NYFW Fall 2017: Politics and Pantsuits

From left to right: Adam Selman, Mara Hoffman, Tibi, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Creatures of Comfort, Ulla Johnson.

Photos from Vogue.com. Collage made by me.

This season's NYFW was really important, guys. So important that it actually caught my eye on the first day, unlike last season's where I got to researching shows and writing very brief (and subpar) reviews three days after fashion week ended, where I only wrote the post because I felt it was my duty as a fashion blogger to do so (and I didn't even get to the other three fashion weeks!!!). I could just blame the wonder on the new political climate of our country, which forces politically active designers to make anti-Trump statements through their collections, like the finale at Prabal Gurung:

#PGTshirtseries: Dedicated to the women who inspire us. Our Fall 2017 T-Shirts are now available on prabalgurung.com at the link in our bio. For every t-shirt purchased, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and our foundation, Shikshya Foundation Nepal. Shop now at the link in our bio. Styled by @kaisergrams Casting by Maida Boina. Makeup by @diane.kendal for @maccosmetics Hair by @anthonyturnerhair for @wellaprofessionals with tools by @hottoolspro Skin by @harcourts for @belifusa Nails by @jinsoonchoi for @jinsoon Thank you to @wearcommando and @footpetals for your support. #femininitywithabite #pgmuse #pgnyfw #pgworld  

A post shared by Prabal Gurung (@prabalgurung) on Feb 18, 2017 at 9:08am PST

Yes, this sudden turn to politics that used to not be incorporated in fashion (even though fashion is always more than fashion) may be half the reason why I fell in love with clothes all over again this New York Fashion Week, but the connections dug deeper than the political statements; the love for smaller designers emerging from the shadows grew fonder. I didn't include any big-name designers like Alexander Wang or Marc Jacobs in my biannual show reviews, and maybe it was because the two collections were a bit underwhelming compared to their previous seasons, but it was also because I wanted to include those designers who don't necessarily get the spotlight. They were just that good.

We'll start with a newer face:

Fairly new (and female!) designer Ulla Johnson eased the transition into Trump's presidency not with blatant mottos of feminism, but with lush fabrics, heavy knits, and loads of pants and shin-grazing hemlines. Politics weren't obvious in the clothes, but the designer is obviously political, where she designed shirts with We Are All Immigrants sprawled across the top. Knowing this allows us to realize her collection still fit in with this activism in the subtlest of ways. A rose color scheme combined with frilly silhouettes and pink roses, of all flowers, surrounding the runway created a 21st century Eden that instead praises femininity and women. Fight for feminism with femininity. Try saying that ten times fast. 

More obvious collections strutted down the runway, one of them including Creatures of Comfort, a brand I fell in love with last season but wish I had years before. We Are All Human Beings printed on a few tops make the obvious even more obvious, but the rest of the collection still carried a sense of flashy glamping--glitter turtlenecks, utility overalls, layers that seem more than necessary, and hemlines that don't creep above the shin, coming in the forms of frocks, relaxed trousers, and a-line midi skirts. Those velvet slides paired with glitter socks make camping seem strangely exciting.

Business professional was all the rage on Tibi's runway (another new name on Fractured Aesthetic!), where suits took several different forms and make a 9-5 job look, well, cool. This could be an indirect shoutout to #pantsuitnation, but if these weren't the designer's intentions, I still would love to hop on the blazer train. Velvet pantsuits, plaid blazer and skirt sets (Dana Scully, anyone?), and modest hemlines (are we seeing a recurring trend?) filled the runway, and Amy Smilovic knew just how to make these timeless pieces not boring--neon shoes in lush fabrics, ruffles to make those midi and maxi dresses more fun, and neck protectors not connected to the rest of the bodice, kind of like those convertible turtlenecks from Madewell. What a cool way to make your day job look like an actually fun 40+ hour week!!!

