CULTURE

New York Fashion Week Shortens Schedule to Become an Actual Week

The CFDA has shortened New York Fashion Week by a day, trimming the schedule to an actual seven days.


Calvin Klein Collection - Runway RTW - Fall 2017 - New York Fashion Week
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Don’t let the “week” in New York Fashion Week fool you. Sure, the standard meaning of a week may be seven days, but in recent years NYFW has expanded to an eight-day official schedule. Of course, there’s always more than a few unofficial shows and events the day before the unofficial kickoff, and for the busiest (or thirstiest) fashionistas there’s always something to do the night before that. Meaning that, for some, the “week” can turn into a 10-day slog (and never mind the VIPs who have to shuttle off to the London, Milan and Paris week — all of varying lengths — afterwards).

Well, the Council of Fashion Designers of America has decided that the “week” in the title should no longer be an approximation. They’re cutting the official schedule back a day to just seven starting with the Spring 2017 shows scheduled for next September.

Marc Jacobs will keep his traditional closing event status, but his show will be moved from Thursday to Wednesday, September 13th at 6 p.m. Calvin Klein will official kick off events a week before on Thursday, September 7th.

It’s the latest sign that the CFDA is cracking down on scheduling excess. Last season, the organization got into a tiff with Kanye West after he decided to plop down his latest Yeezy showing last minute in the middle of Fashion Week with no respect for the rest of the shows. West had pulled similar stunts in the past, but the CFDA finally spoke up and eventually both parties worked out the scheduling conflicts.

The schedule tightening also comes as New York has lost some of its signature shows (at least for the time being). Hometown hero Proenza Schouler is relocating to Paris next season where it will join Rodarte who made the jump last season. Hood By Air, meanwhile, is now on “hiatus.” Others, like Tommy Hilfiger and Rebecca Minkoff, showed in Los Angeles last season (though, it’s not for certain that they won’t return). Opening Ceremony, meanwhile, has gone completely off the traditional calendar.

Though, next NYFW will see one return. After skipping last season and abandoning his “see now, buy now” experiment, Tom Ford will once again show in New York Fashion Week. He’ll close out the opening Thursday.

The CFDA says they hope the move means that there will be a stronger concentration of shows on each day. “It’s important to have strong opening and closing shows,” CFDA VP of Marketing Marc Beckham tells WWD. “But it’s just as important to have strong designers showing everyday.”

Related: Philipp Plein Vows to “Make NYFW Great Again,” Succeeds at Doing it His Way

New York’s Best Street Style Gets a Technicolor, Electrified, Animated Treatment:

The Best of New York Fashion Week Fall 2017

Jacobs was inspired by the documentary Hip-Hop Evolution, and his fall collections melded Marc-isms and touches of 90s era hip-hop style. His inspiration came through loud and clear in this Jenny from the block fur hoodie and baggy pant.

Randy Brooke

Kors offered up many a dress with animal spots and fringe, but a favorite look was not as loud – this undone blouse and calf-grazing leather skirt was a classic and chic.

LRS, a young label designed by Raul Solis, is one of W’s New York Fashion Week designers to watch. A favorite look was a white military-inspired trench coat that can be deconstructed and reconstructed with buttons, allowing the wearer to create different silhouettes and shapes.

Jason Kempin

The denim label continues to offer up the coolest and most covetable denim. It just so happens that their ready-to-wear separates are just as enticing. Every woman should have a leather trench in her closet, and this one will be snapped up by fans of the brand come fall.

Rojas is the recent recipient of Fashion Group International’s rising star award, and with this fall collection, she proved that she is one to watch. An oversized tuxedo jacket and wide leg pant looked easy-to-wear and not so precious, exactly what a woman in charge needs in her daily wardrobe.

Kanye West launched denim at his Calabasas collection, in a stonewashed blue and black. A slightly baggy denim jacket worn as a shirt and tucked into jeans that purposefully bunched at the ankle is a new denim silhouette to consider.

Aussie label Zimmermann is well-loved for their day summer party dresses. Now, for Fall 2017 they’ve shown us how to wear that dress in the winter – by throwing on their shearling, in a subtle peach shade that perfectly matches their pretty florals.

Season after season, Brandon Maxwell presents a parade of red carpet-ready eveningwear that harkens back to a far more glamorous era. Imaan Hammam closed the designer’s fall design in a truly gorgeous green gown matched with a jade fur jacket.

Dimitrios Kambouris

Inspired by Katharine Hepburn’s character in The Philadelphia Story, Tory Burch showed a collection of impeccably detailed pieces, including an especially luxe mixed fur coat worn over a prim plaid dress.

Slaven Vlasic

For her first runway show, Gabriela Hearst hosted an intimate soiree of chic, wardrobe staples done in muted colors. An iridescent eggplant-hued dress was a standout.

