By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times
A HUGE perk of working for Social Stylate (a full service creative marketing boutique, click here for more information : www.socialstylate.com) is being to attend some of the shows during New York Fashion Week. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, NYFW is basically a fashionista’s World Series/US Open/Kentucky Derby/SuperBowl all rolled into seven days of fabulousness.
Designers dream of the chance to secure a spot in this exclusive event. They put in countless hours of blood, sweat, and tears for the opportunity to have 15 minutes to display their creations. And, it’s not just about the clothes. Fine tuning the details (including hair and makeup, lighting, music, decor, etc) is essential in order to convey the intended aesthetic. The looks that sashay down the runway set the trends for the upcoming Spring 2018 season. Come March, whether you are purchasing a couture gown for thousands of dollars, or picking up a 20 dollar t-shirt in Target, chances are the color, fabric, and design have been influenced by what happened at Fashion Week in September of 2017. It’s a really big deal.
This year, I had tickets to Anna Francesca (pictured top right) and Dan Liu (bottom left). The shows were as different as night and day, but equally as intriguing.
The Anna Francesca show took place in a ballroom at the Stewart Hotel at 7pm on Saturday, September 9th. We happened to be seated very close to the start of the runway and had a little window into the backstage area where the models were lining up. It was fascinating to watch the chaos of behind the scenes in juxtaposition to the flawless performance of the models once they hit the runway. The room was packed, the music was loud, and the energy was infectious. I loved the collection; each gown was more elaborate than the next festooned with delicate lace, intricate beading, satin trim, or feathers. The whole vibe of the evening felt like a party.
Sunday morning, September 10th at 10:00am was the second show. Dan Liu was a more ready-to-wear designer, as opposed to the formal wear of the night before. The event took place at the Skylight at Clarkson Square which housed many of the NYFW shows that week. The audience was brimming with bloggers and had a much larger media presence. There was one long runway down the center of the room with three tiers of stadium seating on either side. No matter what time is printed on the invitation, you can be guaranteed to add a good twenty minutes to the start time. I didn’t mind, as the people watching is almost as good as the actual show. If Dan Liu’s collection is foreshadowing for Spring 2018, you won’t be disappointed. The dresses were expertly tailored, feminine, and romantic. Lilac, blush, and nude colors continue to be strong. Everything was gorgeous.
My Fashion Week trip to the city was a whirlwind 24 hours, but it was chock full of inspiration! And even though it will take a good two weeks for the blisters to heal from wearing impractical (aka “fashionable”) booties, the high of the experience will last forever.
Happy Weekend
