Weekend Diaries with Sai De Silva
THE WEEKEND DIARIES
New York, New York! Didn’t you know? It’s a wonderful town. Well, maybe town isn’t the right word, fashion mecca seems more appropriate. So, of course, spring/summer in the city is one of the most stylish times of year. Floating dresses, strappy sandals, light linens — all perfect for exploring the city — and this place isn’t short on ways to keep busy for the millions of people that call it home, including influencer Sai De Silva. “I was born in Los Angeles, but we moved to New York when I was really young. I moved around a lot as a kid, but we always came back to NYC, so I consider myself a native. I’m a Brooklyn girl at heart.” Just let this adopted local take you on a tour through her weekends in the Big Apple.
New York is home because…
“I love the hustle and bustle of the city and all of the endless variety of people who live in it. It has such a magnetic energy and no matter who you are or what you like, you can find your ‘scene’ here. It’s a city of infinite possibilities and there’s no other place in the world quite like it.”
My style is…
“Definitely quintessentially New York in the sense that, just like the city, it’s always evolving. My outfits vary a lot. Sometimes I go for all-out elegance and other times I want to be trendy and dynamic. I’d definitely say that I lean towards streetwear, but I always put a classy spin on it and throw in a feminine touch here and there.”
A normal weekend…
“Recently, I’ve been working a lot on the weekends. Doing shoots and getting footage to carry me through the week! But normally, when we’re home on the weekends and I don’t have to work, we hang around the house, spend time together and decompress. Sometimes I’ll meet a friend for drinks or brunch. Occasionally, hubby and I will take the kids out to eat in the city. Other times when the weather is nice, we’ll go to the farmer’s market, head to the park or do some shopping. On Sundays, we take it easy. The kids will play in the house or run around outside. I might do some baking or meal prep and enjoy a day off-duty. We’re also big on Friday pizza and movie nights. It’s a great combo!”
Favorite areas…
“The Dumbo area has my heart because we lived there for several years. I love taking the kids to Brooklyn Bridge Park and there’s a great Italian restaurant, Cecconi’s, where we’re regulars. For shopping, I like the Soho area or FiDi, and naturally I’m a big fan of Central Park. How could you not be?”
Wind down and relax, or fill your diary with activities?
“I need both in order to maintain a balance but generally speaking, I like to stay pretty busy. My schedule has very little white space and I think it’s been like that for so long that now when I have free time, I don’t always know what to do with myself. I prefer to be in action for most of the day and then come to a hard stop and wind down at night.”
Relaxing to me…
“I start every morning with meditation and gratitude. It dramatically improves my mood and helps me take on the day with a positive attitude. During the day, if I need to relax, I might press pause with a coffee or matcha latte and take a screen break. In the evenings, I love enjoying a glass of red wine or listening to an audio book.”
Weekend hobbies…
“Cooking! I’ve gotten more and more interested in cooking and baking as the years have gone by. I’m an avid label reader and am pretty strict about what ingredients I put into my body, which has led me to stock up on healthy cookbooks and even create my own ad-hoc recipes. It becomes pretty fun with the right soundtrack. I’ve gotta have music on and some coffee or a glass of wine depending on the time of day.”
For grabbing a coffee…
“High-waisted denim and a basic tee of some sort. I’ll throw on a jacket or blazer, sneakers, sunglasses and simple jewelry.”
When you’re getting dressed up…
“If I’m dressing up, I’d probably spring for a dress or jumpsuit of some sort and accessorize with jewelry and over-the-knee boots. Otherwise, I might tuck a feminine blouse into high-waisted trousers and step into some stilettos. Then, I’ll grab a clutch or crossbody to add an extra pop of personality. When it comes to elevating a look, it’s all about shoes and accessories.”
Weekend wardrobe…
“On the weekends, I’m definitely much more laid back. It’s a lot more denim and basics, clothes that make me feel good first and look stylish second. If I’m going somewhere, I’ll have fun mixing separates to create a comfy and cute look, such as a midi skirt paired with a crew neck sweatshirt and sneakers.”
Relaxing indoors…
“I love comfy loungewear in soft fabrics and flattering silhouettes. I gravitate towards matching sets with soft patterns like tie-dye or classic neutral colors. Sometimes a cute yoga set is my go-to when I’m in a sporty mood.”
To exercise…
“When I’m working out, I’ll wear form-fitting yoga pants or bike shorts that are high-waisted. Sometimes I’ll just work out in leggings and a sports bra, but I usually go for a matching tank of some sort in a stretchy, spandex material.”
Walks around the city…
“That’s what makes living in New York so great. I spend most of my time in Brooklyn, naturally, but when I go into the city, I really enjoy bopping around Greenwich Village, the Upper East Side and all of the nooks and crannies in between. You can live in New York City forever and be constantly discovering new corners of it.”