Bay Area Fashionista

Looking back at the way things were: original post can be found here / sneakers / black top /

If you have been following along, you know by now that the pandemic moved New York Fashion Week to a digital format starting last September. In February of 2021, the format remained digital, and press continued to watch the shows, and learn about the new collections, from home. For the spring/summer 2022 collections, which will be shown starting today and through the weekend, the shows are a mixed bag.

Designers have chosen one of three avenues for showing their spring/summer 2022 collections this September during New York Fashion Week. Many have continued with releasing videos to the press and to the public. This has turned out to be a more financially beneficial way to show off a new collection, as well as a way to not have to worry about the pandemic and if people have been vaccinated. This brings us to the second option designers have this week.

There are in-person shows. I repeat, there are in-person shows! I received several invitations to in-person shows, but since I am staying home, I will be watching for the press photos after the fact, instead of traveling to New York to enjoy them live. These in-person shows will mostly be shown at a new venue; not Spring Studios. The new venue is on 5th avenue and much smaller than Spring Studios, or going back to when the shows were in tents. Guests of in-person shows must prove vaccination status, and masking is highly encouraged.

The third format designers are testing out this season is by turning their fashion show into an actual show, that one would buy a ticket for. Instead of inviting buyers and press to their shows, these ticketed shows are for customers. Ticket prices will start well over $1000, and in some cases, reach into the five figures. What does that mean for the future of fashion week?

If the ticket sales method turns a nice profit, and buyers are still receptive to collections while viewing them in-studio or at market week, will designers opt for the money making fashion show as opposed to the exclusive buyer/press events we have become accustomed to over the past several decades? Will some designers continue on the digital path and never stage a live show again? This is not happening in London, Paris and Milan. Does this mean New York will lead the future of fashion shows? Or will New York become irrelevant? Only time will tell. . .

I have to admit, I am worried. In case you haven’t noticed, several large American designers are not participating in New York Fashion Week. They are staging their own shows at other times. Some designers are timing their shows with market week so that buyers can attend without making a special trip to New York. Others have staged shows at completely random times, or in other locations such as Southern California. It will be interesting to see what works this season, and which direction designers choose to take in February, when we assume the pandemic won’t be so dominant in our movements.

Outfit idea if I was attending NYFW in person this season:

For me, my oldest daughter is a senior in high school. She has a lot of milestones happening this year, so traveling to New York for fashion week this month wasn’t in the cards for me. I will still continue to cover the latest trends from the runway while wearing my fuzzy slippers, and sitting at my desk; within close proximity to my daughter who will be away at college next year. I am currently cherishing every moment I have with her before leaves for college next year.

So don’t worry! Trends from the runway, and the spring/summer 2022 color trends will hit the blog soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy