It was from the moment Kim Jones, the London-based creative director of Fendi, pulled down his own huge silk curtain and music blared that New York Fashion Week truly began.
Usually Fendi shows, which are held in Milan, attract a stellar crowd by any measure, but on Friday the great and good from New York and afar gathered in the 12,000-square-foot Hammerstein Ballroom for something special.
To mark the 25th anniversary of Fendi’s legendary Baguette handbag, Jones enlisted the help of fellow designer Marc Jacobs to create a no-holds-barred, runway extravaganza to celebrate the moment in high style — and oh, was it a starry affair.
Leading the front row, as Sex and The City fans might well have expected, was Sarah Jessica Parker. The actress helped launch the handbag into its pop culture status during the mugging scene in the series, which sees her held at gunpoint and asked for her bag, to which she replied: “It’s a baguette.”
She took her place next to Kim Kardashian, who wore a skin tight, sparkling panneled Fendi dress, and American TV personality LaLa Anthony who opted for a pink, shearling jacket and Fendi monogram boots.
Designer Jones also welcomed his set of supermodel friends. Kate Moss joined the likes of Christy Turlington, Amber Valletta and Shalom Harlow to cheer on her daughter Lila as she opened the show and their friend Linda Evangelista, who came out to close it.
Londoners Adwoa Aboah and Lily Allen also showed up to support Jones, who studied at Central Saint Martins before rising through fashion’s ranks.
Also taking place on Friday was Proenza Schouler. The NYC-based brand saw models Karen Elson, Emily Ratajkowski and Karlie Kloss gather to watch Bella Hadid strut in a golden knitted dress, while up at the World Trade Center, Rebel Wilson joined John Travolta’s daughter Ella Bleu in eyeing up Kate Spade’s latest collection.
Over the weekend, it was Julia Fox who made a splash in city. At Elena Valez’s show on Saturday, the upcoming designer welcomed Kanye West’s ex with a welcome plus one - her 20-month-old son, Valentino. The mother and child duo both wore Valez looks for the show, though Valentino stole focus with a pair of black baby Crocs. Undeniably chic.
On Sunday, Fox left the F’row and joined the field as as walked for Tommy Hilfiger in torrential rain. She was not short of fans to cheer her on, though. Kate Moss posed with her daughter’s best friend and model Stella Jones on arrival, before taking her seat next to singer Shawn Mendes. The Kardashian-clan counting Kris and Kourtney also braved the weather to support the latter’s musican husband Travis Barker, who took to an on-stage drum set during the show.
Earlier in the day, highlights included the Ulla Johnson show which saw Vice President Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter Ella Emhoff take a pew, as well as Prabal Gurung who welcomed Anna Wintour and Drag Race star Milk to enjoy his latest collection.
Well known as the most influential person in fashion, Anna Wintour decided to take runway matters into her own hands on Monday evening with a seminal ‘Vogue World’ catwalk. Congregating for the Met Gala version of a runway, the editor-in-chief of the glossy fashion magazine welcomed Kanye West, Jared Leto and Doja Cat to see the best of last season’s AW22 designs worn by an A-list model roster.
First up? Serena Williams, who is currently on the cover of US Vogue’s September issue, where she dropped the bombshell 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 he jumped up to perform his song Industry Baby. Safe to say, the fashion industry was out in full force to enjoy it.
New York Fashion Week’s final day secured the SS23 season’s status as its starriest in years. To the delight of The Devil Wears Prada’s fanatics, Anne Hathaway, who played Andrea Sachs, the hard working assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep’s character infamously based on Anna Wintour), took her seat next to the Vogue editor at the Michael Kors show. Her brown polo neck and leather jacket appeared to be an homage to one of her on-screen outfits, sending the internet into a frenzy.
And Tuesday evening saw Tom Ford, who brought sparkling, sexy style to fashion’s forefront in the early noughties, give NYFW’s conclusion his razzle-dazzle touch. Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Leon joined the Peltz-Beckhams on the front row for a 46-look collection, with lamé tailoring, fringed lilac cowboy shirts and sporty silhouettes. Gigi and Bella Hadid then closed the show with star power, stomping down in cut-out, sequinned ball gowns.
