Fenster writes:

For you out-of towners.

An interesting vestige of the Bloomberg Nanny State Years: the well-known municipal ordinance mandating that all winter outerwear, boots, shoes, gloves and hats be the color black.  Something to do with the absorbtion of sunlight and carbon footprints.

As evident from the subways, compliance remains high, even under the new Mayor,

and even among hipsters.