Wellington-based blogger Rhiana Clarke of blog Kasey & Co shares her New York Fashion Week experience with Thread…
It’s minus 3 degrees. Its snowing outside and I’m trudging through Chelsea in black 4 inch heels. Must be fashion week.
The morning started off on a somewhat.. inconvenient note – our Chinatown apartment lost all heat and power. So the beautification process had to take place pressed close to the only bright window in the place. Sitting in the dark, getting your make-up done in Bart Simpson pyjamas is not the most glamorous fashion week morning, I tell you.
Clutching a comically large coffee (‘cos America), I hobble through the snow to Pier 59 where designer Karen Walker shows every year. I admit, I was nervous to be attending my first showing – how early do you turn up to a show? Was my outfit okay? Had I ingested enough caffeine to pay proper attention?
Karen is such a fashion week staple that people are milling about outside, perhaps waiting to see models arriving or maybe just KW herself.
Inside Pier 59, theres a beautiful café where many fashionable patrons were waiting and drinking more comically large coffees, and after waiting there for around 15 minutes – we were invited through to get our seat numbers and start the show.
Style in NY winter is very much focused on furs, chunky shoes, and massive coats. Women at the show appeared to have an eccentric mix of comfort and warmth with splashes of colour. Understandable to still want to look chic while it’s sub zero out.
I’ve never seen so many giant phone cases in my life! I saw rubber Windex bottles, Totoros, and rubber slices of pizza. Other notable fun accessories included my personal favourite – emoji bags!
There was a noticeable influence from Karen Walker among the guests (including many Japanese magazine reporters and fashion bloggers), with many guests donning bright patterns, massive sunglasses and the most colourful outfits I’ve ever seen.
Flared jeans and Chelsea boots were a staple for the weather, and the 70’s vibes continued into the hair and make up, with long straight locks on almost every person.
With a total of 29 looks in about 5 minutes, the entire show was over so fast I barely had time to process the flurry of patterns and colours flying past my eyes. And we were done.
Stepping outside Pier 59, I wandered through the midst of photographers yelling for models and uber fashionable patrons to stop for a few shots, so I took advantage of the opportunity to grab some myself.
New York is full of crazy individual style and interesting looks at every corner. I consider it a life changing experience being able to attend and photograph this amazing show – it opens your mind to assess your own personal style and branch out a little, buck the trends and wear what makes you happy!
Words and photos by Rhiana Clarke
See her blog at Kasey & Co
21st February 2016
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