New York Fashion Week has come and gone, leaving a footprint of the latest fall fashion trends for 2018. The highlight of every February in NYC is, of course, Fashion Week. During the first week or so of September, we preview the up and coming spring fashion trends whereas fashion week in February is all about fall trends (it’s a little confusing). Everyone looks forward to this fashion week because it gives us all an excuse to get off the couch, change out of our cozies and into the hottest trends of the season. Well, I shouldn’t speak for everyone but I definitely look forward to it.
January is a month full of relaxation and resolutions; it’s all about staying home with the family and getting back into the swing of things. February comes around and BAM, whether you want to or not, it’s time to get back out and about! It’s all about hair, makeup, heels and days and nights out on the town. The winter season is typically a bit calmer, less shows and more presentations…why you ask?!? Because it’s FREEZING in NYC! Last year, some designers opted to host their shows in other cities. Tommy Hilfiger flew everyone out to LA last year on a “Tommy Jet” as did Rebecca Minkoff. I don’t blame them…
We are all familiar with well-known designers such as Tom Ford, Carolina Herrera and Oscare de la Renta, but what about the fantastic up and coming talent that participates in NYFW? There are so many young and inspiring designers that are incredibly talented and soon to become the “big names” in fashion. In my opinion, this season was all about empowering women; supporting women’s dreams and aspirations in the fashion world. This season I attended various shows, everything from top name designers to fantastic up and comers, here are a few names that stood out.
Jasmine Chong
I met Jasmine Chong last September and she is an incredible up and coming designer that is extremely talented. We immediately hit it off and I completely fell in love with the flowing fabric and rich tones from her last collections. I tried on some of her pieces and didn’t want to take them off! It’s wonderful to meet a designer and attend her first show.
I’ve spoken to Jasmine various times and learned a little bit more about her history and how her fashion career began. She was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she spent her childhood drawing sketches and dreaming about fashion. Her mom was a huge inspiration as she made many of Jasmine’s favorite dresses using a black 1950’s Singer sewing machine. She eventually made it to Chicago where she studied Fashion Design and Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago. The majority of her senior year fashion collection sold and so began her career.
She acquired invaluable experience working with some of the top names in the industry such as Anna Sui, Halston, Tory Burch and Marchesa. Her first collection launched in February 2016 at New York Fashion Week and has rapidly grown throughout the past few years. Her collections have been featured in Vogue, WWD and Elle (amongst many others). One of the aspects I love most about Jasmine’s latest collection is the rich detailing and meticulously crafted pieces. All of her pieces celebrate the female form with silhouettes that are fluid and extremely delicate. As Jasmine says, “The label is for the woman who is soft, yet also strong”. I love supporting women who have such great potential and empowerment.
NANDI MADIDA
Nandi Madida absolutely nailed her New York Fashion Week Debut! If you don’t know much about Nandi, she is a South African media personality, musician, actress and now fashion designer. Did I mention she also is incredibly sweet and authentic?
Nandi recently added fashion designer to her repertoire with her new label “Colour by Nandi Madida” in collaboration with designer Jason Patron. The collection was stunning and so unique as it showcased a large assortment of colors and patterns. Without a doubt, the collection celebrated female power as it focused on feminine layers with fierce tailoring. Models strutted down the runway wearing bold and exotic makeup, crimson lips and show stopping Bedoo wigs that transformed the models into “warrior queens”. (The wigs were made from beaded out of a variety of colors…unlike anything I’ve ever seen on the runway)!
I loved Nandi’s choice of colors for her collection. Shimmering gold and red hues were prominent in her day wear; black and crisp whites with African bead work for were saved for evening wear. Overall, it’s safe to say her entire collection was a celebration of female power and strength. If this one just her first collection, I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Nandi next season!
Anna Sui
Anna Sui is one of my favorite designers! She is one of fashion’s biggest fans and I am one of her biggest fans! I always look forward to seeing her latest collections during New York Fashion Week. Anna Sui is known for developing her collections with historical and cultural references. I personally like the fact that she recreates historic pieces rather than being a fashion forward designer. She interprets past styles and reinvents them for the modern day woman.
Her latest collection was titled “Beloved” because it is about the fashion world she “dreamed about before (coming) to New York”. The collection was, needless to say, stunning and who better than Gigi and Bella Hadid showcase her creations. This famous duo opened the show wearing striking pieces from Anna Sui’s collection that incorporated some Mudd Club-era glam.
Many models wore vegetable-tanned leather fanny packs that matched their Bed Stu boots and oxfords rather than a traditional clutch (I am all about the fanny pack trend). I love the fact that her collection ranged from daywear to eveningwear and anything in between. Anna Sui normally sticks to one theme but this year you saw a bit of everything and I loved it! If I had to pick a favorite outfit, although I honestly loved all of them, it would be the one worn by Bella Hadid to close the show. It was a show stopping mint green gown that had light pink beading around the neckline. Can’t wait to see Anna Sui’s collection in September. She gets better and better each season!
One common denominator among all fashion shows was the empowerment of women. This year, it seems as though designers went out of their way to make a statement about feminism. In terms of fall trends, make sure to keep an eye out for plush velvets, nude tones, sequin boots and stockings! Stockings were a huge hit this NYFW and I can assure you we will be seeing lots of these styles come fall. All in all, it was a successful fashion week and I highly suggest keeping an eye out for these up and coming designers…they are the wave of the fashion future.
