People always ask me if there are any differences between the women in Los Angeles and the women in New York. I know that everyone is expecting me to say that every girl in L.A. has made her hair beach blond and wears it way too long, has augmented breasts, and eats two leaves of lettuce with a wedge of lemon for lunch. They have private trainers they dread to see, but meet regularly with total determination. They have standing appointments booked a year in advance with the dermatologist for their Botox and fillers.
On the flip side, New York women are supposed to be much more subdued about their beauty efforts, demonstrating more restraint. Yes, they make every effort to look their best, but their ideal beauty is more subtle and sophisticated. New York women supposedly adhere to a more suitable dress code for an urban lifestyle.
Ten years ago, these stereotypes might have contained some truth, but the world has become progressively smaller. Today, we all shop at similar stores and have substantially corresponding reference points, whether they be films, novels, TV or the Internet. We are all are privy to the same information. Granted, we can edit the info we choose to receive, but it is universal and instant. The result is often a similar aesthetic that is handed to us and results in trends that cross the country.
There is one variable the does allow for small, but obvious differences between the East and West Coasts. Environmental differences allow for different lifestyles, and different lifestyles are more conducive to different looks. Women in L.A. often are more body aware because they dress a bit more seductively. It is not unusual to see a woman wearing a more revealing outfit than her New York counterpart. The reason is that in Los Angeles, women are not on the streets as often as New Yorkers are. L.A. women spend most of their time in cars, which protect them from inappropriate people and comments. In New York City, women are more likely to be walking throughout the day. They are very much unprotected and therefore find it's often better to blend in than be noticed -- which is the complete antithesis of the LA idea.
In both cities, your appearance does influence your success. Achieving major life accomplishments require that you maintain a positive attitude. This is key to living a happy and successful life in New York or Los Angeles. Success in L.A. is more contingent on your personal presentation. This is because L.A. is basically a one-industry town, and film is a visual medium. Even if you are not in front of the camera, looking good is always emphasized. That's the nature of show business.
Except for the gross exaggerations of either stereotype, there is not one look that is better or worse than the other. My big tip is to wear your hair, makeup and clothes that are appropriate for your locale and your situation. Be true to your personal style and your environment. You will always look your best.