In the crumbling bars and nightclubs of Manhattan, New York, Elenor Lambert would change the face of fashion. It was during WWII when Paris (the former fashion capital of the world) was under Nazi occupation that Lambert saw an opportunity and took it. New York Fashion Week (NYFW) started off as ‘press week’, where reporters and journalists were invited to designer showrooms. After just one year, the plan worked and American designers were featured in fashion publications like Vogue.
Eventually, designers started hosting shows, and NYFW transitioned to what it is today. NYFW is a bi-annual event that happens first in February and again in September. The week is used for American designers to highlight their collections, market their brands, and show off their vision.
The effect of NYFW reaches far more people than you may think. First, NYWF is the first of many consecutive fashion weeks globally. After New York, there is London, Milan and Paris fashion week, so because New York is the first, it sets the trend cycle for the following few months. Many trends you see today have started in NYFW, including the resurgence of sustainable clothing. After many scandals following the fashion world’s unethical methods, designers featured in NYFW placed emphasis on sustainability.
This year, NYFW was from September 6-11. For the few that can get an invite, the week is incredibly busy, featuring over 300 events and shows. The main attendees of fashion week are celebrities, influencers, buyers of luxury fashion, journalists, reporters, and stylists. Although gaining an invite might be exclusive, small designers sell tickets to the public, and there are a few seats reserved for the public at larger shows—but these come with a cost and an application that must be filled out.
A notable event at NYFW was the Ralph Lauren show. Known as one of the most classic, old money, ‘Americano’ brands, Ralph Lauren kicked off fashion week with an evening show on September 5 in the Hamptons. The brand has a long-standing history in the Hamptons, having opened several stores there, and shooting many campaigns over the years. The show was heavily featured on social media due to the high-profile attendees and models. Ralph Lauren has also been praised for the diversity of its models; people of all ages, sizes, and ethnicities walked the runway.
Fashion Week may seem like a far-off event for most people, but the rise of social media has let millions of viewers enjoy live footage of the shows, and many follow their favorite influencers as they run around the streets of New York from one event to the next. Moreover, you can take inspiration from the trends in the shows and inspiration from fashion in general; after all, it is an art form like any other.
