Leather, tulle, blazers … oh my!

New York Fashion Week is right around the corner, welcoming the biggest designers, models, celebrities and performers to the Big Apple.

Designers for brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Rebecca Minkoff, Christian Siriano, Telfar, The Blonds and more will showcase their Spring/Summer 2023 collections and set the tone for style trends for next year.

The seasonal event, which happens each year in February and September, draws in models of celebrity status from sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid to icon Beverly Johnson, who made a triumphant return to the runway during the Fall/Winter shows in February.

Off the runway, the front row of NYFW is equally to be paid attention to with guests ranging from Vogue’s stalwart editor-in-chief Anna Wintour to Lil’ Kim, Kid Cudi, Lil Nas X, Kristin Chenoweth, Megan Thee Stallion, Dan Levy and more.

While you should always expect the unexpected at NYFW, there are a few things you can plan for.

Here’s everything you should know about Spring/Summer 2023:

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When is New York Fashion Week 2022?

New York Fashion Week kicks off on Friday, Sept. 9, and officially concludes on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

However, some designers like Siriano, Bobblehaus, Victor de Souza and more will showcase ahead of the start date.

Fendi and Proenza Schouler are among the runway shows setting the tone of the first day. Ford, The Blonds and Michael Kors will present their collections at the tail end of NYFW.

You can view the Council of Fashion Designer’s Fashion Calendar here and New York Fashion Week’s complete schedule here. NYFW is one of the four major fashion weeks globally, followed by Milan, London and Paris.

NYFW Schedule Highlights:

Wednesday 9/7

• Christian Siriano
• Victor de Souza

Thursday 9/8

• 7 For All Mankind
• Bobblehaus

Friday 9/9

• Naeem Khan
• Proenza Schouler
• Rebecca Minkoff
• Fe Noel

Saturday 9/10

• Black in Fashion Council Discovery Showroom
• La Bodega Baque
• Jason Wu Collections
• Sergio Hudson

Sunday 9/11

• Sandy Liang
• Mia Vesper
• Telfar
• Tommy Hilfiger

Monday 9/12

• Black Boy Knits
• Maryam Nassir Zadeh
• Coach

Tuesday 9/13

• Brandon Maxwell
• Foo and Foo
• Tory Burch
• Christian Cowan

Wednesday 9/14

• Nguyen Inc
• Midnight Studios
• The Blonds

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Can anyone attend NYFW?

Many NYFW shows are invite-only, but there are options if you want to witness models strutting in person.

There are several ways to get into events, from guest passes to purchasing tickets to some of your favorite fashion designers.

NYFW has curated designer packages for purchase on its website that includes VIP experiences, a spot in the front row and meet-and-greet events. The tickets come at a hefty price, ranging from $500 to $50,000. All-access packages are “coming soon,” the website notes. You can sign up to be on a list to be notified when the packages are available.

Free and low-cost options to attend are available by searching for NYFW shows on Eventbrite.

Additionally, NYFW will live stream a handful of shows for free and allow you to make on-demand purchases for other shows on NYFW.com.

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What does ‘SS’ in fashion mean?

NYFW can be tough to navigate — especially if you don’t know all the lingo. This September, designers will have “SS” labels at the end of their collection.

The “SS” represents a Spring/Summer collection, with this season’s shows toting the Spring/Summer 2023 designation as designers look ahead to the coming season. Designers set the tone for the trends we’ll be welcoming into our closets after our winter jackets come off.

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What is the purpose of fashion week?

Historically, New York Fashion Week has served as a way to showcase designers’ creations with presentations and runway shows for fashion journalists and store buyers. From 1993 to 2009, the shows happened under white tents at Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, relocating further uptown in 2010 to Lincoln Center before finding its current home downtown at Spring Studios in 2015.

The events each season allow editors, buyers, celebrities and consumers to preview designers’ collections.

But in a digital age when everyone plays a role in influencer culture, what is the point of fashion week?

NYFW was still successful amid the switch to online events during the pandemic. Though the traditional approach of runway shows and exhibitions draws people into an intimate experience, the pandemic and the continued success of influencers has helped NYFW adjust to include more digital and phygital events, as well as incorporating more fashion influencers who may have previously been left out by fashion’s gatekeepers.

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