Fashion History : Best of New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week is back and bigger than ever, nearly two years after its final in-person presentation. New York Fashion Week is back in one of its most anticipated seasons in over five years. Despite the fact that COVID-19 has been playing with the traditional fashion calendar and fashion industry for the previous two years. This September will undoubtedly go down in fashion history. We’re looking forward to seeing what designers come up with, but before that lets take a last look at the best of New York Fashion Week SS21, and AW21. the American Collections Calendar 2021
1. Best interview
Before the release of his Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection, LeQuan Smith sat down with Justin Sylvester for conversation that included subjects from clothing today’s pop-culture celebrities to a LaQuan Smith x Puma collaboration. Smith said this about his new line, “I wanted to design a collection that embraced what I do and who I am”. The luxurious fashion designer and creator of womenswear apparel company LaQuan Smith LLC will walk his Spring/Summer 2022 runway line across the Empire State Building, making it the landmark’s first fashion show in its 90-year history! Watch the interview here :
https://app.nyfw.com/video/205238/in-conversation-with-laquan-smith?playlistId=4769
2. Best Runway Presentation
Jason Wu, like last season, kicked off New York Fashion Week with a live physical runway presentation, while everyone else fell into digital norm. The Taiwanese Canadian designer was one of the first to exhibit for the Fall/Winter 2021 season, and one of the only designers that restored the genuine NYFW experience, presenting his collection in a socially distant runway modeled as a grocery store presentation with face masks and a live broadcast accompaniment.
His collection converted a retail space in NYC’s NoHo into “Mr. Wu’s General Store” with models dressed in vibrant floral designs and hues surrounded by baskets and crates of flowers and veggies (which were later donated to City Harvest, a non-profit that provides food to New Yorkers in need). Coca-Cola was a show partner, which explains the entrance tower of glass Coke bottles.
Wu referred to his New England background as an inspiration, primarily since he’s spent so much time in Connecticut under lockdown, adding that he wanted to highlight fashion that feels right now, not in the distant future. Wu revealed cooking was his creative outlet in quarantine, so he hired the Chef’s Warehouse to fill the room with fresh vegetables and offered his visitors tote bags to pick up after the event.
3. Best Digital Presentation
The AW21 collection film by Studio 189 is all about honoring the brand’s employees and making them feel seen. The collection is shown in process at the Ghanaian studio before being delivered to a front row of employees, one of whom, Lydia Mensah, recounts her tale. The film transports the spectator to Ghana, to the room where the clothing is manufactured, and it demonstrates the influence of fashion beyond consumption and storytelling. Rather, it speaks to the worth of work and the connection of all of us, and it does so with an abundance of Studio 189’s trademark. The newest collection delves into the topic of heritage. One way it is represented is through the usage of Kente, Ghana’s national textile linked with monarchy that is literally weaved with tradition and symbols. We look forward to Studio 189’s newest collection for NYFW.
4. Best collection Look
Chuks Collin’s hand placed lace embroidered couture dream dress from his February 2021 Fashion Week Collection. Miss Universe Andrea Meza wore the dress at a welcome dinner at Ciudad Juárez in July.
5. Best Street style Trend
Corset. Bridgerton has seized control of everything, even fashion trends, and with that. Bridgerton impacted an increase in internet searches for corsets. Corsets have been trending on social media since then. TikTok, of course, is on the rise. Videos concerning this fashion item have received a total of 1 billion views, ranging from challenges to instructional. The Lingerie Trend We Thought Would Die in 2020 Is still slaying. If 2020 was the year of cottage style corset, then 2021 will be the year of royal style corset, or dressing in feminine attire influenced by Regency, Rococo, and Renaissance-era fashion.
Monochromatic Dressing. Street style photographers are drawn to monochromatic outfits. This season, showgoers are combining the trend with voluminous ensembles, making it stand out even more on the street. While these monochromatic ensembles are some of the greatest fashions from 2021, monochrome isn’t a new trend. Monochromatic outfits were popular among style luminaries such as Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. For years, it’s been a classic fashion style, and there’s no denying it’s making a huge resurgence right now.
Miniature Bags. Tiny purses are a huge trend at New York Fashion Week, demonstrating that this trend has outlived its roots, with several models donning designs by Jacquemus and Opening Ceremony X Telfar, among others, to go with their outfits. Though 2019 was the year the tiny bag sprang to prominence and captured our hearts, the trend shows no signs of abating.