by It was from the moment Kim Jones, the London-based creative director of Fendi, lowered his massive silk curtain and the music came on, that New York Fashion Week really kicked off.
Usually, Fendi shows, held in Milan, draw a stellar crowd by any measure, but on Friday the great and good from New York and afar gathered at the 12,000-square-foot Hammerstein Ballroom for something special.
To mark the 25th anniversary of Fendi’s legendary Baguette bag, Jones enlisted the help of fellow designer Marc Jacobs to create a no-holds-barred runway extravaganza to celebrate the moment in grand style and oh, it was a star-studded affair.
Heading the front row, as Sex and The City fans might well have expected, was Sarah Jessica Parker. The actress helped launch the bag to her pop culture status during the mugging scene in the series, in which she is held at gunpoint and asked for her bag, to which she replies: “It’s a baguette”.
She took her place alongside Kim Kardashian, who wore a skintight, glitter-panelled Fendi dress, and American TV personality LaLa Anthony, who opted for a pink shearling jacket and Fendi monogrammed boots.
Designer Jones also welcomed his group of supermodel friends. Kate Moss joined the likes of Christy Turlington, Amber Valletta and Shalom Harlow in cheering on her daughter Lila hers when she opened the show and her friend Linda Evangelista who came out to close it.
Londoners Adwoa Aboah and Lily Allen also turned up to support Jones, who studied at Central Saint Martins before rising through the fashion ranks.
On Friday also took place Proenza Schouler. The New York-based label saw models Karen Elson, Emily Ratajkowski and Karlie Kloss gather to watch Bella Hadid strut her stuff in a gold knit dress, while at the World Trade Center Rebel Wilson was joined by John’s daughter Travolta, Ella Bleu, to check out the latest Kate Spade collection. .
Over the weekend, it was Julia Fox who caused a sensation in the city. At the Elena Valez show on Saturday, the designer-to-be welcomed Kanye West’s ex with a welcome plus one: her 20-month-old son, Valentino. The mother-son duo wore looks by Valez to the show, though Valentino turned heads in a pair of baby black Crocs. Undeniably elegant.
On Sunday, Fox left the F’row and joined the field as he walked for Tommy Hilfiger in pouring rain. However, she had no shortage of fans to cheer her on. Kate Moss posed with her daughter’s best friend and model, Stella Jones, upon her arrival, before sitting next to singer Shawn Mendes. The Kardashian clan which includes Kris and Kourtney also braved the weather to support the latter’s musician husband, Travis Barker, who took the stage with drum kit during the show.
Earlier in the day, highlights included the Ulla Johnson show in which Vice President Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter Ella Emhoff took a bench, as well as Prabal Gurung, who welcomed Anna Wintour and the star of Drag Race, Milk, to enjoy his latest collection.
Known as the most influential person in fashion, Anna Wintour decided to take runway matters into her own hands on Monday night with a seminal ‘Vogue World’ runway show. Gathering for the Met Gala version of a runway runway, the glossy fashion magazine’s editor-in-chief welcomed Kanye West, Jared Leto and Doja Cat to see the best of last season’s AW22 looks worn by a list A-list models.
For the first time? Serena Williams, who is currently on the cover of the September issue of US Vogue, where she dropped the bombshell that she is retiring from her tennis career. Lil Nas X also cheered on the likes of Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and newlyweds Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz-Beckham as they walked, before jumping in to perform her Industry Baby song. It’s safe to say that the fashion industry came out in full force of it to enjoy it.
The last day of New York Fashion Week secured the status of the SS23 season as the most stellar in years. To the delight of The Devil Wears Prada fans, Anne Hathaway, who played Andrea Sachs, the hard-working assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep’s character infamously based on Anna Wintour), took a seat next to the Vogue editor at the show. by Michael Kors. Her brown polo neck and leather jacket appeared to be an homage to one of her on-screen outfits, sparking an internet frenzy.
And on Tuesday night, Tom Ford, who brought the shiny, sexy look to the forefront of fashion in the early 2000s, gave the NYFW conclusion his glitzy spin. Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Leon joined the Peltz-Beckhams in the front row for a collection of 46 looks, featuring lamé tailoring, fringed lilac denim shirts and sporty silhouettes. Gigi and Bella Hadid then closed out the show with star power, stomping around in cutout and sequined ball gowns.
Scroll through the gallery above to see the best of the front row.
