I’ve been obsessed with fashion shows and the industry for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I’d walk to my local corner store and buy the latest copy of Vogue, saying it was for my mother, when in reality, it was for me—and it would become my bible for the following month. When I was eventually granted access to the Internet, I browsed hundreds of collections on designer websites, picturing myself in all the clothes I could only wish to own myself.
New York Fashion Week (NYFW) was, and still is, one of my favorite events of the year—Christmas included. While the shows of Paris, London and Milan typically consist of more traditional designs, NYFW attempts to break boundaries, experiment and, above all, make a spectacle of its fashion-forward shows. And while the garments that make their way to these exclusive runways may not be pieces we could ever see hanging in our own closets, they undoubtedly influence our personal style curation, whether or not we’d like to admit it.
So in case you missed any coverage from this year’s NYFW, which took place September 6-14, here are five takeaways from the nine days of fashion glory.
The ’70s Are Back!
Yes, you read that right. This was most clearly seen in Marc Jacobs’ show, which took place at the Park Avenue Armory. It started, unconventionally, with all of the models stepping out at once: In other words, Jacobs began the show with the finale. When scanning the floor, ’60s/’70s flower power dominated. Bootleg and flare pants covered the runway with pops of yellow and blue, as well as colorful leather Chelsea boots. What made the collection so powerful was its youthful charm. Fashion isn’t supposed to be serious, and Jacobs reminded us all of that. Mix your patterns and textures. Pair your silk pants with a T-shirt—experiment!
Jumpsuits And Blazers For The Win!
Tom Ford’s electric collection combined the past with the future, pairing flowing pants with metallic tops. Silver, blue and cream jumpsuits decorated the runway, and sleek blazers decorated the jumpsuits. The takeaway? Blazers are everything. They can be used to dress up even the most casual of outfits. Play with color, and even if you feel dressed down, you’re actually the most powerful person in the room.
Be Geometric!
Skirts or dresses that just fall can be so boring. Look around the room, and suddenly you’re a small fish in a big pond. The solution? Find skirts and dresses that keep your figure while, at the same time, play with gravity and traditionalism. (The Spring/Summer 2020 Oscar De La Renta collection displayed this, excellently.) Find ruched skirts or ones that have a bow, and look for asymmetry. This will not only accentuate your figure, but also show a flash of real personality.
Rock Those Fishnets!
While tights and fishnets can look super corny, Stine Goya’s use of them was anything but. Each pair of tights in the collection was unique, from the texture and pattern to the overall design. If your outfit’s plain, like, say, a black dress, you could spice it up with a cute pair of tights. Now, I’m not saying be loud with this: The more subtle you are in your choice, the more confident you’ll be. (Not all of us are strutting around in the Garment District.)
Stop Taking Fashion And Your Style So Seriously!
All of the collections exhibited at NYFW were playful and experimental. “Business dress” as we know it is changing with every style season, so start testing those boundaries. I mean, who even put them there in the first place?
