DAN LIU

I was surprised by the absence of florals and prints, unlike last season's show. Talented designer Dan Liu kept with warmer colors, including makeup and hair, while still maintaining a light, whimsical-like fairytale amongst his collection. I appreciate the focus on winter wear. My favorite? The half up half down look with soft ringlet curls to fit the theme. And also Mr. Liu's singing abilities. Yes, he performed live singing a beautiful melody!

HAKAN AKKAYA

I have to say, this was was my utmost pleasant surprise of the week! Going in I wasn't at all familiar with Turkish designer, Hakan Akkaya, but be sure about this – you'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future! His entire collection was all about freedom and the art of sporty couture. He played only in black and white with tons of strappy belts, ruffles, and patent leather. I loved how several designers this season, including Akkaya, embodied their feelings on the current times. The political landscape is a vast one so it is completely refreshing to see that come through in the light of fashion. It isn't only about clothes, and this collection proved just that. (Even though I want EVERYTHING from this collection, regardless if it's for men or women!)

LEANNE MARSHALL

What can I say about this amazing designer? Project Runway winner from Season 5, Leanne Marshall never disappoints with her ethereal collections. Effortless flow with a touch of contemporary this season, I loved the cream lace tops and skirts that mixed in beautifully with monochromatic, old world glam gowns. And I couldn't take my eyes off the earrings (Hello tassels) and the pop of red from the lips of the models! Lastly, silk has made numerous appearances in several collections. Major trend alert. Just breathtaking. Always such a gorgeous show.

ANNIESA HASIBUAN

An Indonesian-inspired D'Jakarta collection, models wore hijabs for each look, clearly demonstrating uniqueness and the freedom in expressing other forms of style & beauty. Each detail is rich in culture. I especially loved the glittering silvers and sparkling golds, the fierce, energetic music and knockout pieces such a ball gown composed of rose gold tulle made in the shape of roses paired with bronze and black, and the closing piece, an all black gown and cape stitched with Hasibuan’s signature “A” in gold. The perfect collection for any Super Woman! The show was completely filled with passion and empowerment.

VIVIENNE TAM

Bright and eclectic, Tam's collection was inspired by the electrifying energy of Hong Kong nightlife, with bursts of neon fuschias, greens, purples and midnight blues inspired from omnipresent neon signs and grids that light the skyscrapers. Iconic signage, traffic lights, and contrasting dark tunnels are translated into neon prints, alluding to modern city life. I adored the evening bags that doubled as travel kits (how cute is the airplane one?!) Such an amazing collection for the cultural explorer! I may need a piece (or two) for my upcoming travels... ;)

MIMI PROBER

First time seeing Mimi Prober and 'Hallelujah'! The models walked down the runway as the familiar tune played in the background. What was interesting was the play on lights. Each step further led to the room becoming brighter and brighter. And with a limited play on color, only using off-white, black, grays and beige, this collection was all about sustainable luxury and growing maturity. I loved the stress on lace and crochet, but more so, the small touch of details, such as the last look with emerald and gold embellishments. Absolutely spectacular! And don't even get me started on the coats!

THE NOLCHA SHOWS

The Nolcha Shows at New York Fashion Week just wrapped the Fall/Winter 2017 season at Artbeam Studios, featuring 9 runway shows. The platform for indie brands remains the go-to downtown destination for discovering fresh designs during fashion week. I attended the “Ones To Watch” show which kicked off spotlighting emerging brands including: Mariana Valentina (Arabian Architecture-inspired statement dresses), Son Collection (Vietnamese womenswear), Just In Case (men’s and women’s streetwear from Taiwan), Chèlbè (made especially for tall women 5ft11+), and Stevenson University (a collective of students debuting their take on the little black dress).

Happy Hump Day, everyone! I'm excited to finally share with you my NYFW SS17 blog diary and all the experiences that came with it. I was delighted to receive invitations to more than a few shows and still relatively new to the blogging world, it was my first year to document my day-to-day life during New York Fashion Week. Let's take a recap of the shows I had the pleasure of attending, a few events, along with my outfits and trend-picks.

NYFW SHOWS

FASHION PALETTE

A Sydney and New York events production company, the Fashion Palette show consisted of 6 designers sharing the runway. All Australian Womenswear the designers included were Con Ilio, Cristahlea, Stephanie Chehade, Milanja, Homebodii, and Sui Generis. I truly loved each and every designer's collection but the dress that stole my heart was the pearl-beaded white dress from Con Ilio. It was heaven-sent. Any bride's dream gown! Take a look at the dress's back details here.

DAN LIU

An award-winning Chinese & Japanese Canadian fashion designer, Dan Liu presented color contrasts, embroidery details and tons of Parisian inspiration. Chic, elegant and with romantic flair, each seat came with a single red rose. Nice added touch to the overall concept! My favorite piece from his collection was the 'Purple Skyline'. A satin dress with short sleeves mixed with purple and green stripes, it is the perfect day-to-evening dress for fall. You can find it in the collection of pictures above.

LEANNE MARSHALL

My favorite show, Leanne Marshall is a whirlwind of a talent. Since her Project Runway win from Season 5, Leanne has captured an effortless grace and timeless elegance in her collection. I was completely blown away by all 41 looks of periwinkles, lavenders and orange colors. Let's not forget the pinks! Truly ethereal and refreshing, the fabrics from this collection have certainly put silk chiffon and organza back on trend! My favorite look was the final piece which was a tanzanite silk organza gown with long sleeves, chiffon bead and organza embellishment. This dress was killer!

KYBOE!

Bigger is better and Kyboe! had a massive show at the Skylight Moynihan Station. One of the largest shows I've ever seen in person, Kyboe! showcased their creative and stylish designed watches, which are inspired by the vibrant and colorful tulip fields of the Netherlands, as some of the most beautiful and fit models strutted down the runway! It was an innovative and fun show, the music had me gyrating in my seat! I loved the color-coordination scheme and overall playfulness of the show. I even received one of their watches as a gift! Check out the group watch shot above - mine is the black one. :)

ANNIESA HASIBUAN

What can I say about this show?! An Indonesian-inspired D'Jakarta collection, models wore hijabs for each look, clearly demonstrating uniqueness and the freedom in expressing other forms of style & beauty. Each detail is rich in culture. Brocade and pearls, sequin stones - all embodied glamour and elegance. Fitted for a Queen! I felt very honored to attend every show, especially this one as I grew up in a Muslim community where the familiarity was apparent and I was excited to see expansion in this creative world. A kind of cultural shift such as her designs will help break down stereotypes and demystify misconceptions of hijab in America. It was empowering and such a treat for my last show. Favorite hands-down was the final garment. Hints of gold and crystal, the model shimmered down the runway like a butterfly. Truly breathtaking!

EVENTS

HOT TO ADOPT FELINE FASHION LOUNGE AND ADOPTION EVENT

Hosted by Katie Cassidy and brought to you by Fresh Step, the cat-crazed event was a big hit! I love the idea of mixing a good cause such as adoption with the world of fashion. To check out more details about this event along with how you can help contribute to cat adoption, go to my latest post here.

SHOPSTYLE SOCIAL HOUSE

I really wanted to love everything about this event except there was one slightly BIG flaw. With only one person to help there were far too many people waiting in line just to rent clothes and accessories. Though there were a lot of brands and labels that I would have been happy to try, after waiting in line for over thirty minutes just to get past only about two feet, I had to leave due to another show I had to attend to. So sadly, I didn't get anything :( It felt like a loss of time, but the hors d'oeurves were smashing and the views from the Glasshouses were spectacular!

PLYMOUTH GIN PARTY

Need I say more? This was the perfect end of the week party to unwind with blogger friends and catch up after all the chaos from New York Fashion Week. I'm not much of a gin drinker, but after this event I think we will be getting along just fine. My favorite drink during fashion week was the classic Martini, but a little dirty. ;)

OUTFITS & TRENDS

RUFFLES

On Day 5 I wore an off-the-shoulder dress from H&M with ruffles. The extra movement elevates feminine elegance, making it more modern and edgy. To complete the look, I paired it with a Dress Lily Cross Body bag in periwinkle and a black wrap around choker with gold rings as finishing touches.

DENIM

Day 3 was literally the hottest day during fashion week. With 90+ degree temps, I still opted for an amazing Dress Fo denim wrap trench to wear for the entire day! Call me crazy, but all in the name of fashion! I saw tons of different textures and cuts with denim this SS17 season. From coats to chokes, to boots to two-pieces, denim is still in!

METALLICS

Day 1 I wore a metallic silver pleated top from one of my favorite stores, Mango. It's fresh and fun, dazzling up a casual outfit in no time! I paired the top with BDG mom jeans, a black velvet crop jacket, and nude oxfords. Check out the metallic belt I snapped away from Anniesa Hasibuan's show above! It's been trending for some time but metallics are here to stay!

PERIWINKLES & TANGERINES

These colors are hot off the runway. I've seen these color tones in almost every show. I had to share a few of the orange palette's from Leanne Marshall's show. Aren't they gorgeous?! And with a white jacket? Perfection. These colors are also flattering on many skin tones, so don't be surprised to see a lot more of these colors on trend for the next season!

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