I know that I’ve been gone for a while and I should’ve gotten this up weeks ago, but life. I went to New York Fashion Week for the third time September 4th-9th and I had an amazing experience like I always do. I attended a lot of events, parties and shows but three of them were my absolute favorite. As a person trying to grow, move through and create a career within the fashion industry it’s always amazing to be able to attend things like New York Fashion Week. One of my absolute favorite moments was being able to have the opportunity to attend the Pyer Moss show that changed my life (To find out how I got so lucky keep reading). These top three really motivated me to keep working hard and advocating for change and never give up on my dreams because its all possible.
The entire out fit is from Leyton’s Boutique// The bag is from Froever 21// The lip is Stunna by Fenty Beauty
My most favorite thing of my whole trip was being able to attend the Pyer Moss show, which was on Sunday the 8th. I didn’t know I was attending this show until a day or two before I was going to be going to New York. Kerby Jean-Raymond announced on his social media about a week prior that he was going to be giving away a few tickets to the show and all you had to do was enter your name on his website so I decided to shoot my shot and did it, I had no high hopes or anything but I just said “why not” and did it. after a week I honestly forgot I entered and he hadn’t announced the winner yet and as I was checking my email Tuesday night for an RSVP to another show I saw the email from Pyer Moss saying congratulations I was invited and almost has a heart attack. I couldn’t believe that I had won and I was invited to my first major show, it was one of my favorite designers and he’s black and represents to culture so amazing.
Fast forward to the show, I had been waiting the whole few days I had been there for Sunday to go to the show. It was in Flatbush at the Kings Theater which is also very iconic to black people in Brooklyn, The show itself was so breathtaking that I can’t even begin to explain it. First of all it was BLACK AS HELL, the show took us to church, it took us to a hip hop concert that included a live choir singing Missy Elliot, LIl Kim, BIggie, Megan thee Stallion, Cardi B and so many more as well as sung old school music that your mom would wake you up on Saturday mornings singing to. The ALL BLACK choir sung throughout the entire show, as well as the ALL BLACK band that opened the show and the ALL BLACK modeling cast that did amazing and to top all of this off the AMAZING designs. The show was bringing everyone to tears and moved me so much. It showed us how black people are so important in the fashion industry and we are the blueprint. I can’t even begin to go into further detail because how the show made me feel, what it embodied and what it meant is just something that can’t be explained you had to feel it for yourself and be there. Kerby Jean-Raymond is what fashion week needed and I’m so happy and blessed to have had the opportunity to attend (to see footage of the show you can watch my vlog on my youtube channel or my IGTV video on Instagram).
The top is a skirt from Leyton’s Boutique turned into a shirt// The shorts are pants that were thrifted// The boots are Akira
Another one of my favorite events that I attended was the For the Culture day party by Nareasha Willis who is the creator of AVNU and the Black Vogue Movement. Nareasha is a young black designer from New Jersey that has created an amazing brand that stands up for the culture and is pushing to put the spotlight back on the people that fashion houses steal everything from which are black people and black communities, while they take the things that we were dimensioned for doing they never credit us or want to give us seats at their tables. If you have seen “Ghetto Until Proven Fashionable” or “Black Vogue Movement” on anything or through social media those are her pieces and she is the original creator of those phrases. She pushes to keep putting the eyes back on black people who are talented but get overshadowed by the thievery of the larger companies in the fashion industry, she puts on for the young girls from the hood that have just as much style as the girls in vogue, she is using the word “ghetto” that they have tried to use against us and use to diminish our character as a way to take our power back.
She decided to have this party because she has been in an ongoing lawsuit with Vogue, which she shares her experience with this to the community and through her social media to bring awareness. She is in this lawsuit because they are suing her for her “Black Vogue Movement” slogan and merchandise (absurd right?!!!) but she is putting in a good fight and not giving up and as she continues to reiterate this is bigger than her, this is for all of us to show that we won’t just lay down and take it anymore. The party was used to help raise funds for this lawsuit so that she can keep fighting strong. I loved this event because it was filled with stylish black excellence, it was amazing vibes and energy, it was lots of connecting and network, it was full of black people that were trying to have a good time and not act stuffy like the people who are usually at the fashion week shows. It was amazing to just be there, aside from the great DJ, the violinist, the photographers, the set up, the cartoonist, the food and the drinks it was just amazing to be surrounded by beautiful black people and they were also stylish as hell too. I saw so many amazing and successful black people that are in the fashion industry there as well (That I love seeing them thrive via Instagram) It was just amazing to witness.
The white button down is from Shein// The dress I believe is from Leyton’s Boutique// The shoes are Sam Edelman// The glasses are from the Beauty supply store//
Another of my favorites was the Telfar Global by Telfar Clemens film screening of '“The World Isn’t Everything”. I love when designers take a different route on how to showcase their designs other than just having models walk down the runway. I feel like 80% of the fashion industry has lost its creativity especially with their shows compared to the designers like Alexander McQueen, Thierry Mugler, Versace, Chanel etc. spanning from the 90s to the early 2000s that used to really put on a SHOW. At the event there was open bar with specially curated drinks, there was a White Castle food truck giving away free burgers and chicken rings during the whole event. and much more. The film gave a look into what the designer would be previewing at his show in Paris, the film starred the amazing actor Ashton Sanders from Moonlight telling a story and evoking questions including “Are you a citizen of the united communities?” speaking about living in America, immigration, rights and the lack there of etc. and models wearing Telfar serving as the visuals with clips of them walking through airport security and standing on a platform in the middle of the water in Manhattan.
Telfar Clemens started his brand in 2005 but has been creating non-gender conforming pieces since 2002, he won the CFDA Fashion Fund Award in 2015 and was a 2019 CFDA Award Nominee for Accessory Designer of the year for his bags that have his initials TC on them. During the few days that I was there he also had an event in collaboration with Opening Ceremony at one of their stores showcasing his new bags that was filled with younger people that are trying to break into fashion and interested in that scene (which is important) and the film screening was more about the clothing that he was going to be showcasing in Paris.
As previously stated I enjoyed my time at NYFW as I always do but black designers definitely showed up and showed out and saved fashion week. I am so glad to see black designers flourishing and see so many of us pushing to take back telling our own stories and telling the truth to showcase all of the lies and stealing that has gone on for so long and is still happening. These were my top three events but you can definitely see visual footage of my whole experience on my Youtube Channel and to see more of my looks make sure you’re following me on Instagram. This was long but very well needed and I feel like my readers need to know what actually goes on and what’s important not the fake stuff, I hope you enjoyed!