Get Your Shine On At Whatever 21: NYFW SS18 Trend Report

“A 2000s Paris Hilton and Dirrty-era Xtina were featured prominently on my SS18 mood board,” says Brian Whatever of Whatever 21, named an emerging talent to watch by NYLON. He describes his collection, which channels a Cardi B vibe—if she were to collaborate with Missy Elliot—as everything you need to “get your shine on.”

Indeed, the unisex, nightlife line features bralettes and crop tops in bold colors like orange and gold. Bottoms are reminiscent of early New York rave days, when kids went to The Shelter. However, the tailoring is updated, and calls to mind some of the silhouettes Shayne Oliver did for Helmut Lang.

Of the collection Whatever says, “It’s influenced by early 2000s icons as well as construction and safety workwear. Digital camouflage and oversized pants are contrasted with silky satins and rhinestone crystals. The bejeweled looks were accentuated even more by the jewelry of my frequent collaborator Cecily Feitel’s GHOST MODERN accessories.”

“The soundtrack was created specifically for this event by my good friend So Drove [who works with] La Chat, Kreayshawn, TT the Artist and Cupcakke.” Performances included Margie Plus and K-Rizz, who closed out the Whatever 21 runway. “She walked with me,” says Whatever, “and then just grabbed the mic to launch into her dope set.”

The real star of the show was 20-year-old La’Shaunae Steward. A South Carolina native, Steward was the victim of cyberbullying when people made body-shaming memes of her #OOTD (outfit of the day) posts on her Instagram. Model Reece King came to her defense via Twitter as did Thrasher Magazine, (one of Steward’s outfits included a Thrasher T-shirt). Steward quickly gained a huge following on Instagram.

Says Whatever, “We struck up a friendship over the internet and I invited her to come walk in my show. I made her a custom look and featured her prominently in the collection. She was so overwhelmed by how many fans she had in New York City, including Brooke Candy who told her how she was obsessed with her, which brought [Steward] to tears. I hope [my show] can open many many more doors for her.”

This type of peer support and collaborative inspiration shows New Yorkers at their best, and is part of what makes NYFW unlike any fashion week in the world.

Listen to So Drove’s Soundcloud for the SS18 Whatever 21 show.

All purchase inquiries here.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.