Grab your snow boots and cashmere wraps because New York Fashion Week is back. Officially kicking off this Wednesday, February 10, and running through Thursday, February 18, the Fall 2016 season has already caused quite a commotion, whether it be fans clamoring over Kanye West’s upcoming show turned concert or the fact that shoppable collectsions are becoming the norm, not the exception. Here, we highlight nine happenings that people will be talking about inside and outside the shows.
Photo: Getty Images1/9Kanye West and Yeezy Take Over Madison Square Garden
Yeezy Season 3 has already been the most-covered event of New York Fashion Week, and it’s still three days away. Kanye West’s multi-hour Madison Square Garden affair promises the debut of his much-anticipated album, Waves; a jam-packed celebrity front row; a Vanessa Beecroft performance that may involve more than 1,000 extras; the coolest street-cast models; and the newest shoe to covet from Yeezy.
Photo: Getty Images2/9Right-to-Retail Collections
The CFDA might be mulling over direct-to-consumer fashion shows, but some designers have already taken the plunge. Rebecca Minkoff will stage an entirely buy-now Spring collectsion, and we hear some other brands, from well established to cult favorites, will also be showing items available for sale postshow. Time to say “Buy, buy, buy!” to the old garde!
Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com3/9Alexander Wang’s Homecoming
Few have as much fun at New York Fashion Week as Alexander Wang, whose star-studded shows boast the best soundtrack and models and—in September, at least—the best after-party. This season might just be Wang’s most exciting showing yet. Freed from his commitments in Paris with Balenciaga, the designer has one thing on his mind: his own brand. Expect to be wowed.
Photo: NGRE/ AKM-GSI4/9Rihanna’s First Runway
Rihanna has been a front row mainstay for seasons, but this week she’ll present her first collectsion for Puma on the catwalk. What to expect? We’d venture offbeat styling and sneakers that the fashion set will be instantly coveting.
Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com5/9Proenza Without Pre-
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez’s pre-collectsion at Proenza Schouler can give PS fans a feel for what to expect from their Spring and Fall showings. This season, guests will be going into Fall 2016 blind, since the brand has chosen to keep Pre-Fall under wraps until the clothing hits stores around May.
Photo: Courtesy of LRS / @_l_r_s_6/9New York Still Has Some Young Guns in the Mix
Looking for the young bloods of NYFW? Keep your eyes on LRS (left), Tessa, and Öhlin/D. Former Ammerman Schlösberg designer Eric Schlösberg will be going solo this season, while underground brands like Moses Gauntlett Cheng and Vaquera are returning. VFiles has also compiled a series of cooler-than-thou labels booked for its show, including Anton Belinskiy, Kim Shui, Sophie Hardeman, Ottolinger, and Neurocouture.
Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com7/9The Dream of the ’90s Returns on the Runway
Beloved ’90s designers Mayle and Xuly Bet are returning to NYFW for the Fall 2016 shows, while industry vet Ralph Rucci (at right, his namesake collectsion) is staging a comeback with a new line called rr331.
Photo: Courtesy of Eckhaus Latta / @eckhaus_latta8/9MoMA PS1 Gets In the Fashion Game
Where will all the cool kids be during Fashion Week? At a museum! Eckhaus Latta is staging its Fall 2016 show at MoMA PS1 in Queens, which promises to get some art world stars involved. Despite the transportation-related kvetching, the show will still be one to watch.
Photo: Courtesy of Saint Laurent9/9Los Angeles Steps Up to the Plate
Will NYFW’s marquee event not even be in New York? Saint Laurent’s February 10 concert-cum-runway in Los Angeles has potential to steal the spotlight. California’s coolest artists, actors, models, and musicians are slated to attend or perform—add in the deafening rumors that Hedi Slimane is leaving Saint Laurent and you have the makings of a can’t-miss show.
