Fashion Week on the Lower East Side

This story was reported by Carrie Jensen.

The Lower East Side was once again a place to see and be seen during New York Fashion Week.

Social media influencers, celebrities, editors and out-of-work models attended the events. Most inhibitions were gone and there was a sense of post-Covid recovery where designers were present in person.

Following the incident from September 9 to 14, Dave Walker, a digital content creator, posted on her Instagram account as a caption, “I had a shocker. Participating in street photography.

During fashion week, celebrities and street photographers were like bird watchers hunting rare species. The photographers stand outside the stage and take pictures of people entering and exiting the show.

Fashion was awash off and on the runway. Many are dressed in special clothing for each event.

“I was wearing an Artistry of Hair wig. [Off-White c/o] Virgil Abloh boots,” said Nolette Rice, one of the journalists covering the shows.

Some event attendees — like Rice, who is from Michigan — traveled from out of town. “I’m from Florida. Makeup artist and social media influencer Sophie St. Louis says this is my first.

Designers have presented their collections for Spring and Winter 2023 (SS23). Some brought out their sidewalks and streets for passers-by to watch, in addition to photographers, media and guests.

Maryam Nasir Zadeh’s show on September 12 was held outdoors on the Sarah D. Roosevelt Park handball court, near the designer’s store on Norfolk Avenue. Models wore minimal natural fiber clothing in neutrals, some with blue, yellow or green stripes and details such as crotch.

The next morning, Snow Zhu Gao held a show at the new Desire Store in the Bowery. Guests were seated on either side of the runway, which extended from outside the store to the sidewalk in front, allowing neighborhood onlookers to observe.

Models with double-breasted dresses and top or flowing and fitted skirts, with bright color prints and flowers, one model has a soft and brown dog.

NYFW shows are presented throughout the city with Spring Studios in Tribeca continuing to serve as the hub.

The last show at that venue was The Blonds on September 14th. Strangers “oh”-ed and “aah”-ed as models strutted down the runway in form-fitting luxury prints and metallics.

Nearby, on Cortlandt Alley, Making the Cut, Season 3 winner Yannick Zamboni’s brand Maison Blanche offers sleek, unisex clothes mostly in white. The Swiss designer described his show as both “conceptual” and “political.”

“As a designer, you have a platform to talk about issues,” Zamboni said. “For me, it is very important to fight for the rights of minorities and oppressed people. That’s what I tried to show tonight.”

So what’s next?

Blonds are selling some clothes from their SS23 collection (Chain Series) on their website.

Plus, more runway shows are coming up: New York Luxury Bridal Fashion Week is October 11 – 14.