all.growns.up

Harem pants are not ok. They’ve never been ok and they never will be ok. You can go ahead and wear them and I promise you will look back on photos of yourself and realize you walked around looking like you were carrying a load in your pants. I’m mean, if that’s what you’re into thats cool - I’m just sayin’ …

I think I’m back into tumblr again. But only when I have more than 140 characters to say. Also under the stipulation that no more bloody clown photos with my face morphed on them wind up in my inbox this time.

This one’s for you Karla. These are some things I think every Brooklyn girl needs (or at least that I couldn’t live without here).

1. A good pair of rain boots. Seriously. Forget those cute cheap ones and go for the gold. You need a boot that you can walk miles in and wear for multiple seasons without springing a leak. Hunter Boots, $115.

2. A good umbrella. You should invest in one nice one (or in my case find one, score!) or you’ll end up buying 50 a year from a bodega or a guy on the street, just to have them flip inside out and pop off their frame with the first gust of wind. And there will be wind. Clear dome umbrella (you can see where you’re going while under it and it won’t flip inside out!, $25.

3. A really warm coat, regardless of how unflattering or puffy or long it is. There will be some days when you just want to stay warm, and you no longer care if it makes you look like the stay-puff marshmallow man. Spiewak makes my favorite ridiculously warm coats, the one above is $265 at karmaloop (and probably half that at a bunch of other places).

4. A really cute coat/jacket, regardless of how impractical and not warm it might be. Because the big puffy warm coat doesn’t always look awesome when paired with that little sequin dress. I’d kill for this AllSaints Cropped Worley Leather Biker, $400.

5. A smartphone is essential. You’ll use the mp3 player and games on the train and priceless apps like the MTA subway map and restaurant info apps almost daily. The gps/maps will also come in handy. The ability to check your e-mail and access the internet when not home for long periods of time is also a bonus. Its a girls best friend. I’m not a mac girl, so the mytouch ($150) is my savior.

6. UGGS. Yes, they’re horrible and out of style and no one I know will admit that they own them, yet we all do. They’ll come in handy more than you know - doing laundry in gross weather, running to the bodega, etc. The “knightsbridge” with the zipper in the back are my current faves, $220.

7. A giant handbag. Even when small ones are in style, you’ll end up using a big one most of the time. Going home to refresh your stuff and/or yourself after you’ve already left your house for the day is usually not an option. Your handbag will be your homebase for comfortable flats after a long day, a sweater on a cold day, a book for the train, and countless other essentials. Loving this Twist bag from UO, $68.

8. A quality pair of boots. New York girls love their boots like no others. My current fave are the “Angel” boots by Lucky, $199 @ Zappos.

8. Good make-up. See #7. Going home to refresh is not an option - so having high quality make-up that will last for 12 hours or more with little touch-ups is a huge help.

9. A little black dress. There will be parties. Funerals. Weddings. Whatever - I missed so many parties in my early days here because I had nothing good to wear. One little black dress solves everything. $290 @ Lord & Taylor.

10. A giant beach towel, a bathing suit you love, and a little beach chair. Because the beach fucking rules and you need to be ready to go at any given time.

Lastly, little things you should always have handy:

* the number for a good/cheap local restaurant close to home, and another close to work - you’ll probably be calling in for a lot of take-out on your way home from work or for staying late at work.

* The number for your neighborhood’s car service.

* Get to know your local laundromat’s hours, prices, and drop off policies & get used to the idea that someone else will sometimes be doing your laundry. Some will even come to your house and pick it up for no extra charge.

* Know your neighbors, your police precinct, the hours of the closest grocery store, know your trash day, know your block’s recycling policies, know which busses you can take to Ikea for free and where to catch them, make a mental note of who will take a credit card and who won’t because many businesses here are cash only, know which bodegas will make you a sandwich when you come in at 3am and which ones will deliver it if you call instead.