Blogger of the Week

The New York Sartorialist

Who doesn’t like to people watch? Especially in a city like New York.

The New York Sartorialist, a. k. a. Michael Cress, does a beautiful job of celebrating the fabulous style and creativity we see on the streets every day. Cress, a native of Atlanta, was told by his father: “Right or wrong, people will size you up and judge you immediately by the way you look, so it’s important to always look your best so you make a good first impression. That first impression won’t win you business but it can certainly lose it.” Cress has carried those words of wisdom with him, and now he celebrates first impressions on his blog, documenting the inspirational looks of New Yorkers who cross his path: a charming girl wearing a jean skirt and toting roses in her woven bag; a musician in a double-breasted blue military jacket channeling Bob Marley.

The best part about The New York Sartorialist is the tone. Cress keeps it positive and informative, not critical or catty. In one post featuring a dapper gent you learn a little history of the bow tie. For the Oscars, he wrote “A Brief History of the Red Carpet” that is a trip back to Hollywood’s glamour days. (Cary Grant receives a few mentions on the blog, and one guesses he’s a role model for Cress.) As Cress says, “To simply post images can be interesting, but what makes a certain look work and why? That takes explaining for the readers.”