I always find it funny that New Yorkers get such a bad rap for being tough or cold. Mainly because in my experience, at least in the West Village, there's a whole slew of characters that I run into every morning or afternoon when I'm out running errands -- and since we see each other so often, I know their dog's names, how they take their coffee, how long they've lived in the neighborhood, how much rent used to cost them 20 years ago. They're out sipping lemonade on their stoops, when the weather is nice, offering you a cup as you stroll by. They stop to compliment your dress. They offer to help you carry your garbage out. And we always smile at each other when we're walking down the street.

It's perhaps one of the tightest knit neighborhoods I've lived in to date and I just love how happy everyone seems to be. After all, we are living in perhaps the greatest city on earth -- that's plenty reason to smile, right?

OUTFIT DETAILS: Cynthia Rowley dress // M.Gemi sandals (sold out, similar style here) // Cynthia Rowley crossbody bag // Cynthia Rowley sunglasses

Photos by Madeline Atkinson for Cynthia Rowley