New York Fashion Week found a way to continue in digital form this season, !which is great!, even if not all things can be translated to a livestream. One of the aspects we already miss most? The grand tradition of freaky people gathering out on the street in their fashionable best, whether they’ve got tickets to the show or not.
So, we decided to check in with some of the people whose ensembles we most look forward to catching at various intersections this time of year. We wanted to know: What shows are they watching, and how and where? And, of course, how are they dressing for Fashion Week inside?
Jo Rosenthal is dressing for a trip to the bodega
If you’re attending a digital show, what are you going to do to make it feel special? Are you dressing up?
I’m most excited for Collina Strada because their shows are always the most incredible spectacle. I eagerly wait for whatever Hillary [Taymour] shows—I’m really her biggest fan. My best friend Elizabeth and I have planned an entire day of viewings on Wednesday. Maybe we’ll wear matching pajamas for the shows. It’s going to be really fun to be able to watch things on a screen for the first time—it feels like you could make an entire day of it, where you eat popcorn and smoke weed and appreciate what’s going to come next.
What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?
I couldn’t wait to see how designers would use this obstacle as a way to create new and exciting presentations. I think we’ve finally gotten to a place where fashion doesn’t have to exist in a physical sense to feel like it means something.
How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?
I’ve been trying to get dressed up in crazy outfits just to go get a snack down the block or to sit on my fire escape. I think taking the time to realize that fashion isn’t a life-or-death situation has really taken some pressure off of me getting dressed every day.
Nikki Ogunnaike is getting back together with fashion
What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?
I felt it was an incredibly appropriate response. Fashion has been doing the same thing for years and years, and I’m so happy for change!
How many shows would you attend during a typical fashion month?
When I was a women’s editor I would go to more than 60 shows—as a men’s editor, far less. But I still love watching many of the women’s shows.
Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing?
Shiona Turini doesn’t go to shows that much anymore, but when she pops out I love to see her ladylike looks. Lauren Santo Domingo seems like she really dresses for herself and is unbelievably chic and polished. Finally, Mobolaji Dawodu and Jon Tietz are my colleagues but also the best dressed men in fashion, so I’m inspired by them daily!!
How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?
For the first three months of quarantine, I refused to get dressed. I sat in sweats and let myself feel all the feelings. But now, about six months in, I’m excited to reunite with my clothing! And get to know it again. It’s like I took a break in a relationship but got back together with my person and things are going strong. My kicks come in the form of getting dressed again, full stop.
María Bernad is ditching elaborate looks (for now)
Which shows are you attending this season?
I currently live in Paris and I won’t be traveling this Fashion Month, so I’ll just attend the physical shows that take place here, and I will of course be keeping up with all the digital shows. (For example, I will be following the live Collina Strada show broadcast from New York.)
Are you dressing up?
I dress up for any occasion! So, if I attend a digital show, I will of course be dressing up. I will watch it from home—being up to date with the new collections is really important.
What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?
I used to love wearing more elaborate and complicated looks, but now when I wake up I just look forward to wearing something cool but comfortable. I increasingly work more at home, so even if I still dress up, I’ve adapted my style to the situation.
Courtney Trop is resisting the LA influence
What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?
I knew it wasn’t going to happen when couture was cancelled alongside many of the music festivals—on the day I’m usually packing and prepping, I cried for hours. Mainly because I miss my friends. When you travel for fashion month, four months out of the year with other trips sprinkled in between, with the same people for years and years, those people become your friends—with some even family status. Fashion people are weirdos, myself included. We get really excited about this stuff, to put it lightly, and having a group of people you connect with becomes important for your sanity and as a support group. The thing I miss the most is spending time with people I love, while doing what I love.
Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing during FW?
Lotta Volkova. I also look at runway shows for inspo versus real people. Getting into character is really important to me—full-blown characters that are always different. I also love Georgia Pendlebury and Ursina Gysi.
What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?
Living in LA has inspired my style for the last seven months, which I highly dislike. I like getting dressed in Paris in the winter—that’s more my vibe. Really don’t like what LA has done to my style. Thank god for Pleats Please. Also: The sun here has destroyed my skin.
Kellie Brown is going for a “regressed summer camp vibe”
What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?
I was relieved. I think business-as-usual, crowded events would have been really irresponsible.
Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing during FW?
Marginalized people. The fat, the black, people who are generally ignored by street style photogs.
How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?
I’m having a lot of fun experimenting. Wearing things I still think are cool and mashing styles together. I’m in a bit of a regressed summer camp vibe right now.
Michelle Li is ordering a fancy lunch
How many shows would you attend during a typical fashion month?
~30
Which shows are you attending this season?
I’m attending only digital shows! Collina Strada, Eckhaus Latta, Kim Shui, Private Policy, PH5.
Where will you be watching from and what are you going to do to make it feel special? Are you dressing up?
I think I’ll try to order a fancy lunch (with a dessert!) and just stream it on my laptop from my bed or couch. I’ll probably dress up a little bit and wear heels since I won’t have to walk very much!
Pre-pandemic, would you have said you dressed for other people or yourself?
I would say that I dressed for myself. I think during Fashion Week I could get a little bit caught up with dressing for other people and doing the whole peacocking dance, but would definitely have to re-center myself a little bit and remind myself that when you dress for other people, it shows. It doesn’t feel as good.
Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing during FW?
College Michelle will always stan Leandra Medine’s street style!!!! Also Stephanie Broek, Yan Yan Chan, Tamu McPherson, Susie Bubble, Oumayma Elboumeshouli!
How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?
Recently my approach has been to start on Monday with an outfit and continuously change different parts (shoes, adding a hat, switching out the pants, fun sock!) throughout the week. By Sunday, I’ll have settled on the ultimate outfit or 3-4 outfit variations to add to my encyclopedia of outfits to re-wear. It’s such a nice, slow way to really get to know a piece of clothing and get creative about all of the ways that you can wear it.
Any predictions for the first post-COVID fashion week?
I hope there will be a lot more smiles, less complaining and more gratitude, bigger hugs, people being friendlier to each other and less clique-y—plus a lot less fixation on the little things like where we’re sitting and more focus on the clothing and being able to experience fashion week safely IRL again!
Anaa Saber is excited to take a step back
What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?
I have mixed emotions about not partaking in fashion month in a traditional way. I miss the sense of community that comes along with the celebration of fashion. There’s something so special and joyful about coming together with your peers, friends, designers, all under the same umbrella.
On the contrary, I’m very excited to take a step back, to not only relax from the normal hustle and bustle that comes along with it, but also re-evaluate the things about fashion month that need to be changed. For starters, the issue with the lack of diversity—who is attending the shows, getting front-row invites, seen on street style. Women of color have always been at a disadvantage, and despite how progressive the fashion industry likes to claim it is, there’s always room for growth.
Which shows will you be watching this season?
For New York, I’m eagerly anticipating Eckhaus Latta, Who Decides War, Maise Wilen, Khaite, and Collina Strada. I’m also stoked for the unveiling of Prada’s co-created collection with Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada—butterflies!!
Pre-pandemic, would you have said you dressed for other people or yourself?
I always dress for myself—I’ve never dressed for others.
How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?
To be honest, I dress the same as I would pre-covid. I like getting fly, staying cozy, and having a well put-together look. I’ve always been like this.
