New York City is world-famous for so many things. The Manhattan skyline, trendy Brooklyn, pizza by the slice, and unbelievable culture – the Big Apple has it all. Did you know you can take a cruise from NYC? Well, it’s famous for that too, with exotic cruise destinations aplenty and over 1 million people departing from Manhattan Cruise Terminal every year.
But if New York is most famous for one thing only, it is its style, and more specifically its high fashion.
The Coronavirus pandemic disrupted New York’s iconic Fashion Week for two full seasons, with shows taking place virtually over the last 18 months. But September 2021 marked the return of in-person shows, and NYC Fashion Week 2021 came back with a bang!
So to celebrate the return of one of the most important dates on the world’s fashion calendar, here’s a rundown of the long-awaited return of New York City’s Fashion Week 2021.
When was it?
New York Fashion Week ran from the 8th to the 12th of September, although some designers started showing early, on the 7th. The show kicked off on Tuesday with Sukeina, Collina Strada, and Christian Siriano, and launched officially on Wednesday with Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Callas Milano, and Marrisa Wilson. The show came to a close on Sunday with Tom Ford.
Where was it?
While the last two editions of NYC Fashion Week have been virtual, September 2021 was the first in-person show since February 2020. Designers presented their Spring/Summer 2022 collections across a variety of unique and iconic venues across the city, including The Empire State Building, Gotham Hall, Spring Studios, and Highline Stages. Given the current situation, some designers still chose to show virtually, so there was a large digital element to NYC Fashion Week 2021 as well.
How was it different this year?
Although the event was back in person for the first time since February 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic it did look rather different than in previous years. Designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Vivienne Hu, Barragan, and Kimberley Goldson chose to stay virtual for their shows, adding a digital twist to the week. The number of attendees at in-person shows and presentations was limited, and everyone involved had to show proof of full vaccination status, from guests to models and stylists, and all backstage staff. The CLEAR app allowed attendees to create a digital vaccine card to enable an easier and more streamlined way of demonstrating this. Mask use was strongly encouraged at all indoor events.
What were the highlights?
Natural themes were huge, with Jason Wu’s blossom-smudged cottons and Altuzzara’s scarf dresses the standouts. Americana was also in great supply, with Tory Burch, Brandon Maxwell, and Prabal Gurung going all retro and trad. One of the most significant trends of the whole show was the bra top, which made an appearance on almost every runway and at every show. From Maryam Nassir Zadeh to Michael Kors, this humble piece formed the basis of some of the Week’s biggest hits.
Which brands were on show?
All the big names from Ulla Johnson to Tom Ford attended, including designers like Tadashi Shoji, Rebecca Minkoff, Anna Sui, and Jonathan Simkhai amongst many others. One notable return was Jeremy Scott with Moschino.
Which celebrities attended?
As the week coincided with the Met Gala, it was a bumper year for celebrity attendees. Lea Michelle attended DUNCAN NY, Ciara went to Dundas, Katie Holmes attended Christian Siriano, and Camila Mendes was at Collina Strada.
The return of NYC Fashion Week is a huge moment for the fashion world, and we look forward to the exciting times and styles of 2022 with great excitement!
