WHICH CITY IS BETTER FOR THE GLO UP…LA or NY?

As my hot girl summer winds down (*proceeds to tear up and store away some of my baddest summer time looks that would make Megan The Stallion jealous*) I want to take some time to reflect on 2 amazing trips I took this summer.

Both destinations were on opposite sides of the coast. Both gave me a whole new outlook and attack for crushing my goals. In doing so, I also want to explore answering a million dollar question one of my IG Lovestyle Warriors asked:

 Which city do you think is better…LA or NY?”

Beverly Hills or Time Square? Hollywood Lights or Broadways Nights? Lakers or the Knicks (ok maybe that’s not fair to NY haha). But allow me to fully dig-in on the pros and cons of each. Load up the mystery show sound effects “dom da da doooooommm”…

We now introduce and bring the Top 2 markets in the nation to the ring. Where’s my Superstar Cali Girls at? Where’s my NY Fly City Girls at? Which city runs it? Which city is the best place for a woman to Glo Up?

“Let’s Get Ready To Ruuuummmmble” lol.

First off, let me breakdown both trips

MY LA TRIP…

So ya girl went to LA to meet with a Hollywood executive *STAY TUNED/DOING THE BEL AIR CARLTON DANCE*

I also got a chance to see the Louis Vuitton exhibit. If you know me, you know I’m a LV girl – so I GOTTA digress and give you the tea on this one-of-a-kind exhibit. It was the first time they ever did it, and it was only for 3 months – never to be done again.

They had everything to capture LV’s history from beginning to end. This included the first trunk ever made from 1854. They also showcased the most random stuff they make that you would never think of - from furniture to, janga kids toys, to even a punching bag.

They also had one of their exclusive manufacturers on-site to share their insider’s experience and journey. He mentioned the fact that only 1 person touches the purse and all any other item they make from conception to end. That 1 person does everything, taking about 2 weeks for a purse. No assembly line – everything from the stitching, to the painting, to the monogram. AND IT’S ALL DONE BY HAND.

I could go on and on and on about my favorite brand Louis V – but I know you’re like “girl get back on topic.” Gotcha!

So, a thought I had was “What made LA the perfect place for this exhibit versus NY.”                                             

1 - The weather is much better.

2 – The location – RODEO DRIVE – which is one of the most famous streets in the world. They bought out an entire building that was right on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills… a block and half away from the Louis Vuitton store in Beverly Hills. If it were in NY, I don’t know if they could’ve found a convenient place to set up shop so quickly and visibly.

Plus, in LA more so than any other place in the world, you will always see a celebrity out and about. Whether it’s a movie star or an All Star for the Lakers, it’s so common to see an A-lister and everyone is really chill about.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT LA THAT I CAN’T GET ANYWERE ELSE

PEACE OF MIND…& SHOPPING!

LA Feel Good Energy

When I comeback from LA I feel rejuvenated. My spirit is so at ease, as if I went on some sort of spiritual retreat. Plus, the energy is so rejuvenating. The palm trees the “It never rains in Southern California” sunny weather, and its natural aura creates a LIGHT & BRIGHT vibration all around. My spirit feels so in-tuned to a higher frequency when I’m there – in a real chill way (and that’s even without the medicinal or chilling with Snoop hahaha).                    

Also, the connections I make, for friendship or work purposes, always feel surreal and uplifting.  LA gives you the liberating social flexibility of being able to have an amazing Happy Hour at a bar, or a great shindig at a friend’s apartment.

LA Shopping

OMG LA is my favorite place for window shopping. In LA you’re always going to get unique pieces first because of all the Hollywood celebrities. The shopping doesn’t always love me back, but ohh do I love it.

MY NY TRIP

Now, when I went to NY last month it was also for a “power meeting” with a media executive *STAY TUNED/DOING THE TURBO B-BOY BREAKDANCE/MIGHT EVEN START DOING THE HELICOPTER ON MY BACK*

Ironically, my photographer and stylist were in NY that weekend too. So, we did an impromptu fierce street style shoot!

NY MINUTE

NY is an entirely different rush. That NY minute is real, as time flies because people are always in a hurry and on a serious grind. The energy is sooooo different from NY, it’s a totally different high. Taxis hunking, peddlers hustling, corporate execs with briefcases almost knocking you over with the wind that accompanies their brisk power walk. Everyone is on go go go.

Plus, NY is literally the CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS. You can head out at 4am and find a place to eat or a store to get some snacks right down the street, with plenty of people still outside. Whereas LA shuts down for the most part by 10pm during the week, in NY there’s always something to do any day of the week.

NY STYLE

OMG…the fashion style up in NY is on SMASH. It’s perfect for a street style shoot, in part because everybody you see looks like they’re on one. You can see women walking down Time Square that look just like there off The Real Housewives of NYC. Ladies, when you travel to the Big Apple, your dress code MUST be on point, because showcasing your style is EVERYTHING there. Style is truly the NY way of life!

NY CULTURE

This applies to the entire culture. The level of creativity and innovation is insane! For one – the museums and theater is amazing. Like who doesn’t love Broadway? Plus there’s always someone making food, painting, and hustling or spitting “mad game son.”

Lol, please don’t mind me swagger jacking the NY culture, but it’s crazy how many subcultures exist in one city.

When you go to Brooklyn you can feel it – the pride is so strong & the accent/language/lingo is on blast. You know somebody from Brooklyn the second they open their mouth. It screams ‘Where Brooklyn At” in Biggie/Jigga fashion and you know they’re from BK. Same for Queens, Staten Island, & all the other epic burrows.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT NY THAT I CAN’T GET ANYWERE ELSE

What I love most about NY is the “Go-Getter Conquer The World” vibe. It can feel very cutthroat in the Big Apple, but when I came from NY I was ready to take over the world!

Ok, I’ve given you the long and short of my LA & NY trips. Now it’s time to cut to the chase and get to the nitty gritty of where each has a leg up on the other:

Here’s the head to head tale of 2 cities for which one is best for the #GloUp.  

LA vs NY

Style: NY     

NY gets the slight win because they get all the seasons – so you can really show-out from head to toe.

 Culture: TIE 

It really depends on your mood. If you’re more chill def LA. If you love the bright lights and the rip & run – def NY.

 Food: LA

The freshness of the seafood/sushi, Asian and Mexican cuisines are everything! BUT I gotta keep it real and give props where its due. Outside of CHICAGO…you won’t get a better pizza than NY.

Boss Moves: LA     

This is a tough one, but let me explain. For me…if I didn’t have a family I would go to NY. 10 years ago it would be NY all day. At a NY Bar, you could have a Wall Street exec or model there. You’re not going to meet celebrities as often, but you will meet movers and shakers.

 But NY is too hard & expensive to do with a family in my opinion.

 Since I have a family it would be LA. If your more into movies and TV, LA all day – that’s where the industry is (which is where I want my career to go so one day I can be on the big screen and say those famous words “Momma I Made It” haha). However, in LA, although you see celebrities more often in LA, getting into those secret power circles is a lot harder.

 FINAL LA vs NY RECAP

So, the unofficial tally is LA Wins the #GloUp series 2-1

 However, the truth is I love both. Both have so much adventure, fun, life and opportunity. I can see how people get addicted to both cities. There’s nothing like either.

 But keep in mind both are very fast cities. When you visit or relocate to either, make sure you don’t get caught up in the fast lifestyle and lose yourself. Stay focused and handle your business.

 Although I couldn’t permanently live in either one, I LOVE to visit & make BOSS MOVES in both! NY…LA – till we meet again! #Chao