One of the most long-awaited moments in fashion has finally arrived: Fall Fashion Week season officially kicked off on Sept. 7 with the start of New York Fashion Week. This year, the event is held at Spring Studios in Tribeca, but some designers will be hosting their Fashion Week events at other locations throughout New York City. This semi-annual event is an opportunity for designers to showcase their designs for the media, celebrities and consumers.
Notable designers this year include Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, Badgley Mischka and Michael Kors. Many designers also plan to make their debut on the runway. A few of the newcomer names to look out for this upcoming week are Melke, Zimo, Colin LoCascio and Advisry.
Perhaps one of the most exciting participants — and some may say, unexpected — is also one of the biggest names in fashion. Ralph Lauren will be making a grand return to New York Fashion Week after a four-year hiatus. This brand has become especially important to consumers for its timeless American style that has stayed consistent over the years, making this return to the runway especially exciting for many.
Junior Alisa Kukharkin has many fond memories of growing up wearing the brand.
“Of course I remember wearing Ralph Lauren to school when I was younger, but its continued presence in the world of fashion goes beyond that,” Kukharkin said. “I am excited to see that this brand continues to have such an impact and will continue to have one in the future.”
Lauren made his grand return on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m., setting the tone for the rest of the week.
Those who have spent any time in New York City during Fashion Week will recall the presence it has throughout the whole city as it is overrun by celebrities, designers, models and fans. Many people will do whatever they can to get even the smallest piece of the action.
This is especially true for fashion students in New York City. Junior Britt Cohen transferred to Colgate University from Parsons School of Design at The New School, where she had a front-row seat not only to New York Fashion Week, but also to how New York society prepared for the festivities.
“Throughout fashion week, the city — or at least everywhere below 14th [Street] — surges with this unmistakable mix of stress and excitement, even when everyone is swamped with classwork,” Cohen said. “Lots of students get involved with shows, taking roles as models, interns, style assistants, etc. It’s quite the sleepless week for students involved, but seeing everyone transform into these young professionals during that time is awesome.”
For those who do not have the opportunity to get involved with the shows in a professional sense, they often turn the streets of New York City into their runway. New Yorkers take this opportunity to don their best streetwear in the hopes of being noticed by the photographers who roam the city, waiting to snap a picture.
“I think the culture at Parsons (and, honestly, New York City as a whole) is very fashion obsessed, regardless what tier of design you’re studying […]. Around this time, though, I do recall students being flagged down by street photographers for outfit rundowns or popping up on street-style pages like @watchingnewyork,” Cohen said.
While Fashion Week has always been a way for fashion lovers to express themselves through their clothing, the week kicked off with some expression of fashion hate, as animal rights activists took over the runway at the Coach show. One protester painted their body with the words “Coach Leather Kills” while another protester held up a sign with the same message. The two activists jumped onto the runway and walked with the other models until security pulled them out of the show.
The protest was organized by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The Executive Vice President of PETA, Tracy Reiman, released a press release addressing the situation.
“Today’s conscientious consumers know that the future of fashion lies in innovative vegan materials, not in cows’ sliced-off skin,” Reiman said.
Only a few days in, New York Fashion Week has already gotten off to an interesting start. Fashion fans will be able to follow the live news — and the drama — of this iconic event until Sept. 13.