3.1 Phillip Lim created a collection just in time for Valentine's day, or maybe the excessive amount of pink was meant to represent girl power in light of recent events. Either way, the collection represented a sort of romance, similar to Ulla Johnson's, but in a flashier manner with asymmetric hemlines, chunky knits seen here and there, and fishnet tops layered underneath t-shirts and leather bodices. This kind of romance definitely took a feminist approach, with baggy pantsuits (a trend this season, perhaps?) replacing thigh-grazing skirts. So maybe the collection was meant to represent empowerment, because who doesn't feel a massive amount of female agency when oversized pants can still be fashionable?

This is the third time (in a row) that I've included Adam Selman on my NYFW show reviews, so does this mean he's officially my favorite New York-based designer? His Fall collection could definitely make that statement a fact. This is also the third time in this collection of reviews that romanticism was played with in a show, similar to Ulla Johnson and 3.1 Phillip Lim, but done in a completely different manner--not rosy, not flashy, but in a feminist goth way, where sheer fabrics met floral embroidery and leather and denim were common materials seen on the runway. The rose motif softened the biker-chic theme that Selman was working with, but the thorns on the roses were revealed through the somewhat gritty collection that included Chucks, denim jumpsuits, and an actual bouquet of roses acting as a top that was more grotesque than romantic. Selman always knows how to make a statement, with '90s grunge driving his Fall 2016 collection, disco driving his Spring 2017 collection, and the ugly side of romanticism (Edgar Allen Poe, anyone?) driving his newest collection. This load of contradictions is actually sort of beautiful, no?

In the past, I've always closed my reviews with my favorite show of the week, and this has usually been about the clothes--I closed Fall 2016's PFW with Valentino because the ballet-inspired collection spoke to me on a completely new level. But with Mara Hoffman, it was hardly about the clothes, and her show proved the statement I made earlier in this post, that fashion is always more than fashion. This fashion week has allowed designers to speak up about the current political situation going on in America because NYFW attracts so many important viewers, so what an amazing way to spread the word! Hoffman jumped in on this activism and went all out, having the national co-chairs of the Women's March on Washington give a tear-jerking speech right before the clothes were revealed. Then the actual show began, showcasing a mix of models and contemporary dancers (representing all races, ethnicities, ages, and gender identities!) wearing Hoffman's overly simplistic and comfortable collection that can actually breathe, something I've wanted to see in a fashion ever since Spring 2017 of NYFW happened. The combination of walking and dancing of the models (which you can watch here to get the real experience) told us that these clothes are clothes we can move in, can dance in, can be activists in. Comfy layering combined with shapeless dresses, knits in every form, and pants we can do extensions in filled the runway, and dancers proved that these clothes could actually move by moving their bodies to feminist anthems and chants of spoken word that gives a shoutout to female empowerment. There's been an argument floating around that fashion shows including models walking in the clothes is necessary to show how the clothes move on our bodies, but dancing in them is even more effective--maybe this should be a new requirement for fashion week (remember Opening Ceremony from Spring 2016?).

Check back in the next few weeks for reviews from LFW, MFW, and PFW.

LFW Fall 2017 reviews

See all of my show reviews from previous seasons here.

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NYFW Through the Eyes of a College Student

Pajamas are not just meant for sleeping anymore.

From left to right: Adam Selman, Creatures of Comfort, Alexander Wang, Tome, and Proenza Schouler.

Photos from Vogue. Collage made by me. 

An extended title: NYFW Through the Eyes of a College Student (Who Does Not Reside in NYC).

My new location of D.C. has made things tricky. A two hour plane ride to New York has transformed into a three hour train ride, so technically NYFW should now be a piece of cake. Skip classes, Natalie! Go live your dream!!! Unfortunately, my four and a half hour long photo class makes dreams die. Last NYFW, I spent the entire week researching shows and even being in the city to take street style photos. This year, my perspective went 360 and instead I spent ten minutes everyday attempting to take slight glimpses of the shows through Snapchat and Instagram which only resulted in my newfound contempt for Marc Jacobs. This failure then led me to frantically scrolling through Vogue and Man Repeller (she always reviews the best shows!!), desperately seeking for the best collections. This was a hard task. I'm not sure if it was my unfortunate situation of not being able to actually admire NYFW as a whole or if it was NYFW's fault -- am I the only one who thought it was underwhelming this season? Through my disappointment, I still found five shows that are worth [briefly] talking about. 

