What Was Learnt From NYFW By Majorie Harvey.

New York Fashion Week was electrifying this season! There was a vision, vigor, vibrancy, and valor that seemed to inspire bold collections, a reinvigorated street style, and a sensational social scene. There seemed to be a fever in the air beckoning and challenging us all to “bring it” in a stylishly focused way.




New York City took back its rightful title of originator of the industry’s semi-annual event (now replicated in numerous cities across the world), by reinventing several key elements of how shows are normally presented. As a result, I’m sure the fashion industry, as well as pop culture, will never be the same.


Here were a couple of notable changes that I noticed this past week:
1. A changing of the rules – Givenchy, the well known French haute couture fashion house showed in New York City. This was a first. Typically each fashion week (i.e. London, Paris, Milan, etc.) is a showcase of the specific city’s consortium of indigenous design houses. There has often been this long-standing perception in fashion that the French, with their Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter (the council that holds the highest standards for garment design and construction, authenticating true haute couture, of which Givenchy is a member), holds more superior showcases. But the intermingling of French and American fashion brought a new level of caché to the international forum. It also shined a brighter spotlight on the numerous American celebrities who have recently brought new notoriety to the brand. What a wonderful exchange!

2. A deeper meaning behind the work – More than a mere love of clothes, New York Fashion Week is a celebration of fashion as an art form. All artist live to create beautiful things, to make statements, and to provoke thought. Fashion designers are no different. We saw everything from the riveting tribute honoring casualties of 9/11, to an explosion of natural hair worn by African-American models on countless runways. Even the quality of craftsmanship and design in ready-to-wear took on a more intensified artistic tone.
3. An art for the people – Lastly, it was not only what was shown on catwalks throughout the city, but how these fabulous fashions were shown. Perhaps more than any prior fashion week anywhere, the content of these shows was the most accessible. There were live online viewings, re-broadcasts shown on public monitors throughout the city, as well as highlights posted everywhere on social media by some of the industry’s biggest insiders. No longer are the coming looks and trends reserved only for the viewing pleasure of a privileged few.  In this day and age, everyone is invited (virtually, at the very least) to the style party!

In last week’s Couture Chronicles, I mentioned how NYFW never gets old. I think the city that never sleeps solidified that its industry hallmark is, without question, innovation. Let’s all follow suit.


*The images featured here are a recap of some of Marjorie’s most revered looks from this past New York Fashion Week.
Source: Theladylovescouture.