My favorite part of NYFW, as a blogger, is putting together my own looks. I view these pieces as their own collection. I always say, “life IS an occasion, dress for it.” While designers are thinking of their ideal muse, you can be your own.
For me, this process begins with borrowed inspiration. I scroll through months of saved posts on Instagram and Pinterest to find my favorite styles that I can use to create my own looks. The following are my inspired creations.
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My looks are a combination of classic style elements mixed with touches of recent runway trends. I’ve always enjoyed monochromatic looks, so when I saw this top and skirt hung beside one another at Salvation Army, I immediately knew I’d wear them to NYFW.
The blouse is from a NY based sustainable fashion designer, YEOHLEE. Initially it had no sequins, so I thrifted a damaged Zara dress and used it’s sequins to give this top it’s own embellishments. The Theory skirt features large cargo pockets, which many designers are incorporating into their new collections. Overall it reminds me of the viral mini Miu Miu skirt.
I feel that certain color blocking patterns always work. Black is complimentary to everything. I loved adding contrast to this entire look. I also went with unexpected Emerald touches, because they remind me of the jewelry choices or A-listers on many red carpets, when they wear black evening gowns.
Forever inspired by Fran Drescher’s character in The Nanny, I am always up for a colorful suit combo. I discovered this bold vintage wool blazer at Salvation Army and knew I had to make something of it. On a nearby rack I spotted a dated style of crop top that I thought would make the perfect wrapped cowl.
After scouring my closet and searching high and low for a matching bottom, I couldn’t seem to find the correct shade of pink. I settled on opting for one of my favorite color blocking combos, red and pink! I felt this vintage Rampage dress perfectly matched the suit aesthetic. In my mind, metallics are my neutrals, so I matched the original blazer buttons with a vintage Guess chainmail wristlet and vintage earrings.
Balmain, Kim Shui, Retrofête, and more are releasing work wear inspired looks for SS 2025. But, I’m way ahead of them. Trends come and go, but I’ve always been a fan of suiting and work wear inspired looks. My outfit for the Smart Swimsuits show was unplanned. I nearly missed the show because I mixed up the dates. Fortunately I was working remotely at a nearby coffee shop so I was able to rush over and take a look at their new collection of sustainable swimwear.
My top is by Max Mara. The skirt is part of a children’s school uniform, that I thrifted. The necklace I’m wearing is from an antique store in Old Town Orange (California.) My heels are the Bianca style from Vivaia.
I do my best to shop from my closet before I thrift more outfits. Hanging on the rack was a Trina Turk dress, in a dated silhouette. I’d been wanting to upcycle it since last year, but inspiration hadn’t struck yet. Finally the idea to transform the dress into a set came to light.
I styled this custom set with a Missguided blazer, that I’ve had for years. This was a great and worthwhile purchase, that I’ve worn time-and-time again. My earrings, ring, and Nina heels are vintage thrifted pieces. While my Kate Spade bracelets are a more modern thrift find.
For Fashion in Balance, NYFW’s The Talks, I decided to wear an all silver look. Since I was very inspired by embellished pieces this season, I chose to safety pin a vintage necklace to the top I upcycled into a dress. The rest of my jewelry was a mix of vintage, gifted, and a faux emerald travel keepsake ring I picked up in Poland.
Meeting one of my favorite designers, Jonathan Simkhai, and listening in to him on the panel was an extra special Fashion week treat.
The leopard trend is back. We heard rumblings of leopard styles coming back into fashion last year, and now they’re finally making an appearance. I see touches of leopard pieces all over the city. Fortunately, I’ve loved leopard for years so I have three leopard coats that I’ve been waiting to dust off. NYFW was the perfect ocassion.
This particular coat is a vintage style, and so were my accessories. My bag is from a vintage designer called Dover U.S.A. I bowed a Lise Charmel silk scarf to the bag to tie in more leopard and created a strap for the bag from an old chain belt. My jewelry is a mix of vintage pieces from the Salvation Army and the Orange Antique mall. My heels are by Steve Madden and my glasses are unbranded. I picked them up at a thrift store in Paris.
As for the rest of the look, my top was thrifted from Goodwill on 14th street in NYC, it’s Free People. Unfortunately, the tag was cut out of my thrifted pants. I assume they’re from a quality designer because the tag was cut and due to the quality construction of the garment.
Sometimes you just need to step outside of your comfort zone. The day of the Chuks Collins NYFW show was warm, so it was the perfect time for shorts. Full disclosure, I almost chickened out of this look. My inspiration for this upcycled cape and shorts were from designer Ozgur Masur. I loved his legy looks, but I didn’t know if I’d be confident enough to wear something similar at fashion week.
I ended up loving the look of this upcycle, but didn’t decide how to style it until I was running out the door. I finally chose to create a “belt” out of a necklace, then pair this with the same silver accessories that I wore to The Talks.
Shout out to my girls @brittanyhayles_ and @themaxinecesar, who are alllllways stylishly dressed. Follow them on IG for more outfit inspiration.
