New York Fashion Week is back, baby! Last year, I watched virtual NYFW shows from my kitchen table in Michigan. The last time I attended shows in person was February 2020, right before lockdown. So needless to say, I was very excited to be able dress up and attend a couple shows again for the NYFW SS22 season. Admittedly, I kept my schedule pretty light. I was in LA when NYFW started, which caused me to miss my first couple shows and presentations. I also didn’t reach out to brands this season, like I have in the past. (Check out my post on how to attend NYFW if you want more details on that.) However, since I’ve been attending shows for the last four years, I still had some invites pop up in my inbox — and I was thrilled to fit at least a couple into my hectic schedule.
Although I wish I could have done more, between traveling, being super busy at work, and having a scheduled photo shoot that week, I squeezed in what I could! Since attending NYFW was always a huge dream of mine, I hate missing shows I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to. But the fact that I was still able to attend some things at all still feels surreal, even after years of doing it.
READ this Refinery29 article I’m quoted in: “What It’s Like To Cover Fashion Week But Never Feel Really Included“
Here’s a look at the shows I did attend and what I wore!
Kevan Hall SS22
I sat front row at the Kevan Hall SS22 runway show, which took place at 608 Fifth Avenue in Midtown. The “Brushstrokes” collection is inspired by “the elegance of a 1930’s Parisian multi-culture,” according to a press release. Various artists, including Christian Berard’s signature painting style, were also inspiration for the collection. This runway was special to me personally because I was there to support a Black designer and he is also from Detroit. This show marked Hall’s return to NYFW after a two-decade-long hiatus, according to Ebony. I love how magical, yet wearable every piece was. I could definitely see myself wearing pieces from the collection and I though it was absolutely stunning. I’m always disappointed when a show doesn’t have any plus-size models. But, it was nice to see good racial diversity and some age diversity as well. Hoping for some body diversity in next season’s show!
NYFW Look #1
Since this was the main show I was attending, I wanted to wear something that might catch the eye of street photographers. I went with a green tulle skirt from Anthropologie, paired with a green Skims bodysuit, and my Comme des Garçons PLAY x Converse sneakers. To accessorize, I wore some round black sunglasses and my Brandon Blackwood “End Systematic Racism” mini tote.
Kween Kloset & King Killection
The other event I attended was an unofficial runway show for a small business based in Portland. Kween Kloset is the women’s clothing, which is positioned as an “affordable luxury clothing brand that includes options for all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and backgrounds.” And then King Killection houses the men’s clothing. The brand invited me over Instagram and I was happy to show some support to a small business breaking into the NYFW scene. Although the show was a little on the longer side, I loved the energy. The brand owners used “regular” people as models. They also kept things interesting with musical performances, dancers, and even a guy running around in a cow suit. It was wild lol.
NYFW Look #2
For this event, I kept it more simple. I wore striped jeans from Good American, my “Sample Size” T-shirt from Chromat, and my new bag and shoes from Steve Madden. After the event, I had tickets to ride the ferris wheel in Times Square with my friend, so I wanted to keep it chill, but still stylish.
What do you think of these shows or my looks for NYFW SS22?
