New York Fashion Week Is Not For the Weak
I may not be a glowy, gown-wearing A-lister, but I am a woman with a job. Here, an editor's run-down of the iconic event — and some real-world advice that applies to *non-fashion* things as well.
“What? I can’t hear you!” Jenna Lyons shouts at me in a packed, dimly lit party. It’s day one of the Spring 2025 presentations at New York Fashion Week 2024, and we’re gathered at a SoHo fête put on by haircare brand Olaplex. I’m armed with a Notes App list of silly questions and a false sense of confidence, and I’ve just approached the Real Housewives of New York star to ask about her beauty routine. Hyper-aware of the time I’m taking up, I muster the nerve to repeat my question louder. “What’s your top hair tip?” I shout again over blaring music, questioning every decision that has led me to this point. “Sleep with a silk bonnet,” she replies. “It’s a game changer.” I realize I’ve been recording far too zoomed into her face, and the footage is blurry and unusable. New York Fashion Week, here I come.
The Spring 2025 season marks my fourth time attending the renowned event, and this time around, I feel more ready than ever for what’s ahead. Last season, I recorded my findings as a non-famous person at the ultra-exclusive affair. While I’ve learned much from my past stints (never leave the hotel without moisturizer and be prepared to wait in line), I also made a slew of new discoveries during my most recent visit.
Behold: A detailed diary of NYFW from the perspective of perpetually excited yet stressed-out editor.
Ubers are not the answer
Sure, RSVP-ing “yes” to a show every hour on the hour sounds great when you’re building your schedule. (Runway presentations last only 20 minutes, you think as you populate a spreadsheet with reckless abandon.) But when you’re there — and venues are scattered across Manhattan and Brooklyn — getting around is a challenge. (Editor’s note: This advice also applies if you’re simply visiting a big city like NYC or Paris for pleasure and want to shop and eat at a zillion different places — public transit or your trusty two feet are your best mode of transportation.)
Aside from editing down your agenda, the best tip I can offer is to opt for comfortable footwear and be ready to hustle. (My Steve Madden flats and Ecco lace-up ballet sneakers have never steered me wrong.) Sometimes I acquiesce and order an Uber to get from show to show, and it is almost always much slower than if I had just walked or taken transit. However, even if you are delayed, it’s not worth freaking out about. This brings me to my next point.
Time means nothing if you’re famous enough
Every show starts, at the very least, 15 minutes behind schedule. This fashionably late rule has saved me many times. I’ll be stuck in traffic on my way to a show, thinking I’m going to miss it all, only to arrive to a half-empty space.
I’ve also come to learn that for certain high-profile people, start times are more of a friendly suggestion. The runway at Alaïa, for instance, was reportedly held off until Rihanna arrived. Lil’ Kim and Madonna also made overdue entrances at Christian Siriano and Luar, respectively. In basically any other setting, punctuality is key to professionalism. But at New York Fashion Week, being tardy can be trendy. (As long as you’re verified on Instagram, of course.)
The high-low effect is everywhere
One minute you’re eating pain au chocolat at the air conditioned Veronica Beard showroom, perusing the brand’s new line of ’70s-inspired designs. The next, you’re sweatily schlepping your computer bag on a crowded metro platform, desperately trying to make it to a backstage appointment on time. Each day offers a humbling balance of fancy functions with scrappy tasks. And this high-low effect is not just a personal experience — it’s an industry trend.
This season, a report released just before New York Fashion Week 2024 detailed the current economic risks to the industry, and specifically, the support that lesser-known designers need to stay afloat. Interestingly, legacy events seemed more lavish than ever. Ralph Lauren brought VIPs like Usher and First Lady Jill Biden to the Hamptons for an equestrian-themed show, while Tommy Hilfiger held its runway on the Staten Island Ferry for a night of nautical modernity.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming labels proved that magic can be done without top-tier budgets. NYC-based brand Melke turned an empty loft into a whimsical book fair with a scholastic looks that celebrated childish whimsy, while designer Allina Liu’s presentation recreated a creepy cult, complete with a DIY mossy altar. Such resourceful creativity encapsulates fashion week at its best.
A single red lipstick can take you from struggle to slay
Depending on your tastes, the “red lipstick” here can be anything. Your favourite sneakers. A novelty hat. A trusty pair of gold hoops. The point is this is an item that, when added to an outfit, makes your ensemble feel instantly elevated. Over the course of the week, I reach for the Guerlain Rouge G lipstick, a creamy crimson formula that I got from Holt Renfrew. The colour lasts for hours and the case comes with a mini mirror to check as you apply. (Very considerate.)
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Accessories-wise, I keep it simple with my Oliver Peoples sunglasses and a COS sculpted cuff. Sometimes, I’ll tie a ribbon onto my Roots laptop bag to take me from cumbersome commuter to Sandy Liang girl. At New York Fashion Week 2024, it’s the discount DIYs that make all the difference.
You haven’t truly lived until a celebrity shoots you down
The only celeb rendez-vous that was as dazzling as expected was my run-in with Tika the Iggy. (A well-dressed Italian greyhound with a perpetually protruding tongue, for those who are — inexcusably — unaware.) The thing is, celebrities are just people doing their job. I am just a person doing my job. Remembering this has helped me when approaching them in the wild.
@fashionmagazine They say don’t meet your idols… that couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to @tikatheiggy ✨✨✨ Spotted at the #Melke presentation at #NYFW ❤️ #tikatheiggy #italiangreyhound #dogfashionista
At the COS show, Emily Ratajkowski and Chloë Sevigny are chatting chicly together in the front row, and I ask if I can pose them a quick question for this magazine. “Sorry, we’re not doing interviews,” Sevigny says. Her response is not at all mean (boundaries are good, in fact), but it’s enough to make me wish I could evaporate into thin air. “No worries!” I shoot back a little too enthusiastically, before rejoining the crowd of fawning press behind me.
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After the Libertine presentation, I see Martha Stewart. (Sans Snoop Dogg.) Held at Elizabeth Street Garden, a green space downtown that is currently set for development, the show doubled as a statement on preserving nature. Stewart is wearing a satin set festooned with garden motifs. On her way out, I ask her thoughts on the collection. “Several good ideas,” she opines. I will be using this line only when giving feedback for the foreseeable future.
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Before the Coach show begins, everyone is swarming to talk to A-listers as they arrive. I get a moment with Euphoria star Storm Reid, who graciously chats with me about co-star Zendaya, her fashion icks and her OOTD (a Coach set that she describes as “pastel goth chic”). Then, I catch a glimpse of Anna Wintour in her front-row seat, looking on attentively but not over-enthusiastically at the frenzied scene before her. At every show, that laid-back disposition seems to be the powerful editor’s go-to. Perhaps this, I think, is the key to thriving at NYFW.
You’ll leave feeling tired and inspired
Throughout my time at New York Fashion Week 2024, mental clarity is not a state I encounter. (It’s kinda like being at a huge wedding when you’re the maid of honour — it’s a mix of work and joy and you likely black out for some of it.) My photo album is a disorderly mishmash of invitation screenshots, celebrity sightings and runway clips. My tote is stuffed with necessities for on-the-go work and Trader Joe’s carrot sticks for snacking. I am always under-caffeinated and a little disoriented. But I’ve come to realize there’s no better way to do it.
The creativity is energizing, the solidarity among editors is heart-warming and the excitement is palpable. Of course, other occurrences took place that will stick with me for years to come. But for now, with this diary dispatch, I’ll end on a quote from the iconic Miranda Priestly. That’s all.
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