Which New York Fashion House fits your aesthetic

If anywhere on social media this week you have seen the hashtag #nyfw juxtaposed with ornate and outlandish attire, you have witnessed New York Fashion Week fall 2016!

New York Fashion Week is the first week in fashion month. Fashion month consists of 4 weeks of shows, hosted by the cities New York, London, Milan, and Paris (in that order). In the month of February, designers showcase their fall collections, and in September, the spring collections. Fashion is always one season ahead. (If you want to know more about fashion week, the wiki NYFW page is a good reference.)

During fashion month, lots of bloggers and editors write reviews of the shows that they attend. I want to be honest with you guys, I was not invited to any shows! Shockingly! But I viewed many shows online and I shall share my perspective here.

Writing reviews wouldn’t be that helpful on this blog, because 1) I do not know all the fashion terminology required and 2) I think we can all form our own opinions. So I thought I would write about NYFW in a different way. The purpose of this post is for you to discover your soul mate in the form of a New York fashion house. 

Some people find things on the internet (such as on Tumblr, Pinterest, etc.) that they connect so deeply with that they deem it part of their aesthetic. I would define this term as a collection of ideas that you feel reflect yourself. More dramatically, your overall aura.

Some thing I found on google images; if you google “fashion inspired by nature” there are so many cool things!

Finding a fashion house that suits your aesthetic is so satisfying, but it is also challenging to find because there is an overwhelming amount of houses. That is why I have looked at a bunch of shows from this NYFW and categorized them into some styles/aesthetics. I don’t know the essence of every fashion house, but I have a pretty good idea of some! Now go find a house to fall in love with and be enchanted by the art they create.

1. Classically Feminine

First two pics: Oscar de la Renta | Second 2 pics: Carolina Herrera 

All runway pics in this post are from the Vogue Runway website and from the Spring/Summer Ready-to-Wear 2017 season

These houses have a kind of timeless beauty that everyone can appreciate. Year after year, they materialize beautiful dresses, bridal collections, and accessories. I haven’t been following either of these houses for very long, but I can see that their overall aesthetic is very sophisticated, classy, and elegant.

2. Modern Woman

Michael Kors; Zac Posen

Honestly, every fashion house should be considered “modern woman” because every fashion house is making clothes for the modern woman. But what I mean by this term is a woman that doesn’t sacrifice her personal style for practicality. Pieces that will be compatible with both work life and social life.

Michael Kors is really well known for his bags, which is basically the staple of a modern woman (I see his bags everywhere). And Zac Posen has mastered the art of everyday wear and evening wear for the modern woman. Both of these designers, as well as others like Tory Burch and Hugo Boss, create clothes for modern women that are comfortable, stylish, and flattering.

3. Tomboy Chic/Masculine Inspired

Tommy Hilfiger x Gigi Hadid (apparently it’s considered FW 2016) ; Rag & Bone

If you have a tomboy and masculine aesthetic, congratulations because that is not easy to pull off! Fashion houses such as Tommy Hilfiger, Rag & Bone, and Public School embody these vibes. Everything about this style is freeing (both physically and societally) but also a bit tailored. This style is also androgynous and confident in nature.

4. Geometric and Minimalist

Cushnie et Ochs; Brandon Maxwell

I feel like this aesthetic is honestly more about form and movement than the clothing itself. Artistically, it is the display of positive and negative space, working with one or maybe two tones. These designers truly know how to compliment the female body, gracefully draping over it rather than covering it up. I have only recently discovered both Cushnie et Ochs and Brandon Maxwell, but every look I’ve seen from them is exquisite.

5. Whimsical and Embellished

Marchesa; Reem Acra

If you have ever dreamed of dressing like a princess, fairy, or a personified force of nature then look no further than these beautiful gowns. When I realized that there were dresses like this in the world, I just felt blessed to be able to look at them – they are art! Layered yet airy, complex yet cohesive.

If you like these kind of dresses, you should also check out couture shows. There are other fashion houses outside of New York, such as Valentino, Elie Saab, and Zuhair Murad that produce intricate dresses like these year round.

6. Energetic and Funky

Diane Von Furstenburg (DVF); Anna Sui

Fashion houses such as DVF and Anna Sui really know how to create a statement piece. All of the playful patterns in their collections really animate the runway.The attitude I observe from these clothes is very bold and self-assured. This aesthetic is characterized by rhythm, spontaneity, and vibrant colors.

7. Risky and Quirky

Marc Jacobs; Jeremy Scott

I’m not really a fan of this style because I wouldn’t personally wear it. But, I can admire the fact that houses such as Marc Jacobs, Jeremy Scott and Rodarte have a very developed creative vision and endless ideas. They are truly the trailblazers of the fashion world. Overall, this aesthetic is varied, experimental, and busy.

8. Unique and Detail-Oriented

Prabal Gurung; Proenza Schouler

Prabal Gurung and Proenza Schouler are hard to describe, but I think that they consistently put out collections that seem like thoughts in clothing form. Interesting shapes, forms, and patterns are always evident. This aesthetic is equally as much art as it is fashion. In addition to new expressions, there are also classic designs that are more understated and bind the collection together.

9. Relaxed and Pretty

Jonathan Simkhai; Tibi

Effortless, flattering, and comfortable is the foundation of the pieces found in fashion houses like Jonathan Simkhai and Tibi. This fashion is characterized by organic forms that accentuate the female body. These pieces are kind of similar to the Geometric and Minimalistic dresses in #4, but instead they are less structured, flowing freely and can include more minute details.

That is all I have for today! Let me know in the comments what your favorite look/fashion house is, I would love to hear. And of course, thank you so much for reading!