Familiarity is key when time is limited, so I immediately went to Alexander Wang for comfort. It didn't match with the excellence that was SS16 and AW16, but the idea that pajamas are in (this idea will be a recurring one) spoke to me in a certain way that only college students can understand. Lace embellishments and button downs with pinstripe pajama shorts opened the collection that showed off Wang's true intentions in fashion: simplicity. But his implications are far more complex than the look of the show, drawing from his California roots and sex (as always) through the rash guards shown off in the middle of the show and the revealing of a lot of skin. It may have been an underwhelming collection due to the lack of a shock factor, but maybe uncomplicated is good -- no fuss fashion seems like the perfect way to stay in style when effort is hard to find.

Knowing how inspiring Adam Selman's collection was last season, my second step in researching shows was instantly typing his name into the search bar on Vogue. Immediate gratification was delivered. Selman followed a similar path as Wang and wanted to make pajamas cool again, but instead of creating a deconstructed look, Selman went a different route and had bold and even vulgar themes. He drew from pop culture and the past, as per usual, by connecting to disco and the '70s, but he did so with subtle undertones that don't take away from the simplicity of the collection. The progression from morning wear (literally) to evening created a collection that only whispers practicality, and anything that has a touch of that description seems so appealing at the moment. Where would fashion be without refreshing collections like this?

Comfort is key in the collection by Creatures of Comfort (how shocking!!). This is a brand I've been eyeing for the past few seasons but never got into until now, when pajamas (yep, once again) and waistless, draping shapes made an appearance. What makes the collection as a whole so captivating is not the clothes itself, but the meaning behind the clothes, which is all on inspirations from Frida Kahlo -- just look at the embroidery and ruffles! The combination of comforting colors and slides in different shapes and forms makes me want to do one of two things: either hop on a plane to Mexico or stay in my bed all day. Both sound equally appealing.

Here's another newcomer to my fashion repertoire! Similar to C of C, Proenza Schouler  has been on my radar for a few seasons after Leandra Medine said it was one of her favorite brands a couple years back. After making a lot of bold decisions, they made the cut. I'm not sure if it's because it's so different than the above reviews (or really anything I've ever seen before), or if it's the geometric focus in both design and shape of the garments, but this collection spoke to me, loud and clear, with its daring patterns, unique silhouettes, and flatforms. This collection seems the most artistic out of all of NYFW's shows, and this could either be from the risks the designers took with color or the actual Greek art displayed on a few pieces. Where Adam Selman brought refreshment and Creatures of Comfort brought, well, comfort, Proenza Schouler brought awe, and maybe this is the one show that could wake us up from the first three. We can only stay in our PJs for so long.

And finally, we end with a younger brand that really knows how to experiment. Notice how I didn't end with Marchesa or Marc Jacobs or Rodarte, a.k.a. the ones every fashion blogger and her mother are obsessing over (don't get me wrong -- the collections of Marchesa and Rodarte were stunning). College has made me have a limited attention span and an inability to be captivated by even the most awe-striking clothes, so I had to search for something that turned my gaze the opposite direction. Tome  played with fabrics and shapes and textures of all formats, creating a collection that's, in one word, different. This different isn't too much, however, because the experimentation blended together so perfectly to create a show of beauty. At the end of the day, this is why I love fashion. A brand that's just reaching the age of five can evoke emotion and wonder just as much as any big name brand. Also, the paint on the models' faces is so cool!!!