Brian Ach

Coach’s Stuart Vevers continues to move the storied house well into the future–this time, with help from a front row appearance by Selena Gomez–with floaty floral dresses and cool shearlings the brand has become known for.

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Narciso Roriguez’s runway is always a zen moment in the chaos of New York Fashion Week. This season, the designer showed languid, elegant pieces, including this edgy take on the jumpsuit.

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Lineisy Montero walked in a black velvet one shoulder dress that was dripping in crystals. A highlight of Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim’s debut at Oscar de la Renta, place your bets now on who will wear this number to the Oscars at the end of the month.

Peter White

There is so much to love about this collection, but a gown made of fabric that Assoulin created using dried flowers and metallic star stickers beloved by elementary schoolers was most charming. Assoulin also created her own shoes, and enlisted a potter to help create miniature ceramic jug earrings.

Randy Brooke

Mrs. Herrera herself often wears a crisp, white, button down, and it is always a pleasure when these work their way into her collections. For fall, a white peter pan collared peplum button down was paired with a crisp white pleated skirt. A simple black ribbon bow tied at the neck finished off the look. For those of us who may never find themselves wearing one of Mrs. Herrera’s evening gowns, this is a covetable daytime alternative.

Victor VIRGILE

Shane Gabier and Chris Peters’ best looks of their fall outing were when they deconstructed the fur jacket. By taking the floral lining from the inside out – and adding a few crystals along the way – they created a way to wear fur that felt modern and vintage at the same time.

Victor VIRGILE

Lacoste’s sporty separates and outerwear was exactly what a freezing and windblown fashion crowd were covering. The loose fitting cargo pant done in a lightweight windbreaker fabric could easily be worn with a chic pump – a nice high low mix for the usually utilitarian cargo pant.

Victor VIRGILE

Lippes had a huge sign on the fence of his Washington Square Park North brownstone, and that sign declared his support for Planned Parenthood, which mere footsteps away, was holding a rally. Despite the uncertain times we live in, and of which many fashion designers have been responding to, Lippes did what he does best–beautiful clothes in charming florals, including this fringed Liberty print dress.

Who doesn’t need a stone-washed black denim oversized coat? Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen turned out impeccable coats for their fall collection, and many secured shut with chic tone-on -tone belts. This denim coat felt young and easy.

Ryan Roche held her first runway show this season, and the clothes warranted it. Her tailoring was perfect, the fabrics luxurious. It was difficult to choose a favorite – a cream knit dress styled over a slouchy knit pant was a contender – but this red suede trench won out.

Victor VIRGILE

Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim’s Monse line stayed true to its developing DNA – shirting, deconstruction, military/utilitarian touches. The finale featured a handful of chic red-carpet looks – a favorite of which was a blue and yellow ‘paint splattered’ sequin dress.

Peter White

One of W’s designers to watch this season, Piotrek Panszczyk and Beckett Fogg are known to enjoy using Swarovski crystals in their work. For their runway debut, they used them to mimic a woman’s curves on this burgundy jumpsuit. While not everyone will dare to wear this number, the duo also did a sweatshirt version which we can easily see on the likes of Bella Hadid or any insta-girl.

Fernanda Calfat

Joseph Altuzarra proved he truly is fashion’s renaissance man with a fall collection that mixed old-world techniques with a true sense of modernity.

Peter White

Jonathan Saunders continued to unveil his new vision for the legendary brand with colorful, joyful pieces that felt both totally modern and completely DVF.

Simkhai adorns his clothes with crystals, and feathers, but he won with this floaty, easy sheer dress. However, the audience’s favorite look seemed to be the one the designer himself wore – a t-shirt that read, “Feminist AF.”

Brian Ach

Tome’s exceptional fall collection was inspired by the anonymous all-female art coalition, Guerrilla Girls, cleverly manifested in furry outerwear that took on the appearance of an ultra-luxe, well, gorilla.

Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho

Victoria Beckham made the notion of school uniforms ultra-chic, pairing classic blazers with floaty chiffon skirts and structured bags.

Randy Brooke

Once again, J.Crew’s Jenna Lyons presented her collection on “real” models–editors, artists, etc.–but with a collection full of wardrobe-building pieces, the focus remained fully on the clothes which erred on the playful side thanks to polka dots and plenty of leopard print.

Krista Kennell

Once again, Sies Marjan’s Sander Lak showed incredible mastery with bright hues, the most sensational being a cool, mint hue, shown on a model with hair to match.

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Prabal Gurung’s feminist t-shirt filled finale nearly broke Instagram, but his slinky, sequined evening dresses were just as note-worthy, not to mention completely red carpet ready.

Randy Brooke
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