Whether you’re a New York native or a first time visitor, without denial— the MET is the museum to visit in NYC.

Spanning two floors, The Metropolitan Museum of Art boasts well over 300 rooms and houses with some of the finest works of art the world has to offer. Priceless paintings, drawings and sculptures can be found within the countless exhibitions, while the beautifully curated galleries arguably outshine those of many other monumental museums. At the MET, the curation of the art is an art form in itself. Pieces are displayed together in ways that emphasize either a contrast or a striking similarity. Even the colors of the gallery walls have been chosen to bring out the best in each and every painting.

Yet there is much more to the MET than merely paintings. Lesser known, but no less breath-taking, are its furniture collections.  In European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (Room 507) a Venetian bedroom is brought to life, complete with a bed, desk, side tables, lounge chair and a vanity mirror. The ceiling swarms with cherubs carved into the crown moulding and two beautifully painted murals. Moving through the centuries and continents, the British Interiors exhibits, brightly colored in golden yellows and lavish blues, are truly a sight to see for anyone who enjoys interior design or architecture. Returning to home soil, the American House (located off of the Room 700 courtyard) is a great place to find authentic American furniture pieces, many hailing from New York City itself. On the second floor of the American house, you can find a quirky collection of paintings, sculpture and pottery— items currently independent of any specific exhibit. Such a collection is perfect for guests without much time on their hands, showcasing the vast scope of the MET’s repertoire in a single location.

The MET also offers an extensive collection of Asian art, including a 14-foot-tall statue of Bodhisattva. The star of the collection, however, is the Zen garden (Room 217). Complete with koi fish pond, the Chinese Garden Court boasts an open skylight roof, Asian flora, a small temple and a covered walkway. The garden especially shines when visiting the MET after dark. In the moonlight, the tranquillity of the garden with its dribbling koi pond is extremely relaxing, perhaps even therapeutic.

The most extensive and famous parts of the MET include the American and European paintings sections. In European Paintings on the second floor, Gallery 635 is a must see, especially for those with a penchant for Gothic art. The paintings featured in this gallery are wonderfully eerie, with dark canvasses and bright, almost luminous, subjects. Paintings featured in this exhibit include Vanitas Still Life by Jacob de Gheyn II, as well as Gamepiece with a Dead Heron by Jan Weenix. Further on from the Gothic, Gallery 821 marks the start of the Impressionist movement and includes works by the likes of Monet, Manet and Degas amongst many other amazing artists.

In the American Art exhibit, the top two Galleries to see are 760 and 767. Walking into Gallery 760, the first thing you will see is the extremely large painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware, measuring up at an impressive 149 x 255 inches. While many people may visit the room for this painting alone, the real treasures are the enormous landscape paintings that cover the rest of the walls. The painstaking details in these works are simply magnificent, causing them to look more like photographs than paintings. The gallery also includes The Valley of Wyoming by Jasper Francis Cropsey, as well as a beautiful portrait of The Aegean Sea by Frederic Edwin Church.

The MET also has galleries away from its permanent 5th Avenue address, including the Met Breuer, which features modern and contemporary art, and the MET Cloisters. Situated on the edge of New York City, the Cloisters specialises in medieval art such as the Hunt of the Unicorn, as well as tapestries and other exquisite items from ancient French monasteries. As half of the exhibits are outside, exposed to the open air, a visit to the Cloisters makes for an excellent day-trip, or simply a means of escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.

New York City continues to be one of the biggest art hubs in the world, with the Metropolitan Museum of Art at its centre.

Edited by Sophie Walker & Demi Vitkute

The post Your Guide to The MET appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Texture is a huge trend this season and we’re betting on lots of fun fabrics to keep you warm. Velvet is a notoriously popular trend right now that is flattering as well as warming. Hundreds of brands offer velvet in some form of another, from jumpsuits to long sleeve rompers or dresses. As the autumn alternative to your sequined summer dress, a velvet ensemble can amp up the glitz and glam of an otherwise bulky winter outfit. Mix textures by layering a velvet outfit underneath a leather jacket for extra warmth and dimension.