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The Best of NYFW F/W16

From left to right: Suno, Alexander Wang, Opening Ceremony, Prabal Gurung, Adam Selman, Phillip Lim, and Marc Jacobs

collage created by me, with the help of photos by Vogue

I thought to myself on Thursday night, after the Marc Jacobs show, that the most wonderful time of the year was over, but then I realized -- wait, there's still three more weeks left of fashion month. Even if this is true, there's some type of magic that comes with New York Fashion Week, whether that it's the first week to start the season, or maybe that the freezing weather corresponded with the fitting cold-weather collections from the shows (or maybe they didn't correspond at all, see Alexander Wang). Nonetheless, I've never kept up with a fashion week as much as I did with this one, and I loved all of it.

Usually a few shows don't stick with me right, like Tommy Hilfiger's SS16 collection, but this week, I fell in love with every show I got a glimpse of from social media (perks of being a Z-list blogger, which I am now self-diagnosing myself of being). I had a plan before fashion month started to do my top three shows from each week, then it turned into five, then it turned into twenty, then it narrowed down into seven. So many are missing from the above picture that I wanted to review -- Tommy Hilfiger (he definitely improved from last season), Rodarte, Calvin Klein, Rag & Bone, Coach, Libertine, the list keeps going... But I wanted to only include two it-labels (Wang and Jacobs) because the newcomers, or should I just say newcomers to my own fashion palette, were the ones that blew me away. I wanted to give these collections ratings, but because they were all amazing I'd give them all perfect scores, so the fact that I included them in the first place is a rating in itself. I also noticed another thing from this week -- all the collections seemed to fit into an array of styles: a mix of edgy, goth, and even gothic; sophisticated; and those out-there collections that don't seem to fit anywhere else but deserve their own category. Let's begin...

School-girl-chic meets Twin Peaks meets clashing prints meets oversized silhouettes. That's Suno for you, at least its Fall/Winter 2016 collection. There may have been some criticisms because plaid-on-plaid just doesn't work, but I think it does more than work -- it creates this complex, sophisticated style that I love and want in my life. I can't get enough of those delicate floral prints, a touch of shimmer, and oversized anything, and Suno brought just that. They were on the top of my list mid-week, and they may still be, but then a few more days of life-changing shows came, so the competition came full force. Let's see who brought a similar look but may have beat this collection --

                                                                                            

Practical business woman (or man, just look at that androgyny) meets an autumn color scheme with lots of velvet and trousers. Phillip Lim's collection, a.k.a. the more masculine (and maybe more out-there) version of Suno's. We still see some of the same plaid patterns, and that navy pleated-midi is awfully similar to the gold one from Suno, but Lim gave off a more utilitarian style while still keeping sophistication. I loved the repetition of velvet accents and those unique leaf patterns near the end of the show (see the blouse in the 2nd image), and I really want to get myself a pair of those velvet heeled ankle boots. This is the thing that I always want from fashion week -- collections that are so different than the last one from the designer, but also so expected due to current trends and desires from consumers. And one more in my sophisticated category...

Ever since the third look appeared on the runway during the show, I fell in love with Prabal Gurung's collection, and I think the fur accessories, unfortunately real, were the items that caught my eye. (Sidenote: I am anti-fur in fashion, but I love how it looks, and anything I would buy would be faux fur, just for clarification. I can't wait until designers look to cruel-free methods for gaining the same aesthetic.) Also, a lot of the fall/winter collections were not practical for, well, the winter, but this one definitely is. I'm not sure why we're seeing so many floral, especially leaf, patterns this season, but I'm a fan of this continuity. Who says florals have to be confined to spring? Prabal Gurung brought a mix of sensible outfits with heavy-duty coats and ankle-length hems and then the more formal dresses that carry unique, yet beautiful, silhouettes and prints to create a, in simplest of terms, beautiful collection. While they carried sophistication on the runway, others brought something different that I can't necessarily put words to...

