I’m pretty late on this and I’ve been working on it for about a week now, but I really wanted to make sure this post got up. Last month, I had the busiest and most amazing time at New York Fashion Week. I had the pleasure of seeing incredible fashion and hanging out with awesome people, and I even attended a show for one of my all time favorite designers! It was all like a dream come true and I really wanted to share the amazing collections I saw. Here are my thoughts and photos from the NYFW SS20 runway shows I attended!
Sherri Hill
Prom dress designer Sherri Hill was not someone who I was very familiar with prior to Fashion Week, but I will say that after sitting front row at her gorgeous show, I wish I would have had the opportunity to wear one of her dresses back when I attended prom in 2012. There were tons of different styles and silhouettes. She wasn’t afraid to have sparkle, layers of tulle, or fringe. The dresses were all glamorous in different ways. Plus, Bebe Rexha performed a few songs during the show! It was a lot of fun. There were girls dressed in Sherri’s designs throughout the audience and you could just feel all of the young, bubbly energy in the room. My biggest critique is that the show wasn’t size-inclusive, which I believe to be a missed opportunity for a brand catering to high school girls. But, the best part of the show (besides Bebe) was definitely the wonderfully talented Halima Aden who wore a few different show stopping gowns in the show — including the glitzy gold ball gown she wore to close the show (above).
Taoray Wang
This was my second time seeing a Taoray Wang show and my impression of the Chinese designer is that she really likes structure and sophistication when it comes to her designs. There were a lot of black and charcoals, tailored blazers and darts. However, she does incorporate some softer elements as well, like lace and rhinestones. I feel like her clothes are for a modern business woman who likes to feel pretty, but still like a boss. I thought the clothes were very classy and elegant. Sadly, there was no body diversity on the runway, but aside from that, I really enjoyed the show.
Chiara Boni La Petite Robe
This was my second time seeing a Chiara Boni La Petite Robe show as well. Chiara is an Italian designer and to me, her style comes off as timeless and sophisticated, with a lot of professional style dresses and pant suits — but, with a twist. Last season, she used giant hats and long gloves to make her pieces stand out. This season, she seemed to take a lot more risks. Her dresses and jumpsuits were a mixture of prints from black and white stripes to a monarch butterfly to paisley. There were some cowgirl vibes, elements of nature, and even some 70s inspiration. At times it didn’t feel very cohesive, but I do think that’s what made it more fun to watch. At one point there were two models dancing down the runway together and twirling in large, vibrant gowns. I found it to be a fun and unique show. It did lack diversity though. There were a few models of color, but there were no plus models. So, hopefully that’s something she’s willing to change in the future.
Christian Siriano
One of the shows I was most excited for was Christian Siriano. He has been one of my favorite designers for years and it was honestly a dream to be able to have a seat at his show. Most of the pictures turned out blurry because the venue was dark and the models moved quickly so my camera had a hard time focusing, but nonetheless, it was a magical moment for me. The show was everything I expected. It was diverse in terms of size, race, and gender. Christian has really made inclusivity part of his brand identity and because of that, he has dressed pretty much every single one of my favorite celebrities. His show had a little of everything from sparkles to rainbow tulle to more metallic suits to puffy sleeves. He is never afraid to play with volume, shape, or color, which is what I love about him. The dark gothic venue was a creative contrast to his more modern, lighthearted designs. The show felt both feminine and powerful.
The week after Fashion Week, I got invited to check out Christian Siriano’s collaboration with J.Jill. While I was at the launch party, I actually got to meet him!
Chromat
Chromat was another show that I was beyond excited to attend. And, to make it even better, it was their 10 year anniversary show. If you’re unfamiliar with Chromat, it’s a fashion forward swimwear brand that is innovative and extremely inclusive. The show featured both plus size and straight size models, a pregnant model, a breast cancer survivor, moms who walked with their children, and LGBTQ+ people. Rico Nasty gave a dope performance during the show and the music and lighting were edgy and fierce, just like the models. It felt like a true celebration of the brand and of people in general. Chromat really did a great job. I’ve never seen a runway show showcase so many different types of beauty. Plus, Tess Holliday worked the runway in a signature “sample size” ensemble, which was iconic. I felt honored to see it in person.
Hogan McLaughlin
I wasn’t familiar with Hogan McLaughlin before attending his show, but the impression I got was that his style was more structured and classic, yet flirty. His color pallet consisted of a lot of a lot of blacks and grays, with some yellow and pale pink mixed in. Some pieces felt a little utilitarian, but with a few pops of spring. My favorite details were the pleated skirts and the touches of leather throughout the collection. There was a big lack of diversity on the runway and the show felt a little on the short side, but overall I thought the designs were chic with a bit of edge.
Serena Williams
Another runway that I really enjoyed was Serena Williams debut show. She had fun, wearable pieces that ranged from a black jumpsuit to neon green sets to animal print party dresses. The line felt youthful and sexy. She sent models of various races and body types down the runway. It was super enjoyable and now I actually want to buy something from the collection. And the best part is, the prices actually aren’t too crazy. Many pieces are in the $100-$200 range. Serena had a lot of her celebrity friends there to support her at the show, including Kim Kardashian and Anna Wintour. So cool!
CAAFD Collective Showcase
The last show I attended was nice because I sat front row to see six different emerging designers show what they’re made of. I attended the CAAFD showcase last year, and I must say that the designers this year really took it up a notch. The collections all looked cohesive and well-made. All of the designers had really distinct styles and although the show was long, it remained entertaining from start to finish.
Which NYFW SS20 show was your favorite?
xoxo, Kayla
