New York Fashion Week
Ahead of London Fashion Week, Open's Sarah Young has been elbowing editors, DJ-ing and weeping with joy across the pond in New York.
NEW YORK IS BEAUTIFUL! I think that’s a pretty apt sentence to start with. What I love is that when you drive in from the airport the tall, almost frighteningly overbearing but rather beautiful buildings entice you into the gates of the city, but the two beams of light where the twin towers once were remind you of how delicate and vulnerable this city really is.
Anyway enough poetry. I am here for fashion week and I cannot wait to get my fashion fix. See, some people take drugs, some people drink alcohol, some are addicted to smoking, but with me, fashion week is an addiction that rears its beautiful head twice a year around September and February. Now its September, its time to get my first New York fashion week fix!
My first show was Rosa Cha, I think the PR’s over packed the guest list because people where physically elbowing each other out of the way to get to the front of the queue. At one point I thought one fashion writer was going to take her sharp Manolo Blanik stiletto and gouge someone’s eyes out, that would have been fun to see.
So after a bit more elbowing and being shoved out the way by one editor who shall remain namesless ( don’t worry it wasn’t Anna Wintour, she’s my girl!) it was time for the show. What really stood out for me were the accessories. I loved the bright orange turbans and Andy Warhol esque sunglasses. Plus the clever use of stripes and lines, which unlike other swimwear brands, I could see looking decent on a curvy figure.
An hour later and Jet lag or not, it was time for my DJ set at the Dressing Room Boutique and Bar, which is on the road where all the cool boutiques have set up home- Orchard Street, downtown NYC. I loved the gig, they even put a sign outside with DJ SARAH YOUNG scrawled across it J - albeit in chalk. It was amazing to DJ on my first night in NYC and I loved how when I dropped UK musicians and tracks into the mix like Dizzee Rascal and Funky house musician Kyla, everyone got up and was dancing whilst asking me who the heck I was playing, I think I even explained what grime ( a genre of music) was to a pretty girl in ripped fishnet tights- she promised to look it up on Youtube.
Finally at 2am I was done (remember it was 7am in my head) so I staggered home, oh yes forgot to tell you guys, home is The Palace Hotel, who kindly hooked me up with a SICK room, with the most beautiful view, like. err. Ever, which made me quite emotional. I don’t know if it was the jetlag or the fact I was 20 storeys up and I had a floor to ceiling window (people look like ants from up here!!) but I nearly cried when I first saw the view. The Palace also kindly delivered some goodies including a nice bottle of champers. God bless America!
So day 2! OUCH OUCH. Jetlag really isn’t pretty. But no time to hang around, I had to be at Bryant Park for noon to see the Twinkle by Wenlan show.
Now, coffee and paracetamol might be an obvious choice to cure jetlag and a headache, however I don’t response as well to caffeine and painkillers as I do fashion. This show proved to be the best type of jetlag medicine . The models’ hair was sort of backcombed and curled and worn long and elegantly cascading down their backs, the models themselves were delicate looking with pale skin and red stained lips.
The collection was apparently inspired by Yoko Ono’s style with a dash of 80’s pop star Blondie’s attitude. Strong pieces of the collection which stood out for me most were the white ivory dresses with strong black bold details along the neckline. I also noticed again that the patterns were dominated with strong lines and stripes, and this reminded me of Basso and Brooke’s last LFW collection.
After the show I sneaked backstage and asked Wenlan if she was relieved that the show was done. She said it had been hard work, but the final result was worth it and that she was pretty ecstatic. So she should be, it was a beautiful show that seems to capture the typical New York woman. Beautiful and bold!
Read Sarah's blog here
