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  • Writer's picture#ExtraLikeKristin
    • Feb 24, 2021
    • 6 min read

NYFW... But Make It Virtual (Part 2)


Back at it in the Virtual Front Row!

My favorite time of year is back, but this time to present us with all the high fashion Fall/Winter content that our hearts desire. Yes, It's Fashion Month, and, just like every other season, we're kicking it off with New York Fashion Week!


Just like last season, the pandemic sadly has placed many restrictions on how the designers could present their collections. Many opted for videos and lookbooks, but a few had a runway show just with little to no audience. Thanks to a few days off, I watched almost every one of these collections go live on NYFW's official website. While I applaud all the designers on their creativity, I, of course, am talking about my personal favorites below.


Jason Wu


The Coca Cola Logo has never looked better!

After Jason Wu's F/W '21 show, I was ready to do two things, share a coke with the designer himself and shop at Mr. Wu's General Store. Wu partnered with Coca Cola for this collection, and I thought their use of this partnership was both cute and creative. He sent out invitations with a six pack of coke with the guest's name on it and had elements of the brand both on set and in his designers. According to Vogue Runway, the designer known for gorgeous red-carpet gowns wanted to create a collection for now. This meant doing what all of us #extra people are doing and dressing up for the grocery store. He turned and empty retail space into a beautiful grocery store featuring fresh flowers, produce, and well, Coca Cola. The collection itself featured stunning oversized sweater, chic blazers, and coats, and fabulous skirts and dresses. I loved the way this collections and show came together and found myself both wanting a cute red sweater and a coke after watching!



Parbal Gurung


We love a chic Valentine's Day Moment!

Nothing says NYFW, like a love letter to the city itself! Gurung and models talked about what they loved about New York as they showed off his decadent designs that featured a lot of pink and red of course! The presentation truly captured what I miss about the city. Life there feels like you're in a movie, especially during Fashion Week. Though, it wasn't even a runway show, I felt like it captured the excitement of being there live. I was in awe of the romantic dresses that any movie heroine would be wearing during the happy ending and chic suits that captured the sleekness and boldness of NYC. The collection summed up what it's like to fall in love with New York (which is why it was appropriate it went live on Valentine's Day)!



Raisa Vanessa


This is the only way I'll be riding the escalator from now on

Retro Futurism seemed to be a common theme for F/W '21, but one brand stood out amongst the rest. Raisa Vanessa did Retro Futurism, but in the most glamourous and high fashion way. The video presentation was set in a futuristic building with models in gorgeous silhouettes walking and posing throughout. I felt like I was watching a movie set a century from now, where all women are dressed chic and ready to conquer the world. This F/W '21 Ready-to-Wear collection was definitely made for a vintage glam girl. Many of the looks were 60's inspired, but with some extra sequins and rhinestones. As a lover of 60's fashion and literally anything that shines, I loved this collection, and will be searching for less expensive dupes ASAP.


Bronx and Banco


These boots aren't a want, but a NEED.

There is only one word to describe how I feel about Bronx and Banco's F/W '21 collection, and that word is obsessed. It was truly made for every woman that loves a bit of glitz and glamour. It had everything that I personally could ever want from a designer collection, rhinestone little black dresses, fun feather tops, and all the sequins a girl could want. I immediately searched for the stunning rhinestone, thigh-high boots, that several of the models were lucky to wear. (Akira had some great dupes!) I also love, how even though there was no audience in attendance, the presentation felt like a real runway show. Models strutted in each look through a glamourous bar that looked straight out of a Gossip Girl episode. I could even imagine Serena and Blair wearing these pieces at one of the many lavish parties they attend. Speaking of which...



Alice and Olivia


"You know you love me. XOXO, Gossip Girl"

Just when I thought I had found the perfect collection to channel my inner Serena Van Der Woodsen, Alice and Olivia designer Stacey Bendet dropped her Gossip Girl inspired collection. On Instagram, Bendet, stated that the collection "is an old to New York old and new." This is so obvious in the collection as you see a mix of the glamourous Upper East Side, and grunge downtown styles. Watching the presentation was like watching a short Gossip Girl episode. The models strutted through the Upper Eastside (Alice and Olivia shopping bags in hand, of course), before partying in a glamourous New York mansion. Bendet even worked with Gossip Girl stylist (both the OG and the reboot), Eric Daman to style this iconic collection. I'm going to start saving up now so I can be "spotted" looking just as chic as Serena and Blair, and I hope to see some of the beautiful pieces in the Gossip Girl reboot!


Watch the presentation and Stacey's talk with Eric here: alice + olivia by StaceyBendet (@aliceandolivia) • Instagram photos and videos


Christian Cowan


This is also how I lounge around.

Christian Cowan's presentation for his F/W '21 collection was honestly iconic. SNL comedians Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman find themselves in the middle of "A Fashion Thing". But instead of questioning why they're stuck in a video presentation for NYFW, they embrace their new roles, even telling Paris Hilton herself that they're the models. This whole concept brought it to question of who fashion is for, especially during these times. At first glance this collection seems like any other high fashion, Ready-to-Wear collection, but in fact, Cowen worked on making it more accessible for a time were we're ditching our dresses and heels for sweatpants and sneakers. According to Vogue Runway, Cowan made stretchy, glitzy pieces for his customers who were wanting to dress up at home. As someone who still likes to dress up at home, I loved this. I especially would love to rock the two-piece sequined purple pajamas Yang fabulously wore throughout the video. After watching, I was ready to throw on some sequins and heels for my next Netflix binge!


P.S. This collection benefitted the Loveland foundation, a charity that offers therapy to Black women (and we love to see it)!



Makeup Tutorials

One of my favorite parts of following NYFW live was the "In Session" features. Each one paired a designer's collection with a makeup artist, so even sitting in your sweatpants at home (your most high fashion ones of course), you too could achieve a runway ready makeup look!

Once again, I truly admire what the designers were able to create during these trying times. I loved how though the restrictions were stricter this time around, designers came up with positive presentations that reminded us of the resilience of the Fashion Industry and New York City. I hope to one day soon to be back there myself, so I can, once again, experience to magic of NYFW in person. Until then, I'll be watching these videos on repeat, and brainstorming my own Fashion Show concepts.


To experience NYFW for yourself: HOME - Fashion (nyfw.com)

For New York Designers who weren't on the official lineup: RUNWAY360 (cfda.com)


XOXO,

Kristin



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