"The scene" is something that I have tried to define. However, it seems nearly impossible to define "the scene" because scenes exist everywhere you go. In New York City scenes have existed long before the Warholian era and NYC scenes are not just limited to fashion and music.
I think it is safe to say that right now, in New York City, there are many different types of scenes. However, some scenes are receiving a lot of attention from the media (specifically magazines) These scenes are usually considered to be the most popular ones because they experience a moment in the spotlight.
Right now, misshapes is a VERY popular party with a following. They have really given birth to a new kind of scene particularly because they play alternative music (rock, pop, nu rave, indie) and they also have a website that captures the general mood and look of the party. The use of the Internet has really enabled misshapes to become a phenomenon in its own right. Also, a lot of the people who go to misshapes regularly, work for magazines and PR companies and this has allowed the party to become EVEN more popular. In the past, Misshapes only attracted a downtown crowd, but these days misshapes has become somewhat of a marketable product and thus, their popularity has reached the mainstream.
The general look at misshapes is avant garde, goth, emo, downtown skater, rock chic, bohemian cool. Magazines like Nylon, Lula, ID, and Paper showcase all these styles, but generally all these styles exist in downtown NY as well as other alternative cultures. Misshapes has really done an excellent job of capturing downtown style, and even though some may feel it is “the scene”…I beg to differ. Misshapes is simply a party where all these people come together…There are other parties and venues downtown that do this as well, they are just not as exposed to the general public because they are not in the media. When people talk about scene style, I personally feel that they are really just talking about the aesthetic that is popular downtown. Downtown New York has always attracted creative types who are more daring in their fashion choices, and this daring aesthetic usually becomes popular with the mainstream once the look has become commercialized and marketable. A perfect example of this is suspenders, Nike uptowns, and (gasp) skinny jeans!
There are other cultures that exist in New York that have their own unique aesthetic and receive attention from the media. For example, there are clubs and lounges that attract a celebrity clientele (Bungalow 8, stereo, soho house, etc) These places have been featured in US weekly countless times and they have their own consistent following. Generally, this “scene” attracts an uptown/sophisticated crowd that adheres to a more classic and less subversive look. You won't see kids rockin looks by cassette playa or gareth pugh, but everyone is very stylish and chic and many work for magazine publications. It’s more Sex and the City then Sid and Nancy. There is also the “Chelsea scene”…the “Punk scene”…the “Rave/Bass Williamsburg scene”…the “socialite wealthy scene”…the “corporate investor scene”…the “bohemian artist scene”…etc. All of these “scenes” have their own unique aesthetic and contribute to the look of New York as a whole. The beauty of NYC is that every "scene" interacts and this creates a style that is distinctly New York!
thanks miss6o!
but 
Haider Ackermann - Designer, Creative Director of Canada Goose & Tom Ford (6 Viewers)
