Stellar Shows from NYFW

A lot of big names in the fashion world were missing from this February’s New York Fashion Week, including Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs. This is not to say, however, that there was a lack of innovative and entertaining runway shows. This season’s NYFW saw everything from a holographic fashion show to looks made from literal garbage! This article highlights four of the most interesting and exciting shows from NYFW.

MAISIE WILEN

Fairly new to the fashion world, Maisie Schloss founded Maisie Wilen in 2019. For this NYFW runway show, Schloss took a digital approach. Those who attended the Maisie Wilen show experienced NYFW’s first hologram fashion show. Instead of physical models walking down a runway, videos of 7-foot-tall holographic models adorned the space. Schloss’ vision for the show was to play with the idea of reality. Attendees experienced the show in real time, yet the models were pre-recorded on a loop. This digital approach is also a nod to how Maisie Schloss runs the label. All the signature prints are designed digitally, and digital promotion is a big part of how the label is run. It is also worth noting that this collection was in collaboration with Monster High. The models’ makeup and accessories were made to match the popular Monster High dolls. With the theme of questioning reality, virtual models, and a nod to Monster High, this show contained many layers.

COACH

Coach is one of the bigger names in the fashion world to attend this season’s NYFW. Stuart Vevers, Coach’s head designer, mentioned the line was inspired by a feeling of love, so it’s fitting that the show fell on Valentine’s Day. Ververs' goal was to create a scene “somewhere in America” depicting love. The show featured a suburban backdrop, complete with a basketball hoop, row of houses, and people acting out mundane activities like riding bikes and carrying groceries. The pieces displayed on the runway included shearling outerwear, leather chokers, wrap skirts, and crochet babydoll dresses. Instead of one overarching theme between the clothing designs, Vevers opted for several small groups of cohesive designs.

CHRISTIAN SIRIANO

Designer Christian Siriano debuted his new collection at the perfect NYFW location- the Empire State Building. A star-studded event, everyone from Alicia Silverstone to Drew Barrymore was in attendance. Tika the Iggy, an Instagram-famous dog, even made an appearance to view the show. Siriano titled this collection “Victorian Matrix,” a nod to the strange times we currently live in. This collection was designed with a specific question in mind- “What is real anymore?” The designs themselves included a mix of fabrics and textures. Denim, shiny leather, lace, and velvet were all present in the show. Various shades of blue also graced the runway, including light blue, cobalt blue, and navy blue. Model Coco Rocha ended the show donning the stunning finale dress- a lace, quilted ball gown featuring a unique hood.

INSTINCT BRAND (ANNA MOLINARI)

Up-and-coming sustainable designer Anna Molinari has been building Instinct Brand since she was a teen. Molinari began selling jewelry in high school, then pivoted to selling upcycled game day gear in college. During the start of the pandemic, Molinari began experimenting with different materials and turning trash (everything from old newspapers to Juul pods) into works of art. This season’s NYFW was not only her first fashion week show, but also her first ever runway show in general! This collection was inspired by the dirtiness of New York City. One stunning piece from the show that highlights this theme was a corset made from food wrappers, receipts, soda can tabs, and old Metro cards. Molinari also designed this line to bring awareness to the textile industry’s harmful impact on the environment, along with the crisis that is plastic pollution. A statement vest donning the words “UNFUCK THE WORLD” encapsulates the essence of this collection.