Hi all I (22f), just moved to the big apple after graduating from LSU this past spring. My one friend from the city (I knew her when she was 12) told me bushwick was the place to be, so I found an apartment with 3 other girls and other than the 30 minute walk to the subway while clutching my pepper spray, it’s been great.

Now, I don’t want to brag, but I was my sorority president of Kappa, was homecoming queen and was regularly voted best dressed of my sorority. I’ve always been on top of the latest fashion trends (even getting early access to the latest Lilly Pulitzer dresses with my personal shopper), but I’m having a bit of trouble here with picking up the fashion sense.

Last week I went to urban outfitters to pick out some new clothes to enhance my New York City wardrobe and asked the janitor where the fitting rooms were. He looked at me with the weirdest face and told me he was a music tour manager at Sony and shuffled past me. I felt bad, but he was wearing a blue collar worker jumpsuit and a beanie that only covered the top part of his head. I soon began to notice a trend in this sort of style—oversized outfits that make more sense for a trade worker.

If I want to fit in in bushwick do I need to start shopping at dickies or at my local auto repair shop? Do I have to dye my blonde hair to an unnatural purple and get a pixie cut?

And I can’t say I’m on board with the weird beanie hats, but why does it only cover a quarter of their head? Does it keep it warm? And why do people wear them in the summer?

Any advice is greatly appreciated! I need to up my game now that I’m in the fashion capital of the world!