Behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week fall 2016

When you see coverage of New York Fashion Week online, and in print, you see a lot of runway shots, street style shots, and interviews. So I thought it would be fun to show you a little bit of what I see when I attend New York Fashion Week. This is my personal peek behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week during the fall 2016 shows.

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Blocked by a cell phone! Sometimes you have the perfect shot on your camera, and just as you go and snap it, someone to the side of you, or in front of you, shoots their phone in the air and blocks your shot. This was my one shot of the fabulous black boots on Marissa Webb’s runway, ruined by the woman sitting next to me and her hand. Things that make you go grrrrrrr.

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Often the second row bench is not elevated. So, instead of seeing the runway, you see heads or backs. This was the fabulous back of the jacket worn by the gentleman sitting in front of me at A Detacher. I had a great second row seat, but I could barely see. Oh well, at least I witnessed the amazing beadwork on this man’s jacket.

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The backstage scene at a fashion show is nothing short of chaos. I watched as it took a village to get this model runway-ready backstage at Pamella Roland. She was fussed over by multiple people at one time; not to mention the gaggle of cameras snapping her picture. I guess I am guilty of the latter.

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Celebrities can be spotted all over New York Fashion Week. At the Zimmermann show, Hilary Duff was sophisticated, and relaxed, in a spring dress; despite the twenty degree temperatures outside. How did she look so comfortable? I was freezing; wearing a coat and snow hat. Props to Hillary for not being cold!

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There is usually a sheet of paper placed on each seat before the shows. This paper offers the designer’s inspiration, and a run of show. I always arrive early enough to have time to read over the sheet, and see what inspired the designer this season. This photo was taken at my seat prior to Marcel Ostertag’s show. His collection was fabulous, by the way.

monique lhuillier final walk 4th row view

For the fall 2016 shows, about 75% of my invitations had an assigned seat ranging from front row, to last row. The other 25% of my invitations were standing room. This shot was taken from my 4th row, assigned seat at Monique Lhuillier. Although in person I could see the amazing details and colors on each look, on camera, the runway looks far away. This is what the final walk looked like through my lens. And yes, I cannot see any feet.

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The last event I attended at New York Fashion Week was Vivienne Hu’s after-party. We celebrated her amazing collection, and her collaboration with AtoG Lingerie. This photo was taken towards the end of the night. The after parties are very fabulous at fashion week. It is when you have a chance to speak with the designer about his or her collection, while he or she is relaxed since the show is done. If you ever receive an after party invite, GO! It is the best time to speak with the designer, and celebrate his or her hard work.

Well, that’s a wrap! These are a few snaps of my view behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week fall 2016 experience. I hope you enjoy them!

Vivienne Hu fall 2016 New York Fashion Week

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Photos and video: Cathy OBrien/Bay Area Fashionista 2016©

Vivienne Hu sent her fall/winter 2016 collection down the New York Fashion Week runway at The Art Beam on February 14, 2016. The runway show was done in collaboration with AtoG Lingerie, which made it’s New York Fashion Week debut.

The fall 2016 collection by Vivienne Hu was absolutely beautiful! I instantly fell in love with her blue coats, navy coats, the beautiful black puffy coat pictured above, and the lace skirt. I also adored the black and grey dresses on the runway. The overall collection was sophisticated, sleek, timeless, and downright fabulous. Love!

As in stride with the new fashion week trend of making some items from the runway available for per-order, or immediately, Vivienne Hu had pieces available the next day at her showroom for clients to try on, and order. AtoG offered the same service to her clients.

I definitely would like to get my hands on the navy coat, light blue coat, black puffy coat, and lace skirt for the fall 2016 season. Which pieces from the collection are your favorites?

Video: Vivienne Hu fall 2016 New York Fashion Week final walk. The best view is when the models turn around at the end of the runway. My apologies for the brightness of the video at the beginning and at the end.

You can learn more about Vivienne Hu, and shop her current collection, online at VivienneHu.com.

New York Fashion Week winter street style

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Pictured: Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: Chanel Mighty / Earrings: Kendra Scott / Sweater: White + Warren / Skirt: Banana Republic / Handbag: Givenchy / Ring: Kendra Scott / Nail Polish: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Bonbon / Tights: Hue / Shoes: Prada runway 2009 (similar pair here)

I wore this outfit on day five of New York Fashion Week when Laura and I stopped into Laduree SOHO for brunch, and of course to buy macarons!

I titled this look New York Fashion Week winter street style because it was lightly snowing that day, and Laura and I took each other’s pictures just before the snow turned into slushy rain. While we were photographing our outfits, photographers were coming out from another show and snapped pictures of us snapping pictures. It was pretty hilarious.

Day five of New York Fashion Week was significantly warmer than the first four days. The first four days of fashion week, the temperatures plunged below twenty degrees, and over the weekend, down into single digits. On Monday, it was a toasty thirty in the morning, and by the evening, it was in the fifties and humid. This outfit was perfect. I did not need a coat! It is funny how warm thirty or forty degrees can feel after you have been running around in single digit temps!

Day five was my easiest day of fashion week. I did not have to rush into an Uber to make any shows, or worry about being late. I saw Reem Acra and Vivienne Tam; both of which were located at the Skylight Moynihan, and were back to back.

After Vivienne Tam’s show, we attended Vivienne Hu’s after-party. There was a basketball net at the party. If you follow me on Snapchat, you may have seen Laura and I attempting free throws in our high heels. It was so fun, and pretty hilarious to watch! We also had a chance to speak with Vivienne Hu about her collection, and the current changes to fashion week. It was amazing!

I am a little sad looking at these photos. It was the last day of fashion week for me before flying home. New York Fashion Week is so much fun; despite that fact that it is work too! Now that I am back home, spring is here, and I am looking towards warmer weather, and fashion to match!

Stay tuned for my recap later this week where I will let you know about all the new trends for fall 2016 from the runways in New York! Thank you for following along, your support means everything to me!

xoxo

Cathy