The Buttonista & Upstate NY Summer Fashion
I had the absolute joy of chatting with the Buttonista about her favorite Summer fashion trends and activities in beautiful Upstate NY! She provides all the insider tips and tricks, from what she rocks at various events to her exciting plans for the upcoming Summer season. Whether you're a local Upstate resident or planning a visit this year, read along and get ready for the realm of fashion and events that await you this Summer in Upstate NY. Let’s get into it!
Q: With summer just around the corner, i'm curious: What aspects of upstate New York's warmer months do you eagerly anticipate? Is it a particular vibe that envelopes you, a stylish change in your wardrobe, or maybe something else entirely? We'd love to hear what gets you excited for upstate New York Summer!
A: As a Saratoga girl, I absolutely love and embrace the summer tourism season downtown. I think it elevates the city even more and brings in so much buzz and energy to the already busy downtown area. I love the fact so many people from out of town and from nearby states choose to vacation in Upstate New York in places like Saratoga and the Adirondacks! Some of my favorite summer spots include waterfront dining on Saratoga Lake, a reservation at Solevo's outdoor patio and getting up super early to go to the backstretch of the track to watch the horses warm up and start their day before the races begin. Summer is a chance to soak up all the outdoor dining, dog walks and warm weather style! I love dresses and matching sets, bright colors and patterns and my #1 accessory is always a good pair of sunglasses --so I have dozens on hand to choose from at any moment! Honorable mentions include: soft serve ice cream and taking a photo or video of every hydrangea plant I see LOL.
Q: Where in your opinion are the best places to hangout in Upstate NY during the Summer? Albany, Saratoga, etc. and why?
A: I love downtown Saratoga for shopping, concerts at SPAC, the racetrack and outdoor dining! Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market is my favorite outdoor market in the area and the downtown area is a great place to grab a coffee and start your Saturday morning! The Adirondacks are great for outdoor lovers or even if you want to walk around Lake George village or Bolton Landing and see the water and mountains and soak up nature even if you’re not the type to go climb a high peak. I love that the Capital Region has so many great places and it's easy to get around and try out different places in each new city.
Q: What is some advice you can give to the readers on your go-to Summer style? Can you touch on closet organization and what you do with your Winter clothes.
A: I recently completed what I call “The Switch” of transitioning my winter clothes out of my closet and moving in all of my spring and summer styles. I think it’s really important to use these transitional periods as a time to phase out items you no longer want or need and pass them along to friends, sell them on Instagram or donate them to a local organization. I like to bring my clothes to Treasures of Saratoga, an amazing thrift store that donates all of their sales back to Saratoga Hospital! For my go-to summer style, I really love to embrace bright colors and patterns for special events or occasions, but also keep a nice, neutral style for everyday wear. When I have a nice tan, I have so much confidence when I dress and love to wear minimal makeup, slick my hair back, throw on a pair of sunglasses and head out for the day! In my closet, you will find a bunch of matching sets, comfortable dresses you can dress up or down, headbands and accessories and LOTS of summer shoes. We have such a short season of warm weather in Upstate New York, so I like to cram in a lot of looks during the summertime from being sporty with bike shorts and a trucker hat to walk my dog downtown to something more elevated and memorable for nice dinner out.
Q: Do you have any tips or tricks for staying fashionable in the summer heat of Upstate NY while maintaining comfort and practicality?
A: You really can’t go wrong with sundresses here in the summer —and choosing breathable fabrics, or skirts or dresses with a slit in the front for some extra breeze around your legs. One of my favorite products I use for us girls out there who do not have a thigh gap, or get blisters a lot on our feet from high heels, is a product called Body Glide and Foot Glide! It’s basically like deodorant for in between your thighs (not glamorous, but it’s a life saver LOL) and you can apply it on your feet as well for some added protection from getting blisters from uncomfortable footwear.
Q: What is your overall favorite aspect of Upstate NY summers from a fashion perspective. Do you like Winter fashion or Summer fashion better?
A: I definitely like summer fashion better! Winter is great for the layers, sweaters and jackets, but there is no better feeling to me than being able to walk out your front door and not immediately start to shiver! I still love to throw a jean jacket on over my summer looks or wrap a sweatshirt around my waist when I need it, but I really embrace the warm weather as a chance to push the boundaries, try new trends in terms of colors, silhouettes, etc. and really feel good in my skin!
Q: We are going to list out some events below - can you describe us your go-to outfit for them?!
1. A night out on the town in Saratoga
2. A concert at SPAC
3. A morning coffee and farmers market
A: 1. I’m probably wearing a matching set —let’s picture some wide leg pants with a coordinating crop top. The key here: a nice chunky block heel so that you can walk down the slope of Caroline Street and also be comfortable all night long!
2. A SPAC show is a great opportunity for a worn-in, boyfriend cut pair of jeans and a simple white tee or tank. I definitely will have a jean jacket for when it gets cool, and maybe a fun straw hat as an accessory! If you’re on the lawn, I love the idea of some kind of easy jumpsuit that is comfortable and easy to take off after waiting in the super long line for the bathroom!
3. I’m going bike shorts with a sports bra, a pair of New Balance ‘dad’ sneakers and a trucker hat from one of my favorite local spots. Right now I have two super cute hats from Caroline & Main in downtown Saratoga and am eyeing a June Farms trucker hat to add to my collection!
Be sure to follow Taylor on Instagram @Buttonista and follow along with her podcast dropping every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Music.
