What To Expect From New York Fashion Week

From fashion events open to the public to a fashion lover’s guide to the city, this is your all-access guide to New York Fashion Week.

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) kicks off September 6, and runs through September 14 for the spring/summer 2019 season. Don’t worry if you don’t have tickets to the hottest shows, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate New York style. Here’s the lowdown on what to expect from NYFW and how to be a part of the week’s immersive sartorial experience.

Backstage at the Eckhaus Latta show spring/summer 2018, New York Fashion Week

Stand out shows

The front row might be reserved for celebrities and influencers, but anyone can peep the collections on Instagram live. Be in the know and tune in, especially to these not-to-be-missed shows.

The Blonds: This indie label is a hit with the nightclub crowd and always draws an eccentric celebrity turnout. This season’s show goes down on September 7 at 9pm.

Christian Siriano: Former winner of Project Runway (Season Four) Christian Siriano celebrates a decade at his eponymous label. This season’s show goes down on September 8 at 4pm.

Chromat: This Bushwick-based label has come a long way in the past couple years, snagging a 2017 award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). This season’s show goes down on September 7 at 7pm.

Eckhaus Latta: If you can’t catch the Eckhaus Latta show, be sure to check out the edgy design duo’s exhibit Possessed at The Whitney. This season’s show goes down on September 8 at 1pm.

Gabriela Hearst: Another CFDA recipient, Gabriela Hearst elevates craftsmanship with her luxe ready-to-wear line. This season’s show goes down on September 11 at noon.

Lou Dallas: An emerging label to watch, Lou Dallas defines irreverent millennial couture. This season’s show goes down on September 11 at 5pm.

Marc Jacobs: New York’s darling Marc Jacobs’ must-see show closes out NYFW and promises a bevy of supermodels, celebrities and trends to covet.

Find a complete schedule to NYFW womenswear spring/summer here.

Off-White’s Virgil Abloh DJs a party in Brooklyn

Events open to the public

You don’t have to be a VIP to attend the following fashion-related events.

MAC Cosmetics Masterclass: Learn how to apply makeup like a pro at the MAC Cosmetics Masterclass at 837 Samsung. RSVP is required, but does not guarantee entry at the event on September 6, so get there early.

VFILES: VFILES YELLOW LABEL, helmed by Paul Cupo, formerly of Hood By Air, launches this season with a fashion show and music event at Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn. You can purchase tickets to the event, which goes down on September 5.

29 Rooms: Refinery 29’s event 29 Rooms is a must for style-obsessed New Yorkers. An interactive experience in a Brooklyn locale promises to expand your design aesthetic. Purchase tickets for multiple dates during NYFW.

For more ways to experience the style of the city, here’s a fashion lover’s guide to New York.

Backstage at the Mused by Linsday Jones fall/winter 2018 show

Out and about

If you have the budget, you can purchase day passes through the official NYFW site at Spring Studios and Industria (although seating at specific shows is not guaranteed).

Can’t afford to throw down cash for the catwalk? Not to worry. One of the most exciting aspects of NYFW is the street style. Style stalking outside the venues in the West Village won’t cost you a dime. Check out street style looks from last season’s NYFW and shop New York’s most fashionable neighborhoods.

Many neighborhood hotspots will be packed with the in-crowd, so no need to worry if you’re not on the list for industry events. During the day, these trendy West Village cafés will be all the rage, with stylists and editors grabbing a bite. You might even spot a model or two at these Tribeca spas, so why not book a facial? When it’s time for happy hour, hobnob with the style set at these Meatpacking cocktail bars and dine at these posh Chelsea restaurants.

Wrap up your NYFW experience by unwinding and detoxing at Brooklyn’s hidden boutique bathhouse, and get ready to do it all again next season.

About the author

Jill Di Donato

Fashion Editor

Jill is a New York native who holds a BA in Literature from Barnard College, and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. She is the author of the novel Beautiful Garbage (She Writes Press, 2013) about the downtown Manhattan art and fashion scene in the 1980s. A former staff writer for The Huffington Post and Bustle, Jill comes to Culture Trip after working with Refinery 29, Vice, Salon, Paste Style, Los Angeles Times, Nylon, Shopify, Autre, and producing content for emerging fashion labels. She teaches classes about fashion and culture at Barnard College and The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her prized possessions are her Gucci fanny pack, vintage rocker t-shirts, and her grandmother's collection of costume jewelry. She's always on the lookout for a gem-encrusted turban.