If the future consists of an '80s revival, Opening Ceremony would be designing the clothes. The mention of that decade may make people cringe, but this collection took the good from the '80s and gave it a modern, or an even further in time, twist. When I said "out-there" in the beginning of this post, I literally meant out-there, like, out-of-this-world, extraterrestrial, etcetera. I wouldn't be shocked if these models were aliens that looked like humans or just really well-developed robots. The use of shimmery fabrics (is that spandex?), retro sunglasses, the occasional futuristic print, and even the '80s-esque techno music gave this collection a 2165 feel (150 years in the future). Part of me thinks that I love this collection because of the risks they took, and Opening Ceremony has always been known for risks (ballerinas as models? Now that's innovative). But the other part may just be a fan of holographic jackets and silver spandex shirt-pant sets.

There's always comfort in the expected, and this is especially relevant in designers and expecting what to see in their next collection based on previous ones. Alexander Wang, which I am now proclaiming as my favorite NYFW designer, brings his same expected style -- edgy grunge, with a touch of the gritty and bold Wang signature. Just like last season's collection, he innovated a new style from the old, and this time it's the grunge from the '90s. If the '90s and the edge we find in 2016 had a child, it would be this collection. A mix of goth, even steampunk (those metal accents), and I hate to say it, but stoner-girl-chic all worked together to create an obvious statement by the designer. The weed leaf prints and repetition of the word "faded" may have turned an innovative collection into an obnoxious one, but for some reason, I was not annoyed at all. The use of black tights with either "girls" or "strict" written on both legs, the mohair tanks and sweaters, and overall boldness of the collection turned a cliché into a brilliant show. And maybe that's the point -- to make a statement. Wang booked a church for such an unholy collection -- sheer tops (not the angelic kind), drug references, and even stripper (pole included) icons on Ralph Lauren-esque pants only scream irony. Fashion is always more than the clothes, right? Also, I need those statement minis and denim-fur coats in my life, ASAP. 

This is Alexander Wang's collection not on drugs, better known as Adam Selman's. It included '90s grunge, similar to Wang's, but it has a darker, also more feminine side. Kind of like those housewives who killed their husbands (Chicago, right?), but instead of wearing '20s-esque fishnets and frilly dresses, they wear lace chokers and the signature Avril Lavigne eyeliner. The designer brought floor-length (yet still revealing) dresses, puffy outerwear, and shiny details with a simple color scheme of black, red, silver, navy, and more black. Selman obviously thinks black is the new black, and he even simplified the collection with all-black Converse, circa your punk phase in 9th grade. The over-the-shoulder straps and confetti-like details on a few pieces bring this uniqueness to a potentially overplayed style, so Adam Selman definitely won for day one of NYFW.

And for the finale of my post, I give you the actual NYFW finale (how fitting) -- Marc Jacobs. I had to do a project on our potential careers three years ago and we had to pick someone from the profession, and I chose Marc Jacobs, and since then, I title him my first favorite designer. I did so much research on him, I even had to connect his designs to the media, like music, culture, etcetera, so I know exactly how he works. And based off of this knowledge, this collection embodies who he is as a designer. He created avant-garde pieces with a throwback to the 19th century and the British goth era of the '80s with a touch of horror and massive platform heels. Something I would never expect in fashion, but would always expect from the Marc Jacobs himself. A revival of Dracula. A Spike-Drusilla centric Buffy episode that takes place a century earlier than usual. The Grimm version of Alice in Wonderland. A literal scene from a Poe story, excluding the creepy black cat or dead person under the floor boards. Jacobs won fashion week with this collection by including draping capes, full ankle-length skirts, and massive bows (Gucci SS16, anyone?). Speaking of Gucci, this show, including a huge, blank white room and an eerie repetition of dinging bells (with a mix of silence) gave me chills just like Gucci's show last season, including a snake-printed floor and ethereal French whispers that carried the angelic models across the runway. While Gucci's was angelic, Jacobs' was not necessarily demonic, but it was definitely dark, even scary (the makeup artists definitely did their jobs well). After reading multiple reviews on the show, there has been a unanimous opinion: that Jacobs ended a lacking-in-risks week on a refreshing note. Fashion is about risks, and the designer finally showed us what he thinks it's about -- that too much is just not enough.

