Enter a world where fall (for girls) means leggings, knit sweaters, Steve Madden riding boots, a Michael Kors purse on one arm and a deli coffee in hand every day they step out of the brand new car their parents bought them on their 16th birthday. Let me introduce you to the lifestyle of the girls raised in Nassau County on Long Island, New York. It starts with ear piercings before their first birthday and continues in elementary school when the girls insist on getting the latest Juicy tracksuit. Please do not get me started on the SugarLips trend.
The stereotypical Long Island Girl gets what she wants from the moment she learns how to speak.
To all the girls in a Nassau state of mind, do not take offense when being referred to as a Long Island Girl. It really isn't an insult. It is meant with love: from one Long Island Girl to another. I myself have many qualities of a stereotypical Long Island Girl and I am proud of my past. It’s who I am. Long Island Girls can still be respectful, kind, thoughtful, and even thankful for all that they have. Keep in mind they are not a myth that your college friends tell you about. If you have any friends from Long Island, know that what they tell you is true. A Long Island girl is one of a kind, someone you will not find anywhere else.
Head to any middle school on Long Island on a Monday after a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.The Long Island Girls will be wearing the sweatshirt or whatever other party themed article of clothing they got that weekend to let everyone know what they did on their Saturday night. If you did not attend at least 10 Bar or Bat Mitzvahs, did you really even grow up on Long Island?
Flash forward to high school and beyond. These girls have attitude. They can be nice, but if they do not like you, they will let you know. They spend their summer days taking pictures with their friends at the beach as they tan in the sun. Their summer nights are spent partying in New York City’s hottest nightclubs or on Long Island by the water (Bridgeview Tuesdays anyone?). The “coolest” Long Island Girls know at least one club promoter personally and hook up all their best friends with the wildest night…every single night of the summer. Some of the Long Island Girls want to make their own money during the summer. In this case, they spend their weekend days and nights doing the above and their weekdays are spent working at a day camp where they will make bank by the end of summer thanks to the generous tips given by the parents of the future Long Island Girls.
This is reality. This is how we grew up. It is a constant circle. When Long Island Girls go off to college, they can either continue on this circle, or break free. I went to a college with no one from my hometown and tried my hardest to start fresh. I will forever have Long Island Girl tendencies (i.e. I know I am privileged), but I try my hardest to fend for myself and not live off of daddy’s paycheck just because I can. I know many Long Island Girls that try for that when they leave for college, but many of their other Long Island snob tendencies stick around. For example, there is that group in every high school on Long Island where at least three of the Girls end up at the same college in the same sorority with the same group of friends (consisting mostly of other Long Islanders). They just cannot leave Long Island behind them.
To those of you who chose to stick to your Long Island routes: I am proud of you for being proud of who you are and rocking where you came from. You get along with others like you and know that is who you wanted to stick by. If that works for you, keep doing it.
Some parts of the Long Island Girl lifestyle will forever be missed as you grow up and move on. The late nights spent in New York City, running back to Penn Station and hoping to catch the last train back to Long Island, and grabbing a slice of New York pizza if you get to Penn early enough before your train leaves. If you ask a Long Island Girl where to get the best bagel while you are in town, she will tell you the best place in a 2 mile radius of where you are within seconds. Long Island Girls live off of mani/pedi deals and the best lunch specials at their town’s Sushi restaurant. You want sushi? Be prepared for all you can eat because that is the only way us Long Island Girls do it. ($20 of unlimited sushi and Japanese food. How could you say no?) If there is a sale at any store in Roosevelt Field Mall, The Miracle Mile, or Tanger Outlets you better believe there will be a crowd of Long Island Girls shopping for a cute new outfit.
