Happy New Year! The days have been cool, gray, and rainy in New York City this winter. Not at all the white Christmas that we dreamt about. But as the hip hop duo Atmosphere so eloquently said, “When life gives you lemons, you paint that sh*t gold.” Life has dealt a sh*tload of lemons lately, so let’s get painting.

For me, the easiest way to bring on the joy is with color. Being from Vancouver, which is in a rain forest, step two is easy-peasy: Find a puddle to jump in.

So for this month’s column, I put together a bright pink outfit and headed with my crew (photographer Phil and lighting assistant Amy) in search of rain puddles.

I originally purchased this eye-grabbing magenta raincoat for a 2019 trip to Scotland, where it is purported to rain most days of the year. At the time, I had pink and blue hair, so I was a walking Stuart Semple (inventor of the pinkest pink pigment).

I actually bought these rain boots for fun times cleaning the shower, so this was the first time they’d been out in public. They handled the puddles really well, though of course all the splashing meant my feet ended up soaked. Well worth it!

I’ve always loved this miniskirt from one of my first shopping trips in New York, and it was an easy matter to find hot pink tights via a little quick googling on my phone while waiting for the subway. And when I went to Party City to get them, I found this delightful face jewelry that really adds sparkle to the day.

The matching top that pulls it all together was one of those miracle finds that happens when I have a vision and I’m on the prowl to realize it. I was walking along 14th Street towards Fifth Avenue when I saw a brand new store called Daily Thread. I looked through the window and a lot of hot pink caught my eye, so in I went. The first thing I saw when I walked through the door, front and center, was a mannequin wearing this cute tee. Et voilà! My outfit was complete. I feel quite blissful at the sight of this color palette!

After the shoot we headed up Greenwich Avenue to Benny’s Burritos for happy hour drinks and tacos (Patron cocktail and taco for $15). Amy gave me this stunning ballet skirt in delicious matching tones of fuchsia, cream, and periwinkle blue, leading to an impromptu ballet moment, and our rain day was the best ever!

Footnote: Our photoshoot happened to be the same day as Santacon NYC. This is a crazy event where thousands of people get dressed as Santa and go in search of libations. Basically an all-day Christmas pub crawl. Santacon’s motto: SANTA IS SANTA! YOU ARE SANTA. SANTA IS SANTA. SANTA ADDRESSES ALL OTHER SANTACON PARTICIPANTS AS…SANTA!

This article first appeared in the Village Sun.

Style Notes

• Anne Klein raspberry pink raincoat with wide lapels and gold circle buttons. Macy’s Herald Square, 151 W. 34th Street.
• Loft tweed miniskirt with front zipper pockets in pale pink, maroon, forest green, sky blue, and cream. Loft on Broadway, East Village (now closed).
• Magenta rosebud ditsy-patterned grey t-shirt by Society 212. Daily Thread. 50 West 14th Street.
• Chooka Eastlake Allie smoke gray, hot pink, lavender, and cream flowered rain boots. Designer Shoe Warehouse, Union Square, 40 East 14th Street.
• Hot pink leggings and face jewelry. Party City. 38 West 14th Street.
• Fuchsia, sky blue and cream hand-painted silk scarf. Gift from a friend
• Mexican turquoise and silver pendant earrings. Gift from my father.
• Grape purple umbrella. CVS.