In Spades

Monday
11:00am
We begin the day feeling refreshed and energized from yesterday’s shows and time with friends. The weather in New York is perfect so I select a vivid pink dress that’s equally chic and polished for the incredibly full day that lies ahead (6 shows plus backstage coverage).

Our first appointment is a presentation by Louis Verdad. A longtime designer (he dressed Madonna for her infamous Britney kiss at the MTV Music Awards), Verdad debuted an advanced contemporary denim line accented by leather jackets and silk separates.

Right away I am drawn to the elevated details and masterful use of mixed media. Several pieces are part denim, part silk giving them a beautiful, feminine ease while still maintaining structure. I am especially drawn to his leather jacket with statement shoulders and nipped waistline, and his gorgeous white trench dress with gold accents.

I love attending presentations because they are a wonderful opportunity to speak with the designer and get an added insight into the collection. After walking me through his thought process on working with denim, I asked Verdad how he was holding up. His response was everything that embodies the creativity and spirit of NYFW: “I’m doing great. This is what I live for. This moment.”

12:00pm
We arrive at the High Line Hotel in Chelsea for a backstage look into Ji Oh’s S/S17 collection. The energy is high and I get a walkthrough of today’s vision from Bumble & Bumble master stylist Tina Outen. After covering the backstage environment, we take a walk on the High Line and shoot OOTD photos.

Photo shoot in the bag, we head back to the venue and grab some avocado toast on the patio. While waiting for the show to start, a dance troupe performs in point shoes and couture right in front of the hotel. This is reason #4,783 why I love NYFW – the random, spontaneous moments of creativity around every corner.

2:00pm
Queued up for Ji Oh, I am standing right next to Ken Downing. PR lets him in early (rightly so) and I have a little “oh-my-gosh-did-that-just-happen” moment while my husband looks on amused.

Ji Oh S/S17 is a glorious display of volume and texture. Deconstructed shirting, yellow accents and fringe are the main components.

Click here for video of Ji Oh S/S17!

3:00pm
After Ji Oh we hop in a cab to Clarkson Square for Leanne Marshall. We first saw Leanne a year and a half earlier for her F/W15 collection. An avid Project Runway watcher during the Heidi/Tim days, I love that I’m able to support a designer whose career I followed from almost the very beginning.

In classic Leanne fashion, we are treated to flowing silk chiffon, organza and crepe de chine in a color palette that seamlessly transitioned from citrine to sunstone to amethyst. It’s gorgeous, feminine and moves like a deity walking on water. Eight pieces from the runway are immediately available for purchase, making Leanne yet another designer to dip a toe into the see-now, buy-now model.

After Leanne I am mobbed by street style photographers thanks to my vivid pink dress. I give three interviews and meet a celebrity photographer before heading back to the hotel for a little break.

7:00pm
We are confirmed for two different shows at 7pm and make the tough decision to skip one rather than split up. We head to Moynihan Station for Vivienne Tam (one of my favorites) and I luck out and get seated next to my blogger friend Cathy.

One of the reasons why I love Vivienne Tam so much is her masterful eye for combining quirky, whimsical designs into high fashion pieces. Where some designers would take this influence to kitschy levels, Tam’s pieces are elevated and can be found on everyone from Miroslava Duma to Anna Wintour.

Inspired by Houston, TX, Tam opened the show with a video message from NASA astronaut Tracy Dysons. The collection featured a tremendous amount of influences: NASA, space cowboys, fringe, tie-dye, metallics, embroidery, floral applique and Tam’s signature butterflies. Under her keen eye the collection was not only cohesive, it was imaginative and fun. The applause from the VIP section – many of which were wearing 10-gallon hats – proved Tam’s eye for design appeals to all. She closed the show to Rob Zombie’s Dragula, which only made me love her even more.

8:00pm
Our 8pm show was the only time logistics would work in our favor during NYFW – we simply had to walk across the hall for Anniesa Hasibuan.

A very young brand, I’ll admit I wasn’t sure what to expect from Anniesa Hasibuan, but the moment her pieces hit the runway, her design prowess became clear. Featuring traditional garments from her native Indonesia, she was the first designer to present a collection entirely comprised of hijabs during NYFW. I was absolutely floored by the level of craftsmanship that went into each piece – metallic lace, hand beading, flowing silk, ornate jewelry and eyewear accented every look.

When the lights dimmed on the nearly 50-piece collection I thought the show was over. Hasibuan had just displayed a monumental burst of elegance and artistry. But the lights came back up and she sent an incredible metallic lace gown with floor length train down the runway. There was a collective gasp from the audience and everyone stood up in uproarious applause. It was such an incredible moment, one I’ll never forgot.

Bidding New York adieu is always tough. When you’ve spent the last 6 days in a flurry of creativity, whimsy and eclectic energy, it’s hard to pull away and go back to reality. One of the main reasons why I love fashion is its transformational ability. When you find something that speaks to you, you don’t simply put it on and go about your day. You float, you soar, you have a special aura. You are elevated.

Walking through the streets in this black Balenciaga number was the perfect cap on an amazing week. It’s a little bit Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and a little bit badass – I don’t think you can get more New York.  It made for the perfect goodbye photo.

We opted for the latest flight out on our last day to take advantage of the daytime shows and squeeze in one more Italian meal. Two of my all-time favorites, Georgine and Monique Lhuillier were on tap, as well as pizza at Rubirosa (don’t worry, I managed not to spill).

Stay tuned for the final installments of my NYFW experience on the blog later this week!