’Connell's avatar

I would love your tips for incorporating ring 4 colors (when you’re very much a ring 1,2,3 nyc girl) without losing your personal style or feeling as if you’re cos playing a romanticized version of yourself on vacation only to never wear the piece again once you return to everyday life

Amanda Teale's avatar

Having lived in Melbourne for most of my life and Sydney for a short chapter of my life, I endorse their placement in rings 2 and 4! Although to be super specific, there are areas of both where the rings are swapped - Northcote v Brighton in Melbourne, Newtown v Bondi in Sydney.

streetscout's avatar

Decoding this, it sounds like Vancouver is ring 3?

Amy Smilovic's avatar

I see Vancouver more like San Fran ring 2- the urban element is so strong there

Catherine Nelson's avatar

Do you think Kyoto is a Ring 2 or 3 city? Asking for me who is going to be in Tokyo and Kyoto later this year.

Amy Smilovic's avatar

Ahhhh I’ve never been ! It’s on my lidt

harksc's avatar

I just got back from Tokyo and Kyoto. 😃 I would say, this time of year, Tokyo is more 2/1 and Kyoto is 3/2. Kyoto reminds me of Japanese watercolor color. My most worn piece was the oatmeal Sheer Wool Gauze button down and crispy nylon bottom but it was getting warmer and I couldn’t do nylon if it got any warmer/more humid. My lifesaver piece was the current blue/brown menswear Liam. Perfect weight and vibe! I also brought the brown striped sweater and got many miles out of it in the evenings. Have a wonderful trip!

Catherine Nelson's avatar

Ooh thank you! That’s kind of what I was envisioning. I will be there in Sept so it will still be very warm. I have the brown striped sweater too and was hoping it would fit in. Thanks!

harksc's avatar

My pleasure! I have been in August too and it was hot and HUMID! I wore a pair of cotton shorts to the Tokyo Fish Market on Day #1 and had sweated through them within hours. After that it was Athleta and Lulu during the day. I’m contradicting myself but now that I’m thinking about it, Nylon Stella Shorts would actually have been better or at least not as obvious!

Catherine Nelson's avatar

I’ve been trying to get my hands on those shorts! Is this the blazer you mentioned?

https://tibi.com/products/menswear-crepon-liam-blazer-navy-multi

Ruth Weeks's avatar

I reckon both Kyoto and Tokyo lean quite 2/3 depending on the season.

Stefanie Schoen's avatar

San Francisco is mostly correct except the treadmill part. If you actually live in the city you do not need a treadmill with those hills... and if you live outside the city... well, it's because you love to be outside!

Amy Smilovic's avatar

Haha true that….

Karen Feitelberg's avatar

What about Montreal?

Svitlana's avatar

Thank you, Amy! Interesting as usual ❤️👍

Leticia Junquera Lara's avatar

Hi Amy! I keep on wondering if I am getting the math right when I look at pictures of a city/place. For instance, would Tokyo be a ring 1 + 4 with a bit of 3?

Lily O’Connell's avatar

I love color ring city dressing! An absolutely genius concept

Karen Brennan's avatar

Spot on! Consider adding Chicago to ring two with a splash of ring four, a gift of the multicultural environment

Amy Smilovic's avatar

Yeah Chicago is sooooo ring 2