Opinion: My Experience with NYFW
By Markel Collins
New York is considered to be the heartbeat of America, for an outsider looking in such as myself I never truly understood what all of the hype was about. Can one city really be that great? Can one city really be that diverse? Does it really produce that much energy amongst people? These are all questions that I had and it is safe to say that I got those questions answered.
New York Fashion Week is arguably one of the most anticipated fashion events in the world. When you are entering a space such as this one there is a lot of excitement, nervousness, and curiosity.
Night one started off with a content creators party called, “The After Party”. This was a night that was filled with good vibes and a lot of organic connections.
At the start of day two I thought that it was more than necessary to do some sight seeing. Being able to see the space where the twin towers once stood was a very surreal experience.
It was one of those things that you would always hear about and constantly learn about but it doesn’t become real until you are actually standing there. I then proceed to go to see the Statue of Liberty. I didn’t take the boat tour towards Ellis Island but seeing it from a distance was just as impactful.
Later that day it was finally time to experience the first show that was being put on by “The Society.”
This show began with a live performance that led into some of the most luxurious fashion pieces that you are going to see. From stylish business attire, suits made for the ladies, to extravagant wedding and gala dresses that grab the attention of the entire room. This night was then completed with an amazing team dinner at “The Chelsea House.”
Day three began with a lot of much needed recovery from day two, the first show on the docket for day three was the “Small Boutique Fashion Show”. This show included three different designers that showcased a slew of looks from luxury streetwear, swimwear, and even some African Shiekh looks.
Immediately after this it was time for “The Noir” fashion show. This was the last and most unique show experience of them all. We arrived at this beautiful boutique hotel and we were escorted to the very top floor. All of the guests lined up down the hall against the walls as the models came out of a room. This was happening simultaneously on the top three floors as they were all completely rented out.
After this show ended it was finally time to step outside of Manhattan. After taking about a 45 minute commute on the subway I stepped out into Brooklyn and I was greeted by the smell of Popeyes and police sirens. Seeing graffiti all over the walls as well as beautiful murals that represented latin culture, immediately let me know what a cultural hub that Brooklyn truly is.
The party that I attended was something that I have never experienced and quite frankly I didn’t think that these types of parties still existed in today’s day and age. What do I mean by that? Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves and no one was on their phones. It was amazing to see everyone living in the moment.
With the DJ being the center of attention and controlling the mood of the party, it made me understand in a real way how and why New York is the birthplace of Hip Hop. Hearing the DJ break new records with new sounds was something that was pretty foreign to me.
Finishing off my last day having brunch followed by overpriced drinks on a rooftop bar really put the cherry on top of the trip. I never saw myself wanting to live in New York but it did in fact answer all of my questions. NY is as great, diverse, and energy filled as it is hyped up to be.