All photos from Vogue, except for Phillip Lim's, which are from Elle.

Feel free to share what your favorite shows from NYFW were, and also how you felt about the shows I reviewed.

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Street Style: NYFW Edition (And a Lesson in Street Style Photography)

I am obviously a writer, but I'm also a photographer -- how else would my photos on here be shot? So I used both skills to create the ultimate (and oh-so typical) post: NYFW street style, including my own photos, unlike this one or this one. Now I feel like a non-poser, a real street style photographer! Except I didn't have a lens the size of my head (even though my 50 mm lens is deceivingly wonderful) or I didn't force some clueless guy from Vancouver to move because he was in my shot, and yes, that last part actually happened (poor dude). I was nervous at first to take street style photos because I thought you actually had to ask the street-style stars during fashion week (in other times of the year, it's a must), but during FW, all you have to do is gravitate towards all the other photographers and shoot a hundred photos of the same person, hoping that at least one of them doesn't have a random photo-bomber or a huge lens in the corner of the shot. I wished I was on the other side of the camera, but I was lacking that it-accessory or those unique shoes with gold heels or, sadly, confidence.
Here's the street style that represented impeccable fashion sense and how to dress for the cold (or how to not dress for the cold...):

These two girls were killing it with their coordinated outfits (twin goals!! er, BFF goals??). Both blonde, both have old-fashioned Tommy shirts on, both wearing short fur coats (that I really want) and straight-leg dark wash jeans, and both look flawlessly cool. The ultimate takeaway is if you coordinate with your BFF, you'll double the cool-factor, it's inevitable (have you seen the Olsen twins lately?).

More BFF goals, but this time they're just really-well dressed, with only their jeans matching. Unfortunately for the girl with the huge scarf-blanket-thing, the other is the one who got the photographer to force the Vancouver-guy to move over because she's the star (I heard her saying "They love me!" multiple times). Maybe it's those boots (those gold heels are so dreamy) or the fur sleeves on her coat, but I noticed one thing -- she's staying in-style and warm, which many fail to do.

All I can say about this one: I need a blue (or any other vibrant color), shaggy fur coat in my life. Also, she just got handed a Cosmo sign to hold for one of their photographers, so she must be dressed well.

This look has to be my favorite, plus I also feel really creepy because I just found her on Instagram (@alexcloset) while I was scrolling through the explore page, and I had no idea who she was until I saw her face and it was kind of weird but kind of cool... Anyways, she knows how to rock track-pants, a black turtleneck, an oversized (and vintage?) Adidas bomber with silver-toed stilettos, how is that even possible? We'll call her... the sophisticated athlete. Also, I really really need that bomber, or something like it. I searched last night for hours and failed miserably.

I guess she thought it'd be cool to pose right next to a steaming manhole, so photographers continued to swarm around her (including me) because this is so NYC. I also found her on Instagram (@asos_alice) by scrolling through my feed and seeing the exact same moment, then I realized shortly after that I had been following her for a month or so and I didn't know what her face looked like until now (this might be even weirder than the above situation). She's the only one who looks really cold (her sleeves are rolled up in 20 degrees...), but she knows how to work the knee-high heeled boots and slitted maxi. Who knew you could wear a cotton maxi in the winter?

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A Guide to NYC or (A Lesson in Layers)

Does anyone realize that I titled this based off of how Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (also my favorite movie) is titled? Anyways, I'm riding in the backseat of the car that is directing towards my house in the location that's the opposite of the place I've been for nearly six days, and I wonder, did I do NYC right? Like when I went down to ATL and thought that exact same thought, but the two cities are so different. Then I realized shortly after that NYC is the place I want to live in six months (hopefully), so if I genuinely acted the way I have always wanted to act, I should be doing NYC right. Right? Let's rewind a bit to see if I am correct (even though, at the end of the day, there is no right or wrong way to do a city, which is also my closing statement in the ATL post).

