If you had told me a year ago that I would be watching New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in leggings at my family's house in Florida, I would have flat out told you that you were wrong. I had just finished working my first NYFW, and thought the next year would be even better. Flash forward to present day, and it turns out that I was the one that was wrong. Only, I made sure to watch some of the shows in a black jumpsuit. It wouldn't be fashion week without one!
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the fashion industry like myself and literally everyone else in the world had to pivot. Many designers chose to forgo the typical fashion calendar, and set their own schedule, meaning they wouldn't participate in fashion week at all. While others adjusted their shows and presentations to allow for safety during this pandemic. Thus, a virtual version of NYFW was born.
While this seems sad for people like me who are making a living (or in my case trying to) in fashion show production, it has allowed new opportunity. The way designers presented their collections in a new virtual platform had no choice but to be more creative than before. Though most opted for short video presentations, they had to capture interest quickly. Those who still opted for a livestream show with a small in person audience had to create scenic sets to make up for the lack of attendees. The events were also completely free to watch on their website making a formerly highly exclusive event the most inclusive it's ever been. Designers and fashion week producers had to push their boundaries, and I think they pulled it off.
As an over-eager virtual attendee, I was excited to watch the runway shows and presentations from the comfort of my home (of course, I wished I was actually there.) While I commend all designers who participated on their creativity, of course, I had my favorites. Below, I've listed my top five films and presentations from this season.
Jason Wu
The opening show did not disappoint! Jason Wu debuted his Spring '21 collection on the rooftop of Spring Studios that with the help of IMG he transformed to a tropical paradise. It was basically the island vacation no one got to go on this year. With the beautiful palm trees, boardwalk, and the overall ease of his collection. This show was the first of many that helped to lift spirits and distract from the world around us. I found myself wanting to rock his blazers and sandals and could not wait to see more from the week to come!
Alice & Olivia
As someone who still identifies as a dancer first, and a fashionista second, this presentation was hands down my favorite. Alice and Olivia's Stacey Bendet debuted her new collection with dance and music. Her "Come Dance with Us" campaign featured two ballerinas from American Ballet Theatre, three hip hop dancers including Black is King choreographer Ebony Williams, and one amazing violinist. It started on a set featuring all performers in her collection and ended in Chelsea where there was in an in-person presentation. Her line was stunning and featured vibrant colors. The performers instead of distracting from the line, elevated the collection. As Bendet told Vogue Runway, it showed that her clothes were meant "to be danced in." This presentation reminded of why I wanted to work in fashion in the first place. When multiple art forms are combined, you can create magic which is exactly what Alice and Olivia did.
Cinq a Sept
Cinq a Sept is at the top of my list of brands I wish I could afford. Though based in New York, this brand brings a French girl sophistication to its clothing. Typically, they create the most amazing dresses for going out, but due to the pandemic, they shifted their focus to casual wear. Of course, this casual wear is more so for the woman who dresses up at home (meaning #extra girls like me.) Personally, I could imagine myself in every piece from this collection. Sadly, my bank account does not agree. What I loved about this presentation is that founder Jane Siskin and other members of the Cinq a Sept team discussed how the quarantine has affected them personally and as a brand. They discussed this in a way that is hopeful and reminds people like me that opportunity is still out there.
Rebecca Minkoff
Since I spent most of my quarantine rediscovering my love for punk pop bands such as Blink 182 and my all-time favorite McFly this presentation really struck a chord with me. The rock and roll inspired collection was presented on a rooftop in Manhattan with a set that looked like a garage band. Though it was short and sweet, this presentation made an impact as I immediately wanted to shop the collection and listen to rock music.
Christian Siriano
Who better to close NYFW, than the king of fashion week himself, Christian Siriano? I have been a huge fan of his ever since his Project Runway debut and could not wait to see his show. According to Vogue Runway, his collection was inspired by how he spent quarantine, watching his favorite movies which is why the above picture gives high-fashion clueless vibes. Siriano also spent his quarantine sewing masks for medical workers in New York when supplies where running low, so each model features a mask. He also used quite a few of his pieces to remind us to vote. The show was set in his own backyard where models walked across a bridge over his pool. One of my favorite parts of this show was that all the models wore shoes from SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker. As a huge fan of both Project Runway and Sex and the City I loved this collaboration. The show ended with a fabulous and pregnant Coco Rocha taking a dip in Siriano' s pool adding a literal slash to this season's shows.
I needed this Fashion Week as a reminder that though things are rough, fashion will always exist. I spent the beginning of this pandemic wondering why I chose a career in this field and truly felt hopeless. This week of film and shows reminded that fashion is always changing and looking to the future, and that opportunity will always be there. I was proud to see that across the board, designers were more inclusive, choosing models of all ethnicities and sizes. I was proud to see them take everyone's health and safety seriously, and proud to see what they could create even in these darker times.
What I highlighted above was only a small portion of a successful fashion week. NYFW's official website features all the films and shows from this season as well as important talks on how the fashion industry is changing. So, to have your own NYFW experience, use this link: https://app.nyfw.com/home After all you get to sit front row!
XOXO,
Kristin
* All photos taken from https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows
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