Clothes That Reflect Who I Was Back Then ③ NY Edition

NY, NY, NY—the fairytale world of Manhattan that I longed for.
In 2004, back when physical distance still existed for both information and goods, I was in my late 20s and visiting New York for the fourth time. I was an office worker who wanted to change jobs into the apparel industry to become a buyer.
That was who I was back then.
The purpose of the trip was entertainment (Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater and musicals), gourmet food, fashion, shopping, and visiting art museums—well, the usual. Manhattan was a city overflowing with excitement, coolness, and style just by walking around.

About the two pieces of clothing I encountered here.
It was the denim boom back then. Citizens of Humanity, 7 For All Mankind, and so on.
In America, the birthplace of denim, everyone was wearing jeans. It felt like chinos didn't even exist. I went around to various shops wanting to buy something, but I couldn't decide. Then, I saw a shop clerk wearing some incredibly cute jeans with an accent on the back.
Low-rise, horseshoe stitching, and a three-dimensional bootcut.
It had a wild, slightly bohemian feel.
It was a little different from the rest.
When I wore them back in Japan, even a shop clerk who worked as a denim buyer asked me,
“Is that True Religion? Where did you buy it!?” It hadn't really caught on in Japan yet. It was a brand known only to those in the know. I was happy because I hadn't bought them just because I was chasing a trend.

The second item was a Mayle dress I bought at a street-level shop in SoHo. It was like a one-of-a-kind vintage piece. It didn't look like anything else, and the details—the retro warmth, the ladylike silhouette, the antique buttons, and the satin ribbons—were elaborate and showed a sense of care. I bought a turquoise silk dress with black stripes. About half a year later, I discovered it at Estnation. It was their first arrival in Japan. It seems Mayle was supported by fashion-conscious people in NY, but apparently, the brand closed down a few years later. There must have been a 'Mayle loss.' I'm sure that somewhere in the hearts of those who slipped into a Mayle dress in SoHo back then, Mayle still remains today.

True Religion and Mayle, which I met after flying all the way to NY—back then, I was truly 'choosing' for myself.