New York Fashion Week has long held the prestige of being one of the foremost fashion events globally.
Arriving like clockwork each February and September, it sparks a month-long extravaganza of runway shows and presentations around New York City. These catwalk spectaculars give a sneak peek into the latest styles and trends envisioned by leading American and international designers for upcoming seasons.
This article unveils the New York Fashion Week 2023.
The Scene
New York Fashion Week spans various venues across Manhattan, but the hub of activity centers on Spring Studios in Tribeca. This is where you’ll find most of the week’s major runway shows and presentations going down. Beyond this, you’ll also find shows happening at art galleries, restaurants, hotels, and historic buildings scattered around the city.
Outside the venues, the streets come alive with fashion insiders dashing between shows: photographers snap model candid and street-style shots of fashionably dressed attendees. Lines queue outside venues, and black cars continuously roll up to drop off editors, buyers, and A-list names, making the Fashion Week rounds.
Once the show begins, phones are put away, and all eyes turn to the runway. The vibe shifts from anticipation to engrossed focus on each look coming down the catwalk. Photographers snap furiously to capture every detail. After the final walk, the applause begins, and the excitement builds for the next show.
The Designers
Over 140 designers presented collections on the New York Fashion Week calendar. Fashion heavyweights like Michael Kors, Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Coach were among the headliners. Younger emerging talents, including LaQuan Smith, Private Policy, Maisie Wilen, and Area, also had a strong showing.
Some of the most buzzed-about collections included:
- Michael Kors’ 40th Anniversary Show – Marking his brand’s milestone, Kors presented an upbeat, glamorous collection filled with luxe fabrics, shimmering metallics, sequins, and nods to disco. Bella and Gigi Hadid walked the finale.
- Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy – The sister duo staged an ethereal show inspired by films like “Don’t Look Now” and “The Hunger,” with romantic gowns featuring ruffles, lace, and floral appliqués.
- Prabal Gurung’s Fierce Femininity – Gurung sent models down the runway in bold, vibrant looks proclaiming messages like “Who Gets to Be American?” and “Caste Kills.” The collection emphasized empowerment and activism.
- Tom Ford’s Sultry Vibes – Ultra-glam met Mod 60s, with plunging necklines, retro silhouettes, metallic shine, and provocative cut-outs in Ford’s opulent new designs. Gigi Hadid closed the sensual show.
Diverse Runways
This season saw greater model diversity on the NYFW runways. While progress is still being made, many designers featured more models of color than in previous years. Plus-size models like Precious Lee also had a strong presence.
Colorism was addressed by the non-profit The Balm and agency The Salt with their #BlackIsColorful campaign. Numerous models of darker skin tones, such as Sergio Hudson, Rui Zhou and Private Policy, walked in shows.
Transgender models walked for brands, including Tom Ford. Breakout transgender model Aaron Philip made her NYFW debut for PH5. A record five Bangladeshi models also participated this season.
Standout Beauty Looks
Fashion Week is a beauty lover’s paradise, with showgoers and models debuting experimental hair and makeup looks on the streets and runways. Some of the biggest beauty trends for FW23 included:
- Euphoric Color – Vibrant, saturated hues in eyeshadow, eyeliner, and lips popped up at shows like Christian Siriano, Prabal Gurung, and LaQuan Smith. Reds, hot pinks, cobalt blues, violets, and chartreuse dazzled.
- Graphic Liner – Edgy, artistic liner with graphic shapes, points, and negative space stole the spotlight at Anna Sui, Eckhaus Latta, and Christian Cowan. Floating cut-crease shadows added dimension.
- Sleek Hair – Polished yet unfussy hair was seen on runways like Ulla Johnson, Altuzarra, and Gabriela Hearst. Middle parts, low buns, and slicked-back styles let the clothes shine. The glossy, glass-like texture was an essential finish.
- Exaggerated Twiggy Lashes – Oversized false lashes extended far beyond the eyes at shows like Duo117, LaQuan Smith, and Private Policy. Paired with a bold lip, the look channeled 60s icons like Twiggy.
Celebrity Sightings
As expected, the front rows were brimming with famous faces supporting designer friends and taking in the latest fashions. At the NYFW shows were stars like Katie Holmes, Brooke Shields, Vanessa Hudgens, Heidi Klum, Kerry Washington, Lil Kim, Debbie Harry, Camila Cabello, Anna Wintour and Kris Jenner.
Key Trends For Fall/Winter 2023
While each designer presented their unique perspective, a few common seasonal trends emerged from the collective NYFW runways:
- Luxe Cozy – Tactile raw fabrics like mohair, bouclé, alpaca, and shearling blended comfort with high-end luxury. Textural outerwear garments and plush knits were standouts.
- Glam Grunge – Edgy grunge detailing like shredded denim, distressed knits, and deconstructed tailoring was juxtaposed with ultra-glamorous fabrics, metallics, and sequins for an unexpected combo.
- Electric Color – Pop brights and neon give a jolt of energy. Hot pink, acid green and cyan blue provide a bold contrast to moody darks. Colorblocking also pops.
- 1990s Nostalgia – Slip dresses, minimalism, and retro references channel the decade, as seen at Coach, Ulla Johnson, Khaite, and Peter Do.
- Artful Cut-Outs – Precise laser-cut-outs reveal strategic slivers of skin in dresses, tops, and bodysuits for a hint of provocation, as seen at LaQuan Smith, Tom Ford, and Gabriela Hearst.
Conclusion
These trends provide insight into what silhouettes, colors, fabrics, and details we can expect to see in stores this fall and winter. NYFW kicks off the global fashion calendar, influencing forthcoming seasons in other fashion capitals.
With that, the curtain closes on another successful New York Fashion Week. The biannual event continues to showcase the world’s fashion future – where we’ll glean our next wardrobe desires, discover new design talent, and revel in creativity and innovative artistry through the universal language of style.
