From chinatown, with love. — Hello Fashionistas

Even as a lifelong New Yorker, I feel like we don’t take full advantage of all that this city has to offer. We live in the greatest city in the world, and we often take it for granted. If we really took the time to be a tourist in our own city, there would be no limit to what we could discover. So when my good friend Angelica tagged me on a post on the @Styleyournyc Instagram page, offering a free 1 hour photo shoot with photographer @Sofia.sarlat at any location in NYC of your choice, I just had to take my chances and enter! So many places in NYC to choose from, this was my chance to potentially shoot in a place I’ve always wanted to shoot in, and be a local tourist and discover, or re-discover, one of the many fascinating neighborhoods in NYC. I followed all the steps I needed to enter, and crossed my fingers. I was shocked when she announced that I was the winner on March 8th! You can’t even imagine the excitement! How was I going to take advantage of this opportunity? What location was I going to choose? So many different locations in NYC to pick from, and many places came to mind, but one place in particular I’ve always wanted to shoot in, is Chinatown. With it’s colorful lanterns and awnings, restaurants, souvenir stores, bubble tea shops and fish and spice markets, it’s one of those neighborhoods in New York City that has retained it’s charm and hasn’t been gentrified by another Starbucks, pharmacy chain, or a fucking Pinkberry. I could not wait to shoot in one of New York City’s most lively neighborhoods!

Chinatown is charged with so much energy! From the women working the fruit stands, the men pushing their handtrucks into the local stores, the ladies on the corners pushing counterfeit designer bags, to the street vendors sitting on their chairs selling masks in the middle of the sidewalk. Every street and every corner was so animated and brimming with so much spirit. I haven’t worked with a photographer in a while, but working with Sofia was so easy! I felt like I’ve known her a long time! She made me feel comfortable, and gave great direction, I felt like I was just spending time in the City with one of my best girlfriends, sightseeing and taking flicks! It was also the most beautiful Spring day, at 68 degrees, the Sun came out for us that day and along with Sofia’s golden eyes, added to the magic of the images. A great photographer will always bring the best out of you, and she did that effortlessly. She had some time to scope out which areas she wanted to shoot in, and anywhere we shot, was the perfect backdrop for my outfit. People were waving at me and honking their horns, and we laughed and had fun with the people as they walked by.

I wanted my look to mimic the vibrance of this neighborhood, as well as pay a little homage to the season. When I think of Spring, I think of florals. I wore a wide leg Yellow Floral printed jumpsuit with bold Pink & Red flowers, and a knotted sweetheart neckline. I love taking a pretty and feminine piece, and making it a little edgy with the accessories, so I threw on a bright red leather moto jacket, a black and red belt bag, and a quilted black mule to anchor the look and boost the edge of the jacket and bag. Just 3 simple accessories gives this sweet ensemble a tough edge.

It’s a little bizarre how the timing of this photo shoot comes right on the heels of all the stop AAPI hate protests and rally’s being held all around the city and in the country, due to the increase in AAPI related attacks happening right now. Despite the heavy climate all of this AAPI violence has caused, every time I shared a smile with someone they were ready with a warm and welcoming smize of their own. It gave me so much joy to have chosen Chinatown more than any other place in this city at a time when our AAPI brothers and sisters need our love and support the most. If you are thinking of being a local tourist in this city you call home and don’t know where to start, make Chinatown your first choice! Chinatown is more than just pork buns and dumplings. It is a vibrant town filled with hardworking and loving people who contribute to the pulse of this great city, so make your way down there and show them some love!

With Style & Pizazz,

YAZ

PHOTOGRAPHER: @SOFIA.SARLAT @STYLEYOURNYC

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