What to Wear to NYFW: Beginner’s Guide

For as long as I can remember, there have been four major goals 

that I have set for myself to achieve at some point in my life: 

1. Move to New York City

2. Go to New York Fashion Week 

3. Become a Buyer

4. Open my Own Store 

Ever since my love for the fashion industry blossomed when I was young, I knew that these were the top four things I wanted to accomplish if I ever pursued a career in fashion. These things were never in any order, I just engraved them into my brain and thought whichever opportunity came first, I would conquer and then cross off of my imaginary list tucked away in my heart. 

I am lucky and proud to say that I have completed two of the four things off my list: 

In the Summer of 2012, I moved to New York City for an internship program and got to work hands-on and gain experience at a major showroom, Joseph Abboud Apparel. It was a Summer I would never forget, and to this day I always look back on and call it one of my greatest accomplishments thus far. Spending the summer eating, breathing, and tasting the fashion world was just a dream come true. 

In August 2013, my career dreams came true and I was offered a full-time position as Assistant Buyer for the boutique I had been working at part-time in college. Never would I have thought that I would be lucky enough to get this position so quickly after graduating college, and I can say it is a true blessing. I am working with vendors that I used to dream about wearing their clothes, and am really learning the aspects of a business so that later in life, I can take my knowledge and open up my very own store (which as you can see, is my last goal that I will hope to accomplish in the next few years or so).

I am so grateful for being able to say I had done the things I’ve dreamed about for so long,

and I am absolutely THRILLED to say that in just about a week or so, 

I will be crossing off another goal from my list because. . . 

And I hope that the hot pink bold font shows you how ECSTATIC I am!

For years I’ve been live streaming Fashion Week Shows via YouTube and scrolling through photographs online because of unfortunate times like when I’d be in class when Betsey Johnson’s show was on. But to now think that I will be  in attendance to some of the shows at the Lincoln Center to view the Fall/Winter 2014 collections is an incredible feeling.

So many thoughts are going through my head,

Am I going to see any important people?
Am I going to pee my pants when I go to my first show? and
WHAT THE HECK AM I GOING TO WEAR?!?! 

I know it will be frigid beyond belief in NYC, but fashion + beauty comes with a price.
If I’ve always aspired to dress like the streetwalkers during NYFW, I’m going to have to suck it up, wear something fabulous and forget about the chilly bumps that are going to be all over my body.
I could see Anna Wintour or Mira Duma for heaven’s sake!

So what I have here is a
Beginner’s Guide on What to Wear to New York Fashion Week.

From what I have recollected and admired over the years,
this is pretty much how I put Street Style during the glorious week in my mind:

Vibrant colors, bold prints, and cool coats are supposed to be mixed & matched, & SHOES – yes shoes, are supposed to be out of the box phenomenal. It is definitely about how you DO or DON’T put a look together. You can mix the most craziest things and it can create the uttermost perfect outfit of all time.

BUT – some important tips that were given to me as I prep for my departure to NYC:
1). If you own any clothing of the runway show you’re going to, you should wear it to the event.
and 2). It should be something from their most recent collection. 
(so in this case, I would wear Spring 2014 clothing).

But, for the people out there that don’t have a piece from any of the designers that showcase their collections at New York Fashion Week, I’ve put together crucial outfits that will still turn heads:

A cool printed pant is always a smart way to go. Once you have your bottoms, everything else is so easy, like a black fur vest being the perfect add-on Worried about not having color? As simple and classic as black and white is, you can literally choose which ever color(s) you’d like to pair with it. High as the sky heels in a deep red with a clutch in a popped out color like green will be a color mix you wouldn’t expect to look so great as they do. My motto for everything: the more accessories the better, and your lips should almost never be naked. 

Leopard and Love: These are the TWO of my favorite things. Take a simple LBD of any silhouette, and pair it with a gorgeous leopard print jacket. Just these two garments on your body screams NYFW. Add a red satchel, gold accessories, and cute heels of your choice and you have the sweetest, and baddest outfit there is. When I don’t know where to go, I always go leopard print and red. ALWAYS.

And for the bad-ass, chic monster in you: Rebel it out with a zipper-filled real or faux leather jacket, but  still maintain sweet in a flouncy skirt (color of your choice). A meaningful t-shirt that makes a FASHIONABLE statement makes a look like this so chic, and a nice surprise is to add super grungy boots. To tie it all in, add some hardcore pieces like a chain clutch with details and embellishments; and for the ultimate “watch and learn” look, mirrored sunglasses will do the trick. Atta girl!