You could be forgiven for thinking NYFW is the place to see fashionable clothes being worn. After all, isn’t that where the world’s fashionerati gather to celebrate in our awesome city twice a year? Yes and no. New York, possibly more than the other international fashion weeks, is the place where bloggers, instagrammers, friends of friends and so forth come to be seen. The result is a style smorgasbord that certainly bears no relation to what is being sold on the 4th floor at Barneys new location or, say, the Prada boutique downtown. Instead, the poor journalists bartering with Celine for one pair of cherished shoes mingle with the store buyers pilfering from the sample cupboard. This crowd of dowdily dressed, sometimes cash-strapped insiders look down a little at the fancy dress parade of students and wannabes dressed in, well, fancy dress. All of these folks are in turn, ever so slightly ignored by the golden circle of so-influential they get it for free style stars, who wear the most camera-catching versions of the latest looks. Nothing on show at NYFW reveals the Ready To Wear clothing that those who can afford it, actually buy and regularly wear.
Cue the Art Show, if any reminders are needed. The modern art preview evening is the place to see RTW on display. Here are the people with the cash, interest and access to runway fashion and thank goodness. This lot not only support the valuable arts scene but they keep the fashion boat afloat too. Anyone seeking ideas for throwing together their Marni, Dries or Vetements need look no further. It is all happening here. Or it certainly was at last night’s Armory VIP preview. My thoughts went something like this, “So this is where all the big Celine bags went! Ah…I wondered who, besides me, is buying those Vetements tracksuit pants.. I now need MASSIVE 1975-style reading glasses or I am over.” And so on, I am a follower, mea culpa. Of course, the art was fascinating and entertaining, beautiful and thoughtsome but TBH, what I noticed most were the clothes. SORRY.