New Rules in New York
By Lucy Byrne | Oct 12 2017
Lucy Byrne reviews the catwalks, collections and changes at New York Fashion WeekNew York Fashion Week (NYFW) returned last month in all its fanfare glory as stylists, socialites, and designers came together to witness the premiere of Spring/Summer 2018 collections. This year, mismatching of bold colours, irregular cut-out pieces and motorbike stunts were just some of the highlights on offer. While the scheduled events were cut from seven days to six, attendees were still wowed by the catwalk shows.If you give Alexander Wang a runway, he will deliver. Aptly named “#Wangfest,” Wang presented the crowd with a line-up of 80s-style polo sweatshirts and tracksuit bottoms which kept in theme with scuba gear that was featured in collections previously. Wang’s Spring/Summer runway collection boasted disheveled underground beauty, with models including Kaia Gerber wearing hairpieces with standout slogans such as “#WangFest” and “Party Animal”. Wang made the guestlist a millennial dream by featuring Bella Hadid and rapper Cardi B.Exaggerated shoulders and shades of shimmering silver and pink covered the catwalk, as Ford separated the show into day and evening sections.
Tom Ford did not disappoint the fashion goers at his show as he debuted a collection of glamorous silhouettes in Park Avenue. Exaggerated shoulders and shades of shimmering silver and pink covered the catwalk, as Ford separated the show into day and evening sections. American Model Binx Walton starred in both the opening and closing of the show. Walton emerged to Bowie’s “Fame” in a chainmail top and shorts suit, and closed in a sequined gown. The star-studded front row included Kim Kardashian, Chaka Khan, and Julianne Moore. Ford’s guests were gifted with a bottle of his new fragrance “F**king Fabulous,” a modest Tom Ford touch to close the show.Taking time out of her highly successful Fenty Beauty launch, Rihanna was also a big talking point of New York Fashion Week as she showcased her Fenty x Puma collection for Spring/Summer 2018. Among biker shorts and swimwear, Rihanna’s show included motorbike stunts and pink sand dunes. The woman of the moment made her entrance blowing kisses to a captivated crowd on the back of a motorbike, as effortlessly jaw-droppping as she usually is.Diversity was something taken very seriously at NYFW. This year more models of colour featured on catwalk shows than ever before. The numbers of plus-size models also increased this year, in part due to plus-size label Torrid making their debut at the event. As Paris Fashion Week now gets underway, it is hoped that they take a leaf out of NYFW’s book; Fashion Week is a festival that everyone should be invited to.