NEW YORK—The fall 2014 international fashion week kicked off in New York on Thursday.
Twice a year, Lincoln Center becomes a hub around which designers, buyers, photographers, and fashionistas revolve and soak in the newest trends. More than 90 designers will present their fall/winter 2014 collections in New York, joined by over 3 million fashion consumers globally until Feb. 13.
This February, some designers chose to also fashion their own runways, away from the Lincoln Center to show their collections in less run-of-the-mill surrounds. The fact that New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is literally spread throughout the whole city favors the designers’ creative visions, but buyers and spectators will have to take it all in stride as they zigzag from show to show.
Thanks to Alexander Wang, fashion week attendees will be heading to the Navy Yards in Brooklyn while Diane Von Furstenberg chose the Spring Studios on Varick Street near Canal Street for her show.
If you are planning to attend the shows, brace yourself—it’s cold. The challenge will be to keep warm, be ready to travel across town and back, and, of course, be fashionable.
We were curious to discover the secrets of looking fashionable from head to toe, while keeping warm. Because, let’s be honest, in this weather, neither Armani nor Chanel is enough to keep warm.
“Dressing up, layering and fur. A fur is always a good touch,” said Rasheem Wilkins in an Armani suit on his way to the BCBGMAXAZRIA show at The Theatre at Lincoln Center.
Charlotte Mao from Hong Kong revealed her secret. “Lots of hi-tech. Everything I’m wearing underneath is hi-tech. It is my love and life-saver,” said Mao wearing a black kilt.
“I took my dad’s 20-year-old gloves,” said professional photographer Skylar Williams, showing his hands. For people like him, fashion week doesn’t finish in the Big Apple. It lasts a whole month and involves traveling across the Atlantic to shoot the European shows in Paris, Milan, and London. “I shoot all the shows, so I´ll stay pretty busy. I´ll be in all the cities for the next month,” said Williams before the Nicholas K. show.
The good news about all the traveling is that NYFW will introduce completely new spaces to sustain the growing needs of fashion shows.
The Pavilion and The Hub at Hudson are two new venues just minutes from the Tents at Lincoln Center, where emerging talents such as J. Crew and Ruffian will be featured. The Event Lobby will also be redesigned as a comfortable place for business and networking—vital components of NYFW.
NYFW brings much to look forward to. Diane von Furstenberg for IMG Fashion said in a press release, “New York City is the epicenter of fashion and the redesigned Mercedes Benz Fashion Week District will show off all of the talent and culture that is seen throughout the entire city.”