Put on as many layers as possible, but in an innovative French way, which you saw in my last post... check.

Walk around Nolita and NoHo right near Washington Square Park in said outfit to authentic coffee shops before your scheduled food tour (those exist?), and also take photos of your deliciously cute (and small) cappuccino and inspirational quotes on poles. Check.

Wake up the next morning to find the low is literally three degrees, no joke there, so put on even more layers than yesterday's outfit. Like, a hot pink turtleneck to warm up that frozen hell outside, a sheer shirt/dress-type-piece to add a flowy-sillouhette and a collar because why not, a thick black sweater because cold, then some boyfriend jeans because skinnies won't fit over the hidden knit tights worn under the jeans.

Turtleneck by J. Crew. Collared shirt by Urban Outfitters. Sweater by Madewell. Jeans by Gap. Shoes by Adidas.

Continue to showcase layer-centric outfit inside Guggenheim Museum because I looked like a black life-size marshmallow outside. Also, add some socks that only feature Ryan Gosling's face because knowing his face is on my feet immediately adds instant warmth. 

Then take, like, a billion photos at the Guggenheim but only post a few of the best ones that also happen to be the most unknown pieces, is that why they're the favorites? 

In the middle of everything, constantly refresh Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat for NYFW updates, and also cry because so close, yet so far.

And then eat at the best Thai restaurant in the Upper East Side (called The Nuaa) no earlier than 9 p.m. and walk back to the hotel looking like the same life-size marshmallow as before, but even larger because the weather officially dropped to three. Check.

Wake up thinking that the frozen hell is over, but find out that it's actually colder than the day before, and cry while layering on even more layers -- a corduroy Topshop dress over a white Asos turtleneck, another wider (and thicker) turtleneck over all of that, and then like two pairs of tights and three pairs of socks. And that's just the indoors part. Continue to not take any photos of this outfit because I was too cold and grumpy to take off my coat/hat/scarf.

Eliminate that cold/grumpy mood by seeing Hamilton later that day, get trampled by crazy Hamilton fans in Times Square prior to the show, but get emotional with those same fans during the show. A nice bonding moment. Check.

Wake up to happily see snow and a high of above freezing, and through happy tears, put my last outfit for NY together, which happened to be my worst, but it also included two turtlenecks (including my hot pink one from Saturday) like the outfit the day before so it can't be too bad.

Turtleneck by J. Crew. Dress by Asos. Jacket by Juicy Couture.

While walking to the Met, accidentally run into NYFW (the two locations just make things confusing for me) and not really realize it until everyone around me is either impeccably dressed or has a huge zoom lens on their camera. Then have a two-minute long freakout session because it's NYFW!! The dream!! then force my sister to take photos of me because street style then sigh because I would exchange this denim jacket for a fur one and these chelsea boots for Dior-esque heeled-booties and maybe, just maybe that would get me recognized by street style photographers.

Then take some photos of the scene (more up-close and detailed ones will be featured on the blog in a few days), and also cram your way through pushy photographers just to get the perfect shot of the best street style, because I can be a fashion writer and a fashion photographer at the same time, right?

Finally leave the scene to go to the Met because it got colder and everyone left for the Tommy Hilfiger show, then continue to get lost in the Met because it's a literal maze of art.

Walk outside after 2-3ish hours of art to see a winter wonderland and get this giddy feeling because it's my first snow in the city!! And also wonder how those two girls at NYFW who were wearing pumps and no socks are doing. Check. 

And that's it! Well, all the important/maybe-not-so-important-but-cool parts. That's NYC for you, at least four days of it, and I think I did it right, layers and activities included. My ideal version would be to spend all four (preferably seven) days running around to see all the fashion week shows, but ideal is rarely the reality. See me at the shows in five years, I promise. 

All photos shot by me, except the ones featuring me, which were taken by Kendall.

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