New York Fashion Week: The Review

New York Fashion Week was nothing less than electrifying. The first of the four major Fashion Weeks (NY, London, Milan, Paris), it certainly started with a bang that makes us even more thrilled for the upcoming shows.

Perhaps most remarkable was the use of such diverse models – not just in size or ethnicity, but in age, looks, and notoriety. Social supermodels and fame heirs like Kendall Jenner, Gigi & Bella Hadid, Sofia Richie, and Hailey Baldwin were obvious choices for multiple shows like Yeezy Season 4, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors. Other recognizable faces included Imaan Hammam and Victoria’s Secret sweetheart Taylor Hill, as well as Kanye West’s breakout muse, Teyana Taylor. Older (but still amazingly preserved) models like Amber Valetta (Tom Ford) and Pat Cleveland (Son Jung Wan) also made appearances, as did Whoopi Goldberg in Opening Ceremony’s show.

Some models even had their own shows to organize – most notably Tommy Hilfiger’s collaboration with Gigi Hadid, Tommy x Gigi. Kendall Jenner also presented a collection with Kylie (Kendall + Kylie), which was a perfe'ct mix of both of their styles, almost as if the pieces came from their own designer-filled closets. The featured model for Kendall + Kylie even bore a striking resemblance to Kendall; I had to look closely to realize it wasn’t her!

Besides the models (after all, this IS about the fashion), there were certainly shared motifs among the shows, which were reflective of today’s ideas and interests. At DKNY and Alexander Wang, athletic inspiration was a huge feature. At Alexander Wang, Kendall and other models displayed a collection that combined ballerina elegance with surfer chic. Victoria Beckham’s show had an athleisure undertone, as well, with simple lines and relaxed fits. Exposed shoulders were also a fashion week favorite, keeping in line with the trends we already see in our daily lives.

Designers like Jason Wu and Christian Siriano were fond of bright (even neon) colors, many brought to life by flowing, silky fabrics that when photographed, looked like liquid or glass. Fur was also a popular mode of color at shows like Rebecca Minkoff and Tom Ford. Perhaps the obvious 80s inspiration is to thank for these bright colors, made even more blatant with the graphics and bold shapes at Jeremy Scott and Son Jung Wan.

Jeremy Scott, among others like Coach and Marc Jacobs, also exuded rock ’n’ roll vibes, but with their own twists. Marc Jacobs combined grunged-out dreads with 70s school girl style, even throwing in a dash of Victorian-era details like lace and silhouettes. Tom Ford mixed hard rock (and almost an executioner style) with the refinement and sophistication of fur, velvet, and business attire.

On the other side of the spectrum came the romantic, fairy tale inspiration evident in shows like Michael Costello, Marchesa, and Jenny Packham, whose gowns could easily be featured in the popular CW show Reign. At Tome, we saw black and white checkers that were reminiscent of an Alice in Wonderland scene, whereas Anna Sui combined delicate florals with the child-like allure of the Wild West to create a Western fairy tale.

Finally, bohemian babes were all the rage at Desigual, Nicole Miller, and Oscar de la Renta. Varying prints paired with both vibrant and muted colors would certainly make any Coachella-goer proud, and embroidered patterns and shapes (including camels at Kate Spade New York) are perfect for a Mediterranean getaway. For Jonathan Saunders’ first collection as the new Chief Creative Officer at Diane Von Fustenberg, he paired furs with prints that were an ambiguous mix of oriental and 70s inspired patterns.

To see our favorite looks and trends from the shows, click through the galleries below. And don’t forget the street style gallery – some might argue that’s the most interesting part of fashion week!