In early fall months, the nighttime cool in New York is enough for a long-sleeved top or long sleeved romper. Bare legs, however, can be just as vulnerable to the chill. Instead of exposing your legs to the city wind, wearing a pair of thigh-high boots looks chic and covers up the goosebumps. The latest trend in high boots is suede thigh-highs—just look Stuart Weitzman’s campaign with Gigi Hadid.

Another trend-centered solution is the re-emergence of the jumpsuit. Usually offset with a deep V-neck or a scoop back, brightly colored jumpsuits keep club goers warm while shuffling through the city streets on cool autumn nights. Coupled with a pair of strappy heels, jumpsuits are no longer a 70’s fad—they have been popping up on the red carpet and runway, especially in the A/W season. Like knee-high boots, suede is a popular textured look for jumpsuits, but they also come in more versatile fabrics such as cotton, velvet, and lace. Jumpsuits have the potential to fit and flatter every body shape since they come in hundreds of different styles and shapes. Wide leg jumpsuits with a fitted top are essential for someone looking for movement when they dance, but skinny leg jumpsuits are perfect  for the girl who wants a sleek silhouette.

In the wake of the hipster revolution, layering has made a huge appearance on the streets of New York, mostly during the day. This quick and simple trend is also a money-saver because you can re-use your thin-strapped summer dresses by simply layering them over a long sleeve top. Layering a bright or sequined mini dress over a simple black top with a mock neck brings a chic smoothness to the outfit while keeping you warm outside the bar. 90’s ribbed tops are also back in-style, so layering one of those underneath a silk or lace dress is an edgier option.

Walking the streets of New York is the equivalent of walking a runway, but you don’t need to catch a cold while doing it. Paying attention to trends is key to making any look undergo the elements.

Edited by Brianna Arrighi 

The post How to Club Cool but Stay Hot in NYC appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Where

To a lot of prospective interns, the initial question “where do I apply?” can be the most daunting task. There are ultimately two ways to go about this. The first option is to apply to something that goes hand in hand with your major in university or college. If you’re a Marketing major, you’d want to apply to a marketing or social media marketing agency that will give you insight to what your field of work will be. The second option (which I did) is applying to an internship for something you enjoy as a hobby or something you’ve always wanted to try. Maybe you’re an Accounting major who loves fashion. You can apply to an internship at a fashion company or agency, or with a small-business designer who needs a helping hand. This kind of internship can simply just be a lot of fun, or could re-route what you want to do in the future!

 When

Usually, internships correspond with semesters, so the best time to apply for a fall internship would be September, for a spring internship: December, and so on. Many companies also do summer internships as well that can be extremely rewarding (sometimes paid!) and most schools count credit towards these.

How

While the application process can still be scary, it’s easier than you think. If you want to go the old-fashioned way, try taking a trip to multi-office spaces in the city such as WeWork or Workville and placing an ad in the lobby. Hundreds of start-up companies work in these buildings and probably the same amount of interns! Start-up companies love interns, and will be able to nurture you and teach you more in the long run.

There are also websites like Internships.com or even LinkedIn can place you with a big or small company by submitting your pre-uploaded resume with the click of a button.

Who

Being able to portray your sense of self before a brand or company even gets to interview you is the hardest but most exciting part of applying for internships. Any piece of information that exhibits creativity, leadership, kindness, or academic success are ones you want to include on your resume. Try to be courteous and professional on your cover letter, but not cold or robotic. Find a way to stand out so that they remember you—this is what drives them to want to meet you in person. Your personality—beyond your grades or accomplishments—is going to be the deciding factor on whether or not you become an intern, so let that shine through.

An internship can be one of the most useful tools you’ll ever encounter when it comes to preparing for your future. You can gain experience and exposure in the field you are currently studying, or just have some fun while helping out a small company. As well as experience, Internships are a great way to make friends. Whether you’re working with other students, or creating relationships with adults who can help you when you need a full-time job in the real world.

Taking up an internship has the ability to open new doors for students and undergrads, while also providing new perspectives, new ideas and, possibly, a new life direction. By following the tips above, and being your most authentic self, your dream internship can be yours, and pave the way for a fun and successful semester.

Edited by Brianna Arrighi

The post Landing Your Dream Internship: What You Need To Know appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.