New York Fashion Week is in full swing!

I kicked off the festivities at Women’s Wear Daily‘s Style Dimension, a NYFW pop-up where tech, fashion and beauty collide. In addition to tutorials with fashion and beauty notables, the event featured several Q&A panels with the city’s top designers.

The first event celebrated Badgley Mischka’s 30-year anniversary. I donned a dress by the fashion house and headed down to the Meatpacking District to join in the fun.

WWD’s pop up was bigger than I expected, with several floors featuring NYFW’s fashions all presented in unique digital formats.

Then it was time for the event itself! Bridget Foley, WWD’s Executive Director, interviewed Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

It was fun getting to know the two of them better and hearing about how the fashion industry has changed over the last 30 years.

The pair also discussed their plans for expanding the brand into China and other parts of Asia, and how relevant the threat of trade tariffs are in their business.

Then yesterday was all about Kate Spade New York! Predictably I donned a dress by the design house and grabbed one of my favorite purses too.

The event began with Kate Spade New York’s runway show.

As you are surely aware, the brand’s founder, Kate Spade herself, died earlier this year from suicide. As a way to honor her memory, and in addition to donating to support mental health initiatives, the brand created a glittery line down the winding runway. This was a clear nod to the woman who “leaves a trail of glitter everywhere she goes.”

These were some of my favorite looks:

Then Lisa Lockwood, WWD’s News Director, hosted a Q&A with Nicola Glass, the Creative Director of Kate Spade New York, and Anna Baket, the CEO of Kate Spade New York.

During the panel we were treated to an up-close look at the new line, and learned more about the design process behind each piece. This was Nicola’s debut as the brand’s Creative Director, so the collection is very special to her.

It was interesting hearing Anna speak about the business end of the brand (they also have plans to expand into Asia), and Nicola discuss the creative process behind the designs (she wanted to focus on the company’s pillars of color and pattern).

It was another fabulous panel, and I loved having the opportunity to get to know these fashion powerhouses more intimately.

Badgley Mischka’s runway show is tonight (September 8th) at 8pm, so keep your fingers crossed for them! And you can see all of the looks from Kate Spade New York’s Spring / Summer 2019 line here.

And to think, this is only the beginning of NYFW!

~A